Flexible Working Guide
Navigate your rights, explore arrangement types, and find the perfect flexible working setup for your lifestyle and career in the UK.
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Types of Flexible Working
A breakdown of the most common flexible working arrangements available to UK employees.
| Arrangement Type | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid Working | Split time between the office and a remote location (e.g., home). | Reducing commute, balancing collaboration with deep work. |
| Flexitime | Choose your own start and finish times around mandatory ‘core hours’. | Avoiding peak travel, managing school runs or appointments. |
| Compressed Hours | Work your total contracted hours over fewer days (e.g., 4 instead of 5). | Gaining a full extra day off each week without losing pay. |
| Job Share | Split the responsibilities, salary, and benefits of one full-time role. | Parents or carers who want to maintain a professional career. |
| Staggered Hours | Start and finish work at different times from your colleagues. | Shift workers avoiding rush hour or managing public transport. |
| Part-Time | Reduce your total weekly working hours and adjust salary proportionally. | Long-term caring responsibilities, studying, or semi-retirement. |
Flexible Working FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about flexible working rights and processes in the UK.
As of April 2024, all employees in the UK have the legal right to request flexible working from their first day of employment. You must have been employed by the organisation for at least 26 weeks to make a formal request, and you can make up to two requests in any 12-month period.
You should submit your formal request in writing at least 3 months before you want the new arrangement to start. Your employer is legally required to consider your request in a reasonable manner and provide a decision within 2 months, unless an extension is agreed upon.
Yes, but only for specific business reasons outlined in employment law. These include additional costs, detrimental impact on quality or performance, inability to reorganise work among existing staff, or insufficient work during the proposed working times.
Hybrid working refers to the location of work, splitting time between the office and a remote location (like home). Flexitime refers to the timing of work, allowing employees to choose their own start and finish times around a set of ‘core hours’.