Story perspectives

UK Tightens Rules on Employers Rejecting Home-Working Requests

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 10:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced reforms that make it harder for employers to reject home-working requests.
Employers must meet employees and provide full reasons before refusing a home-working request.
The study showed larger penalties for three or four home-working days, with mothers’ ratings dropping least and fathers’ dropping most.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said flexible working is a lifeline, not merely a perk.

History

Historical Context

The 2003 Labour law gave parents of young or disabled children a statutory right to request flexible hours; a 2003 survey showed 17.7 % of men and 26.7 % of women used flextime. Extension to all staff took effect on 30 June 2014, and on 6 April 2024 the rules allowed applications from day one, forming the basis for Andy Burnham’s 2024 home-working reforms.

1 of 2

Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced reforms that make it harder for employers to reject home-working requests.
Employers must meet employees and provide full reasons before refusing a home-working request.
The study showed larger penalties for three or four home-working days, with mothers’ ratings dropping least and fathers’ dropping most.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said flexible working is a lifeline, not merely a perk.

1 / 2