Flexible working arrangements

Under the Fair Work Act, flexible working arrangements allows employees to request adjustments to their working conditions to better suit their personal circumstances. For example, an employee might ask to start and finish work earlier, work from home, or reduce their working days. Employers must respond in writing within 21 days and can refuse only on reasonable business grounds, after discussing the request and genuinely trying to reach agreement.

Who can request flexible working arrangements

Employees with at least 12 months' service, and long term casuals, can make a written request if they are pregnant, a parent of a child of school age or younger, a carer, have a disability, are 55 or older, are experiencing family and domestic violence, or care for a family or household member who is. A refusal must give the specific business reasons, set out any other changes you would agree to, and explain that the employee can take a dispute to the Fair Work Commission, which can order you to grant the request. For example, a parent may ask to finish at 3pm on two days a week.

Read our guide to flexible working arrangements.