Flex your muscles in April

On 6 April 2009, the right to request flexible working is being extended to parents of children aged 16 or under. In the current economic climate some employers see this as the last thing they need, whilst others embrace this change as an opportunity to improve their organisation, says Tim Holden.

Requesting flexible working

Last year we implemented a scheme with a client which made use of the interactive Directgov website where employees considering flexible working follow an interactive tool to initially identify a working pattern that met their particular needs. This was followed by a further interactive tool to put together a business case, and then permitted the download of a standard application form.