Working part-time
The Equality Act 2010 provides that part-time workers are entitled to equal treatment with their full time colleagues.
An employer risks inviting a claim if a part-time employee receives less favourable treatment than full time workers.
There is now a right for certain employees to request part-time or flexible working hours. This right will be available to you if you are a parent (including if you have adopted a child), guardian or foster parent or you are married to or are the partner of a child’s parent, a guardian or foster parent. You must have been in continuous employment with the same employer for a period of not less than 26 weeks. You must also have responsibility for the upbringing of the child and the child must be under the age of 6 or if the child is disabled the relevant age is 18.
This is a right to request flexible working. Your employer is not required to automatically accept your request but must show that proper consideration has been given. There has to be a sound and justifiable business case if your employer refuses your request.
The grounds for rejecting a request include:-
- the burden of additional costs
- a detrimental effect on the ability to meet customer demand
- an inability to reorganise work amongst existing staff
- an inability to recruit additional staff
- a detrimental impact on quality
- a detrimental impact on performance
- insufficiency of work during periods when you propose to work
- planned structural changes
Your request for a change in working hours must be specifically in order to assist you in caring for a child.
If you make a request your employer must hold a meeting to discuss the application with you within 28 days. Your employer must then give notice of the decision in writing within 14 days of the meeting. If your application is refused your employer must state the grounds for refusal. You are entitled to lodge an appeal.
If you are dismissed for making a request you may have a claim for unfair dismissal.
The above information is not intended to be a complete or definitive statement of the law. For more information or advice please contact our Employment Law team.
