Back to work | 'Government's big push ignores practical issues'

A legal expert has claimed that the UK Government’s ‘big push’ to get staff back to offices ignores some of the ‘practical issues’ which are currently heightening the challenges for many employers.

Following the news of the Government campaign which urges more people to return to the workplace, Alexandra Mizzi, Legal Director at the law firm Howard Kennedy, told HR Grapevine that “employers which try to force all staff back are likely to face lots of requests for flexible working”.

Mizzi explained: “Employees who have been employed for at least 26 weeks can request flexible working, including working from home. Although employers aren't obliged to agree, they can only refuse for certain business reasons, such as detrimental impact on performance, and they need to deal with the request reasonably. 

“Employers would find it much harder to justify refusal when homeworking has worked out fairly well – and may face employment tribunal claims for discrimination or constructive dismissal.