Stephen Morrall comments on the new flexible working rights in Personnel Today

Stephen’s comments were featured in an article in Personnel Today, published 9 December 2022, and can be found here. 

James Dyson, chief engineer and founder of technology firm Dyson, has strongly criticised the government’s enshrining of a day one right to request flexible working (as opposed to after 26 weeks of continuous employment).

Stephen Morrall, partner in the business services department at Hunters Law, provided a degree of support for Dyson: I agree with Sir James Dyson’s comment that introducing a day-one right to request flexible working will generate friction between employers and employees. Employers can reasonably expect new joiners to want to work hard and integrate into the business. It is counter-productive to introduce an additional ground for conflict with their employees. If the employer refuses the request, the employee will only feel resentful. It is difficult to understand why the change is being proposed now, other than as a populist measure.

Flexible working does not suit all businesses and only time will tell what its effects will be on efficiency, cohesion within the workforce, company ethos and, ultimately, the success of businesses.