Flexible working acceptance letter

If, following a consultation meeting, you’re happy to accept an employee’s flexible working request, or you reach an agreed compromise with them at the meeting for an alternative flexible working arrangement, then you should confirm in writing the details of the new agreed working pattern and set out a start date.

Acceptance of request

The Acas Code of Practice on requests for flexible working provides that you must agree to an employee’s flexible working request unless there is a genuine business reason not to. If you do accept an employee’s request, you should write to them as soon as possible, and without unreasonable delay, establishing a start date and confirming the details of the contract variation, i.e. the new agreed working pattern and what additional changes this may make to their terms and conditions of employment. The Flexible Working Acceptance Letter covers what you need to include. Be aware that any change to working hours, times of work, place of work, etc. constitutes a permanent variation to the employee’s terms and conditions of employment, unless you specifically agree otherwise. They cannot then decide that they want to revert to their previous working arrangement at a future date. It is, however, open to you to agree with the employee that the change will be for a temporary defined period only, for example if the employee has requested only a temporary flexible working arrangement to accommodate a fixed period of additional study. In this case, you should clearly record in the letter that the arrangement is temporary and the date when it will end - our letter covers this option.