Right to request flexible working extended to certain carers of adults

At present, parents of children under six or disabled children under 18 have the right to request flexible working. The effect of the Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) (Amendment) Regulations 2006 is that an employee who has 26 weeks’ continuous service can make a request for flexible working if:

• the employee is or expects to be caring for a person who is over the age of 18 and in need of care; and either
• that person is married to or the partner (or civil partner) of the employee; or
• that person is a ‘near relative’ of the employee; or
• that person is living at the same address as the employee.

Note that ‘near relative’ includes a parent, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling (including those who are in-laws), uncle, aunt, grandparent and step-relative.