Flexible Working Request Policy and Response Letter

Handle day-one flexible working requests lawfully and fairly, from application to decision and appeal.

Editable Word document
13
10pages
Guidance notes included
aml consultancy solutions

People & HR

Flexible Working Request Policy and Response Letter

About this document

What it’s for

A policy on the statutory right to request flexible working, with an employee request form, an acknowledgement and meeting invitation letter, a decision letter (approve, trial, alternative or refuse) and an appeal outcome letter.

When to use it

  • Adopt the policy for all employees
  • Use the letters for every formal request so that you meet the two-month deadline
  • Also use it for informal requests if you want a consistent approach

What’s inside

The document is laid out in the sections below. Each one comes with a plain-English guidance note explaining what it does and what to change.

  1. Purpose
  2. Scope
  3. What can be requested
  4. Making a statutory request
  5. Timescales
  6. Considering the request
  7. Trial periods
  8. The decision
  9. Appeals
  10. Equality and fair treatment
  11. Effect of an agreed change
  12. Records
  13. Monitoring and review
  14. Related documents

Also included

  • Your right of appeal

How to complete it

  • Name the person who will handle requests and appeals
  • In the decision letter, keep the one option that applies and delete the others
  • If refusing, choose only from the eight statutory business reasons and explain why refusal is reasonable
  • Diary the two-month deadline as soon as a request arrives

Key points to check

  • The Employment Rights Act 2025 will require refusals to be reasonable and preceded by a statutory meeting – expected autumn 2027; check gov.uk
  • The Acas Code of Practice on flexible working requests applies now

Our templates are professionally structured starting points for UK businesses, not legal advice. For anything complex, unusual or high-value, have your final version checked by a solicitor.

Included in the pack

People & HR

£20

for every document in this category

Editable Microsoft Word files

Guidance notes in every document

Written for UK businesses

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