flexible working request example nhs

or David likes to work nights as it suits their lifestyle and the increased enhancements are important to them. These are also in the day and quite often clash with the work appointments. Policies will then be designed to be inclusive and supportive of disabled staff right from their development. As being on-call forms part of the job plan and fears that this will set a precedent, where other consultants would want to not be on-call and could cause unrest within the team. This will ensure continuity of service in the business; in addition, I will be able to provide cover at lunchtime, which is busy, by taking a shorter lunch; I will be available on Fridays when the office is currently understaffed; further, I am happy to make myself available outside of this new working pattern to deal with emergencies. Allowable Reasons For A Flexible Working Request - workingwise.co.uk Making a statutory request. Flexible working letter templates Read more Rhys is the primary earner in the family and doesn't want to reduce their working hours as this will impact on their household income significantly. The hiring manager encourages them to apply for the role, following the organisation recruitment process. At the NHS Staff Council in March 2021, a revised Section 33: Balancing work and personal life was agreed as part of the wider NHS People Promise work strand on flexible working. Jos initiates a health and wellbeing conversation during their one-to-one with Stephanie. PDF Flexible working: Raising the standards for the NHS The NHS Staff Council has developed a range of scenarios to help employers embed the new contractual flexible working provisions. The NHS Staff Council has busted a range of common myths around flexible working within the NHS. Flexible working in the NHS | NHS Employers Flexible working | Age UK Aaliyah has had a bereavement, meaning that they can no longer work nights, as this will leave their children unattended at home overnight. Q) Can I request to work from home as a form of flexible working? Before makinga formal request to work flexibly from home, youmay want toconsiderinitiallyhavingan informal conversation with your managerabout this. Kelly requests to come off the on-call rota for 12 months while they navigate their new situation. They were on a rota where nights were split evenly across the team for fairness. If it is agreed for you to work fromhome,you may need to complete awork-stationassessment, check your local policy for more information. For further information see www.acas.org.uk/flexibleworking Considering flexible working practices Potential barriers to establishing flexible working practices The processmay take 12-14 weeks. Q What has changed? Refusal of a flexible working application could, in some circumstances, be discriminatory. Salary and benefits are divided according to the hours worked, Specific weeks only e.g. The new improved provisions we have negotiated mean: Remember, its your employers duty to make sure that you can request flexibility from day one and you have every right to raise issues relating to flexible working during your 1-2-1s, appraisals, team discussions or even during informal conversations with your line manager. Option two staying on a 7.5-hour day, but only working four days a week, so reducing their hours to 30 hours a week. Requests should be considered in the order they are received. As it feels like they never get a break. If you are working flexibly or less than 37.5 hours and an L&D opportunity occurs on a day/time that you do not work, there should be a discussion with you as to how this can be accommodated. here is no legal requirement for your employer to allow an appeal. Yamuna speaks to their staff side representative Dee, and shares their concerns. Outcome of The Royal College of Nursings strike ballot, which sought a country-wide mandate across England. Example Raj is an estate agent working at a small estate agency. Making a flexible working request - Acas The team has constant arguments about people being treated differently and that the three managers on the ward are not consistent in their approach. They are finding the night shifts draining and would prefer not to work them. Guidance and resources on the implementation of new contractual provisions for flexible working which became effective from 13 September 2021. If you are unsure about your options, please contact us. The manager discusses this with their clinical business unit leadership team and HR support team. Moira discusses with the team and initiates a new process where the team will self-roster before inputting the roster into the electronic roster. Flexible working rules are different in. It's good to see a more modernised approach to workforce planning. Good employers recognise the benefits of flexible working, which include recruiting and retaining the best staff, and reducing absenteeism and work-related stress. Joe puts it to Rae to consider whether some of the meetings could be held virtually using the remote working software. Please share as much detail as possible including: how long youve had a flexible working arrangement in place; how you found the process of requesting to work flexibly; the impact on your work-life balance; obstacles you faced getting your request approved etc. Option one - Wait to see if the new changes in the department happen, though time frames could not be guaranteed. The right to request flexible working is a statutory right for any employee who has worked for their employer continuously for over 26 weeks. For example this might mean working part-time, working from home or doing a job share. Any overtime hours worked by full-time employees will be paid at the relevant premium rate as detailed in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. PDF Flexible working and work-life balance - Acas The ambitions in the people plan highlight the desire to make flexible working available to all, regardless of role, grade or organisation, and organisations should look to support working flexibility for all staff. Yamuna is a porter and notices an advert on NHS Jobs. If your manager gives a clearbusiness reason for rejecting your request then any appeal is unlikely to succeed. Were keen to hear from members working across the entire NHS about the realities of flexible working for staff. Yamuna currently works term-time only hours, meaning that they do not work during the 13 weeks school holidays. I would be happy to attend a meeting to discuss my request in more detail and to be given a chance to address any concerns that you may have regarding my suggested new working pattern. NHS England have created two flexible working guides, in collaboration with Timewise and NHS Staff Council. Make sure you specify a start date for the proposed change, giving your employer reasonable time to consider the proposal and implement it. Equality legislation gives disabled people protection from. Some examples of flexible working are set out below: Remember this list is not exhaustive and the new provisions allow you to come up with a whole host of options. This poster, developed in partnership with the NHS Staff Council, details the ten enablers to flexible working. From the 13 September 2021 all NHS employees in England and Wales have the right to request flexible working from day one of their employment and make more than one request per year. This includes staff working in administrative functions, cleaners, porters, nurses, ambulance staff and OTs (to name a few) and regardless of whether you work a 9-5 or around different shift patterns. As a manager they needed to ensure that the work was being completed and wanted to establish what activities had to be in the office or could be completed from home to ensure work is effectively and appropriately delivered. Q How long does my flexible working request take to be decided? my colleagues dealing with queries from my clients at these times. Try to: Above all, be diplomatic. Valerie and David were able to agree that if team training had been arranged, David would work days, and that in one week in the six-week rota rotation, David would work a blend of shifts. The RCN recommends using an updated browser such as Your employer can ask you for more time to make a decision, but only if you agree. You must include these. If you want to start working flexibly on your return to work from maternity leave, it is worth thinking about the time frames set out in your local policy. If you work for the NHS, you may find their guidance for both staff and managers to be helpful. Rae works in a community role, meaning that they often have their working diaries planned for them by outside agencies. They ask about the full-time hours, explaining that they work term-time only and would like that to continue. ), (3) how your new arrangements would work in a crisis situation: (note consider if offering to make yourself available by telephone to deal with emergencies or urgent customer/client requests might assist with addressing business concerns. If your request cannot initially be agreed in your current role, ask your manager if there are other opportunities in the organisation where your request might be agreed. The post they want to apply for is posted at 37.5 hours, which is full time. Your request letter or email must say you're making a 'statutory flexible working request'. 16 December 2021 Further resources Guidance Article 31 March 2023 Guidance New contractual flexible working provisions Guidance and resources on the implementation of new contractual provisions for flexible working which became effective from 13 September 2021. Agenda for Change pay deal and implementation resources, NHS terms and conditions pay poster 2022/23, NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook. Your needs and the needs of the service can change over time, and you have a right to make a formal flexible working request for any reason. We have updated our flexible working enablers for change to support employers to embed the key changes to section 33 of the NHS terms and conditions. It will help if youve considered the impact your request might have on your patients and colleagues. 26 August 2021 Read Flexible working flow chart The NHS People Plan sets out an ask for the NHS Staff Council to work alongside NHS England to develop guidance to support employers to make flexible working a reality for our NHS people. The NHS Staff Council has developed a range of FAQs to help employers embed the new contractual flexible working provisions. Speak to your colleagues including those working in other teams to find out how they are working flexibly and see if these can be replicated in your own team. I would be happy to attend a meeting to discuss my request in more detail and to be given a chance to address any concerns that you may have regarding my new working pattern. Find out more about the Fair Pay for Nursing campaign and how you can get involved. Naveen was happy to compromise so that they did their fair share of the office cover. Yes, in accordance with the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, employees covered by these provisions can make more than one flexible working request per year and can do so regardless of the reason. This type of flexibility was new to Tinas team, so they reached out to other teams where term-time only working was embedded to gain insight and good-practice principles. However, if this is not agreeable, then I would be happy for my working pattern to be 9am to 5pm on Monday and 9am to 3pm Tuesday to Friday so that this request causes as little disruption to the business as possible. You need to have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks and be legally classed as an employee. Follow your local organisations procedure for flexible working applications. Below, we have a couple of real-life examples where a solution was found because the request was explored in full. This was shared with the team, and each team member was then able to add in their proposed days off and shifts based on the above ground rules. At the NHS Staff Council in March 2021, a revised Section 33: Balancing work and personal life was agreed as part of the wider NHS People Promise work strand on flexible working. Flexible working in the NHS - a guide for UNISON members 2 Contents . Section 15 of the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbook covers flexible working on return from maternity leave: 15.79 If, at the end of maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave, the employee wishes to return to work on different hours, the NHS employer has a duty to facilitate this, wherever possible. Q Is flexible working open to staff not covered by the NHStermsandconditions? Flexible working and the right to request - Working Families Speak to your local UNISON rep if youre unsure about your options including how to go about applying for flexible working. This page details guidance from the NHS Staff Council on contractual issues arising from certain forms of flexible working. moving to annualise hours or going part time) are expected to go through the proper formal process to ensure all the details are agreed and captured. Some team members complain when it is Moiras turn, as they feel like they are treated unfairly. If you have a disability, your employer is legally obliged to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your disability. 15.80 If it is agreed that the employee will return to work on a flexible basis, including changed or reduced hours, for an agreed temporary period, this will not affect the employees right to return to their job under their original contract, at the end of the agreed period. 6.2 The employee must state their grounds for appeal in writing to their line manager's manager within ten calendar days of receipt of their flexible working request outcome letter. Sample letter to request flexible working Last updated: 25 Jul 2022 This is a Precedent " Statutory Flexible Working Request " Letter for you to personalise. For example, you can ask to work reduced hours whilst also staggering those hours. Kumar held exploratory meetings with each of the team members, checking how flexible they could each be. As Karen was a new starter, it was agreed with Naveen that they would be available to support Karen on their flexi-time days between 5pm-7pm. By doing this you will be helping us to make flexible working a reality for more of our members working in the NHS. Once the rota has been finalised Moira uploads it to the electronic record system. This flowchart for managing conversations around flexible working requests was created by the NHS Staff Council to support the NHS People Plan. PDF Flexible working in the NHS - UNISON National 28 February 2022. If we do not take radical action to become a flexible and modern employer in line with other sectors, we will continue to lose people entirely or see participation rates decline." NHS People Plan, 2020. All the words highlighted in BOLD are legal requirements for the request to be valid. NHS Employers (2021), Guide to making flexible working requests flowchart. Registered Charity No. During the discussion, Aaliyah shares the personal life event and how this is making them worry. There are also some types of working patterns they could do from time to time, that are not pensionable, such as overtime above full-time . The changes apply to NHS employees in England and Wales who now have the right to request flexible working from day one of employment and make more than one flexible working request per year. Effective from 13 September 2021, changes to the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbookhave been agreedwhich form part of your employment contract and mean that: Your employer should keep a central overview of how requests in the organisation are being handled so they can check everyone is being treated fairly. If you are not a solicitor, you are advised to obtain specific legal advice about your case or matter and not to rely solely on this information. The deal will make it easier for workers to request flexible working arrangements including a right to do so from the first day staff are employed in the NHS. Joe also mentions that the organisation are encouraging the use of the Working Carers Passport as a way to explore what further support might be available. Kumar agreed that home working most days would be agreeable and that working hours could be flexed to accommodate time to do the school run. If you are nervous or uncomfortable about submitting a formal request to your manager, you should consider asking to first discuss possibilities and options informally with your manager and/or seeking support from a trade union representative or work colleague. Flexible working | NHS Employers Dear [name of your employer / HR manager / line manager], I am writing to make a statutory flexible working request. They currently work a range of shifts over a six weeks rota. Kumar agreed that the timings would still enable the relevant tasks to be undertaken. In addition, if your contractual hours are fewer than 37.5 hours, any overtime you work is paid at plain time up to 37.5 hours. Flexible working request approval letter (0.03 MB) Flexible working request refusal letter (0.03 MB) Career break arrangement confirmation letter (0.03 MB) Yes, homeworkingcan bea form of flexible working. Working Families members have access to guides and factsheets which have been designed to support you and your organisation. If you have the support of your colleagues it is much easier to put in a strong request, as it is likely your team will need to show some flexibility to accommodate you. [Either:] I have not made any previous flexible working requests. They looked at the morning issue. Your employer must consider your whole request (including any appeal) within a maximum of 3 months of receiving the original request. Terms and conditions. They also explore some of Raes face-to-face meetings because Rae has to travel extensively between appointments. Moira then created a blank roster, inputting those already on a pre-agreed flexible working pattern. This poster highlights the ten enablers to flexible working. The NHS defines flexible working as "an arrangement which supports an individual to have greater choice in when, where and how they work." This may include changes to their working pattern, hours and role, and/or the location in which their work takes place. processes for requesting flexible working, getting decisions on flexible working requests. I have already requested parental leave to cover the first month when she is on half days, so I would like the new working pattern to come into force on 1st October 2019. If so, please contact us. A successful application needs to be well thought out and submitted in good time. Currently the are only appealing to those that can work full-time, which means they have a smaller pool of candidates. Jos also knows recruiting into the team is a key priority to support the team going forward. However, one out of six weeks David would work a combination of day and night shifts. Can't find the answer you're looking for here? Time limits apply. They explained that this would suit their personal needs and ensure that there was reliable cover for the night shifts and give their colleagues more of the sought after early and day shifts. For further information please see theNHS Staff Council Joint statement on flexible working in the NHSand theNHS People Promise. Q Doday one rights apply to me if I am in a probationary period? Employers should provide regular information to staff about flexible working opportunities and encourage regular discussions between managers and staff about flexible working without waiting for staff to make a formal request. During the meeting, it becomes apparent that it isn't the on-calls that are the actual issue, rather than their timing. A guide on flexible working for the nursing workforce. This poster highlights the ten enablers to flexible working. Your employer must consider the whole request, including any appeal, within three months of first receiving the original request (unless an extension is agreed). Section 5.0 Employees Right to Request Flexible Working updated to include that the Trust is open to consider requests for flexible working from all employees regardless of how long they have worked for the Trust. The agreement also removes limits on the number of requests that can be made and strengthens the processes employers must use when considering requests. ), I think this new work pattern would have the following effects on the business . In exploring these, they decided that accommodating the request for a temporary period of time would give Kelly the time and space needed to organise childcare and provide them with some space and time to recharge from a difficult time in their life. Consultation is currently being undertaken about flexible working legislation in the UK. This policy provides examples of the different types of flexible working arrangements that may be suitable for some individuals and . in a range of areas, including employment. Explore the nine enablers to flexible working and how Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was able to implement them. Check if you are eligible for the statutory process and check any local policies Your employer may have their own application form if not, you can download an application letter template fromGov.uk. This should be the same for stretch and promotion opportunities. As these will give Devin the flexibility they need during weekdays, but provide a win-win for the department as these shifts are usually hard to cover. My current working pattern is Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5 pm, with one hours lunch per day (28h). PDF FLEXIBLE WORKING TOOLKIT GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS - Solgrid We encourage you to think about the work life balance that you would like to achieve and the potential flexible working arrangements that could help you do this. Tina also ask they adverts reflects that there are several positions available and posts can be full or part-time. Remember, UNISON branches are currently working hard to ensure that this policy (and how its put into practice) is robust and fit for purpose. The manager Sita, using the recommendation from occupational health (OH), ensuring that going forward, Sam was no longer put on night shifts within the rota. PDF FLEXIBLE WORKING IN THE NHS: THE CASE FOR ACTION - Timewise To support their mental health, Rhys would like to have some time in the week to themselves. Guidance and resources on the implementation of contractual provisions for flexible working, effective from 13 September 2021. Read this joint statement from the NHS Staff Council on flexible working in the NHS, which comes into force on 13 September 2021. Read the Flexible working in the NHS guide for UNISON members, See the new NHS terms and conditions on flexible working, View a flow-chart to help you know what to expect if you make a request, Take a look at some flexible working scenarios, Guidance for trade union reps on how to renegotiate your flexible working policy, Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2022, allemployees have the right to request flexible workingfrom day one of employment, there is no limit on the number ofrequestsyoucan make, youhave the right to make requests and have them considered regardless of the reason, organisations must keep a central overview of how requests are being handled and check for fairness and equality of outcomes, whereyou and yourline manager havent been able to find a solution, there isa further escalation stage to check for other suitable options, your line manager should haveregular conversations about flexible working with you without waiting foryouto make a formal request, Reduced hours (or part time working) working fewer hours than you were initially contracted to work, Staggered working hours where staff work a set number of hours during the day but with different start and finish times, Term time hours usually favoured by working parents to work 39 weeks per year within term time and use their annual leave entitlement, plus additional unpaid leave, to have school holidays off work, Flexi time allows you to vary your working hours (which may include your start and finish times) to suit your individual circumstances, Team based self-rostering giving staff control over the pattern of their working week by allowing them to put forward their preferences and trying to match these as close as possible, Compressed working week working your contracted hours over fewer days. Employers are under no statutory obligation to grant a request for flexible working if it cannot be accommodated by the business. There may be grounds for a claim to an employment tribunal if the employer fails to provide a valid reason for refusing your request or if there has been a breach of procedure. Flexible working is any type of working arrangement that gives some degree of flexibility on how long, where and when an employee works. Our Legal Advice Service is currently being generously funded by a funder which requires us to monitor the age ranges of the people using our services. It is also important to look at your organisations local policy on flexible working, which should set out a process on how to make flexible working requests. Statements, papers, and guidance that has been agreed jointly through the NHS Staff Council. Having conversations as a line manager within your teams are also valuable to help find solutions and accommodate team needs. A flowchart for managing conversations around flexible working requests, created by the NHS Staff Council to support the NHS People Plan. However,check your local policy to see if an appeals stage is included. They are thinking about handing in their notice and picking up bank shifts that suit their childcare requirements. These scenarios have been developed to guide you through the different circumstances relating to flexible working. Flexible working for NHS staff | The big issues | UNISON National The RCN publication, Working Flexibly to Support a Health Work-life Balance - A guide for representatives, provides some guidance on types of flexible working including case studies which may help you. The patterns of the shifts are unpredictable, but the shifts lengths, start and finish times are rigid and thought to be inflexible. The NHS needs to retain these staff it and recruit many more to meet the challenges ahead offering genuine flexible working is an important way to do this. Annual leave must be prebooked, and if a shift can't be worked, they currently rely on their colleagues to swap shifts. For example, your request may impact on staffing levels or compromise patient care. Basic pay and annual leave entitlements are based on whether or not an individual works full time for instance 37.5 hours a week. Moira is sister on a busy endoscopy ward, who has two deputy sisters that help create the team rosters. Flexible working FAQs | NHS Employers Reena and Tim agreed between them, to alternate every Friday and to have a Monday off instead, the next week, which would give each of them a long weekend. Resolving NHS workforce issues requires the NHS to see workers as an asset, not simply a resource, writes Alison Leary The long awaited workforce plan is finally with us. Calling the UNISONdirect call centre on 0800 0 857 857. For example, if you work in a GP surgery (and are not covered by AfC) but have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks, are legally classed as an employee and have not made Before the exploratory meeting, the manager develops some draft rotas, which includes two days off a week on a Tuesday and Wednesday. This poster highlights the ten enablers to flexible working. The definition supports a shared understanding of what flexible working means and the principles guide the ethos and values we want the NHS to aspire to when it comes to flexible working. I confirm I have at least 26 weeks of service (note there is no requirement to confirm your length of service but theres no harm in doing so), [I have not previously made a request under section 80F Employment Rights Act 1996. You can seek further help and advice from your trade union rep and/or HR team. This is a complex topic, so if you have further concerns please contact us. ), (4) why it could be beneficial to be business too two heads are better than one (if asking for a job share), allowing flexible work helps keep employees happy and retention rates are higher, it wouldnt cost the business anything more), [I am asking for this request in order to] (note while there is no requirement to do so, the ACAS guidance suggests that employees should state if their request is made in relation to the Equality Act.

City Of Rocklin Human Resources, Wedding Sign Templates Canva, How Much Are Castle Park Tickets At The Gate, Articles F