Guides › Work and Employment › Flexible Working Requests: Your Day One Right
Flexible Working Requests: Your Day One Right
Employees can ask for flexible working, such as different hours, part-time, compressed hours or working from home, from their first day in the job. You can make 2 requests in any 12 months. Your employer must discuss it and decide within 2 months unless you agree to longer, and if they refuse they must tell you the business reasons.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
The Rules
Asking
Employees can apply from their first day in a job and can make 2 applications in any 12 month period. source
The Decision
Your employer must discuss your request and decide within 2 months, unless you agree to longer. If they refuse, they must tell you the business reasons. You may be able to complain to an employment tribunal. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 2 monthsFor your employer's decisionUnless you agree to longer
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 4
Write your request: what change, from when, and how it could work.
Step 2 of 4
Send it and keep a copy.
Step 3 of 4
Go to the meeting.
Step 4 of 4
If refused, ask for the reasons and appeal.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Acas Helpline
Free and confidential. 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Rules here are for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own employment law, the Labour Relations Agency and industrial tribunals; see nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working Checked 15 October 2026
- acas.org.uk/contact Checked 8 October 2026