| Acas

If you want to change when, how or where you work, you can ask your employer by making a flexible working request.

This includes asking to:

work from home
change how often you work from home
change how often you're in the workplace, as part of a hybrid working arrangement

Hybrid working means splitting your time between:

the workplace
working remotely, for example from home or another location

Making a statutory flexible working request

If you're legally classed as an employee, you have a statutory (legal) right to request flexible working.

Employers can accept, partially accept or reject a statutory request. An employer can only reject the request if there's a genuine business reason.

As part of considering the request, the employer might need to carry out a risk assessment for working at home. For example, to check that it's suitable and safe to work there.

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Agreeing a change without using the statutory procedure

You can agree flexible working arrangements informally without using the statutory procedure.

For example if:

you prefer to informally ask for a change
you do not have a statutory right to request flexible working
your organisation has a separate process for requests

If your organisation has a process for requesting flexible working or working from home, you should follow it.

If you're not sure if there's a process:

check your organisation's policy on flexible working, home or hybrid working
ask your manager
ask your HR department

If you have a disability

If you're asking to work from home because of a disability you have, you can either:

make a flexible working request
request a reasonable adjustment

Reasonable adjustments are changes an employer makes to remove or reduce a disadvantage related to someone's disability.

By law (Equality Act 2010), employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.

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Planning your request

Before you make a request, find out if your employer has a relevant policy. For example, a homeworking, hybrid working or flexible working policy. If you're not sure, ask your manager or HR department.

A policy usually explains how things work in your organisation. This might include how to make a request and who to send it to.

Asking for more than one type of flexible working

You can include different types of flexible working in your request. For example, if you want to change your working pattern and how often you work from home.

Example – asking to change where and when you work

Ali works 5 days a week – 3 days in the office and 2 days at home.

Ali needs to pick up their children 3 days a week after school. The pick up times are different each day. Working at home more often and having flexible hours would help with school pick ups.

Ali makes a statutory flexible working request to:

work from home 3 days a week and 2 days in the office
work flexible hours on the days they work from home

Ali's employer must consider this request in line with the law on flexible working requests.

If a change is agreed

If you agree a change, this usually changes the terms of your employment contract.

For example, if the change relates to your:

working hours
job location
job description
pay

If any contract terms change, your employer must put the changes in writing within one month of agreeing them.

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Get more advice and support

To find out about home and hybrid working in your organisation, talk to your manager, employer or HR department.

For more advice: