Flexible working arrangements are increasingly recognised as an important means of supporting employees with caring responsibilities and promoting work-life balance as the employment landscape continues to evolve with time. The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 introduced a statutory right for qualifying employees to request flexible working arrangements for caring purposes, including parents of young children and carers providing support to specified persons. Flexible working may include arrangements such as modified working hours, reduced hours, remote working, job-share and/or adjusted work patterns to better accommodate caring responsibilities.
In addition, all employees have a legal right to request remote working arrangements. While employers are not obliged to approve every request, they must consider applications in accordance with the legislative requirements and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Code of Practice. Employees may submit a request from the commencement of employment; however, generally six months’ continuous service is required before an approved arrangement can commence.
The legislation aims to support workforce participation, assist employees in balancing work and personal responsibilities, and promote a better work-life balance. Employers should implement clear policies outlining the process for making and assessing requests, while employees should be aware that the legislation provides a right to request flexible or remote working arrangements, rather than an automatic entitlement to have such requests approved.
If you require further support or advice relating to HR, please do not hesitate to contact us at hrsolutions@nfpireland.ie / (066)7102887.
For more information visit https://nfpireland.ie
How Time Point Helps You Manage Flexible and Remote Working
Approving a flexible working request is one thing. Tracking it fairly, day after day, is another. Time Point gives employers one platform to manage flexible and hybrid working without spreadsheets.
- Flexitime balances in real time. Flexitime software records entry and exit times, lunch bands and core hours, and updates each employee’s credit, debit and net balance instantly.
- Rules that fit your arrangements. Set flexi working rules and patterns for each employee, combine four-weekly, bi-weekly or custom accounting periods, and define thresholds and carryover rules for banked time.
- An employee app for hybrid and remote teams. Staff can clock in and out from their phone with GPS location, check their flexi balance, request flexi leave, send absence notifications and view their schedule.
- Simple approvals for managers. Managers approve or decline time-off requests, see booked time off in a calendar, and balances update automatically once a request is approved.
- A clear audit trail. The built-in clock auditor records IP address, GPS location and geofencing parameters, so you have reliable records of hours worked, as required under the Organisation of Working Time Act.
- Reports that show the full picture. Real-time views of credit, debit and net running balances help you keep arrangements fair and consistent across teams.
Want to see it in action? Book a demo.