Flexible working request letter
Since April 2024 you can make a statutory flexible working request from day one of a job, twice in any 12 months — and your employer must decide (including any appeal) within 2 months. The letter below contains everything the law requires a statutory request to state.
The statutory request
2026/27Day-one right · 2 per year · 2-month decision
An employer can refuse only on one or more of the 8 business grounds in the Employment Rights Act — and must consult you before rejecting.
The letter
Dear [manager's name], I am making a statutory flexible working request under section 80F of the Employment Rights Act 1996. This is [my first request in the last 12 months / my second request; my previous request was dated [date]]. Current pattern: [days/hours/location]. Requested pattern: [days/hours/location]. I would like the change to start from [date]. I believe this change can work well for the team: [one or two sentences — e.g. cover arrangements, core-hours overlap, measurable output, a trial period you're offering]. I look forward to discussing it with you. Yours sincerely, [Name] · [Date]
The law requires: that it's in writing and dated, states it's a statutory request, describes the change and start date, and declares any previous request. You no longer have to explain the impact on the business — but a sentence pre-empting the likely objection dramatically improves outcomes.
The 8 grounds an employer can rely on — pre-empt yours
| Ground | Pre-empt with… |
|---|---|
| Burden of additional costs | Cost-neutral proposals: same hours, different shape |
| Can't reorganise work among staff | A named cover plan or handover pattern |
| Can't recruit additional staff | Show no extra headcount is needed |
| Detrimental effect on quality | Offer a 3-month trial with review criteria |
| Detrimental effect on meeting customer demand | Core-hours overlap; response-time commitments |
| Detrimental impact on performance | Point to output during any past flexible period |
| Not enough work in the proposed periods | Map your tasks to the proposed hours |
| Planned structural changes | Ask how your proposal could fit the plan |
Common questions
Can my employer just ignore the request?
Is an accepted request permanent?
What if I need the change because of childcare or disability?
Should I use my employer's own form instead?
Sources for the figures on this page
Last checked 3 July 2026How we keep these current: methodology & update policy.