Overview
- The government announced at the Trade Unions Congress in September 2026 that employers must 'properly' consider and be able to justify refusals of flexible‑working and work‑from‑home requests.
- Ministers say the reform will require employers to meet with staff, record substantive consideration and provide a clear, justifiable reason when turning down a request, building on the 2024 day‑one right to request flexible working.
- The measure is still being drafted and ministers expect it to take effect in 2027, with further legislation and statutory guidance to set exact procedures and timeframes.
- Trade unions including the TUC welcomed the change as strengthening workers’ voice, while commentators and some columnists warned it could raise recruitment costs, hinder hiring of young workers and alter workplace culture and productivity.
- The reform does not remove the existing eight business grounds for refusal or the Equality Act route for disabled workers but raises the procedural and justificatory bar that employers must meet when rejecting requests, which could change how firms handle onboarding and team management.