Flexible working is fast becoming a priority for many employees and from 6th April 2024, there will be changes made to the law around flexible working requests that aim to reflect the growing importance of this aspect to working life. In this article, Alacoque Marvin, a partner in Wrigleys Solicitors’ education team, looks at the upcoming changes and highlights key elements of statutory and non-statutory guidance for trust leaders.
As flexible working and home working have become more prevalent in recent years, many schools and trusts have been considering ways to expand opportunities for their staff to work flexibly. Department for Education (DfE) guidance has encouraged schools and trusts in this, suggesting a more strategic and proactive approach to understanding the costs and benefits of flexible working and designing a staff structure which enables flexibility.
Interestingly, research published by the National Foundation for Educational Research from October 2023 indicates that, while the Covid pandemic significantly increased flexible working across the economy generally, it has not impacted in the longer term on flexible working opportunities in the teaching profession.
From 6 April 2024, the statutory right to request flexible working is changing in ways which are likely to increase the number of flexible working requests and may push schools and trusts to think more creatively about flexible solutions.
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