COVID-19 Legal FAQ: flexible working

As you may be aware, flexible working is an entitlement given to employees who have had at least 26 weeks of continuous employment.

We have been receiving enquiries about how to manage flexible working since the lockdown began and, on the 10th May, the Prime Minister announced that there is going to be an easing of the lockdown rules so that some employees could return to work, if it is possible for them to do so, but they should avoid taking public transport.

Now for some, this may be very difficult if they solely rely on public transport to get to work. To handle this, you may wish to continue exercising flexible working and you can do this by varying your employee’s hours, their start times or allowing them to work from home.

Flexible working could also help those employees who have been facing issues with childcare, due to ongoing school closures, and those caring for vulnerable people. For further guidance on flexible working, please see the flexible working section on our legal guide.

Karen Afriyie is a legal advisor at the REC.