Flexible Working April 2024
In this section
- 12. Informing the Employee of the Outcome
- 13. Trial Periods
- 14. Business Grounds for Refusing a Request
- 15. Appeal
- 16. Informing the Employee of the Outcome
- 17. Declined Applications
- 18. Extension of Time Limits
- 19. Withdrawal of an Application
- 20. Ensuring Equality of Opportunity
- Appendix 1
- Appendix 2
14. Business Grounds for Refusing a Request
Unfortunately, service needs or circumstances may dictate that an application for flexible working cannot be accommodated in accordance with the employee’s desired work pattern or a compromise agreed. Under the legislation, applications can only be rejected for one or more of the following reasons:
- Burden of additional costs.
- Detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand.
- Inability to reorganise work among existing staff.
- Inability to recruit additional staff.
- Detrimental impact on quality (of service).
- Detrimental impact on performance.
- Insufficiency of work during periods the employee proposes to work.
- Planned structural changes.
The line manager will clearly document and provide for the employee the ground(s) for rejecting an application as well as clearly explain how the specified ground(s) apply in the circumstances of their application. Form FW (C) should be completed as detailed above.