The Government has launched consultations in relation to the statutory flexible working framework and strengthening the laws on tipping.
Flexible working – Have your say
Currently, an employer may refuse a flexible working request on one or more of the eight grounds for refusal.
From 2027 employers will continue be able to refuse but only if it is reasonable to do so on the relevant ground(s). In addition, the employer will need to consult with the employee about the request and there will be a specific requirement to explain the rationale for a refusal and why that refusal is considered reasonable.
The eight permissible grounds for refusing a request will remain unchanged. They include the burden of additional costs, an inability to reorganise work amongst existing staff, and a detrimental impact on quality or performance.
The consultation focuses on two main areas: the new process for consulting employees on flexible working requests and the new reasonableness test.
Currently, there is no detailed legislative guidance on how a flexible working request consultation process should be conducted - Acas currently suggests steps employers could choose to follow but this guidance is non-statutory. Subject to this consultation, the introduction of the ‘reasonableness’ test may allow employees to bring tribunal claims to challenge the reasonableness of their employers’ flexible working decisions, rather than simply for procedural breaches.
The consultation closes on 30 April 2026 and can be viewed here: Make Work Pay: consultation on improving access to flexible working
Strengthening the law on tipping – Have your say
The government is strengthening the law on tipping by introducing new requirements for employers to consult with workers at their place of business when developing or reviewing their tipping policies.
This consultation provides an opportunity for all interested parties and groups to:
- review how the existing legislation operates in practice
- identify where improvements could be made
- consider how we can most effectively implement the new requirements.
The consultation closes on 1 April 2026 and can be view here: Make Work Pay: strengthening the law on tipping - GOV.UK
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