Culture | Handling flexible working requests fairly, starting from day one

Flexible working has been a hot topic for years, but the legal changes back in April 2024 has pushed it back to the top of the agenda.

Employees can now make a flexible working request from their very first day in a new job, which has left many employers asking ‘how do we handle this fairly?’

It sounds simple, but in practice it raises a few questions. What if a new starter asks to change their hours before they’ve even settled in? How do you weigh up requests from maternity returners who need flexibility from day one? And how do you make sure decisions are fair, consistent, and most importantly legally compliant?

The good news is that with the right approach, policies, and culture, you can support flexibility without losing sight of business needs. Here’s how.