The right to request flexible working has been a day-one right since April 2024. The Employment Rights Act 2025 goes further — from 2027, employers will need to show that any refusal is objectively reasonable, follow a mandatory consultation process, and provide written justification linked to the statutory grounds. This course covers the full legal framework, what the 2027 changes mean in practice, and how to handle requests fairly and consistently from the very first conversation.
This course is suitable for all audiences.
- Explain the current statutory right to request flexible working and the ERA 2025 changes arriving in 2027, including the new reasonableness test and mandatory consultation process
- Identify the eight statutory grounds for refusing a flexible working request, what it means for a refusal to be reasonable, and when a refusal is likely to carry legal risk
- Apply a fair, documented, and consistent approach to handling flexible working requests that meets current obligations and is ready for the 2027 changes
