Flexible working is now a day one right from April 2026. Describe your situation and get instant plain English guidance on your rights.
↓ Try the Checker NowIn England, Wales and Scotland, the right to request flexible working has applied from your first day of employment since 6 April 2024, and employers must discuss a request with you before refusing it. In Northern Ireland you need 26 weeks with your employer first. Across the UK, an employer can only refuse for specific statutory business reasons.
Employers can only refuse on defined grounds — including cost, inability to reorganise work among existing staff, detrimental impact on quality or performance, or insufficient work during the proposed working times. A refusal outside these specific reasons, or without proper consultation first, can be challenged.
In England, Wales and Scotland, since April 2024, employers must discuss your request with you before refusing it — simply sending a rejection letter without any discussion is a procedural failure that can be challenged, separate from whether the underlying business reason itself was valid.
This checker gives you a plain English read on your specific situation, answered only from its own guide for your part of the UK, checked against official sources. No login needed, and your answer is generated instantly based on what you tell us.
Our guidance covers many common situations, but complex or high-stakes cases need professional advice. For employment issues, contact ACAS in England, Wales and Scotland (0300 123 1100) or the Labour Relations Agency in Northern Ireland (03300 555 300). For free general advice, contact Citizens Advice (England 0800 144 8848, Wales 0800 702 2020), Citizens Advice Scotland (0800 028 1456) or Advice NI (0800 915 4604). For urgent housing problems in England, Shelter can help on 0808 800 4444.
What you need to know
The checker below answers from the verified guide for your nation. These are the key points from each one.
Full guide: Can I Request Flexible Working in England, Wales and Scotland? Last verified: 25 September 2026.
Full guide: Can I Request Flexible Working in Northern Ireland? Last verified: 25 September 2026.
This guidance is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify current figures and legislation on GOV.UK or seek professional advice for your specific situation.
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Am I entitled to redundancy pay?
Employees with at least 2 years of continuous employment are entitled to statutory redundancy pay. The amount depends on age, length of service and weekly pay. For redundancies from 6 April 2026, a week of pay is capped at £751 in England, Wales and Scotland (maximum £22,530) and at £783 in Northern Ireland (maximum £23,490).
What is unfair dismissal?
Unfair dismissal is when an employer dismisses an employee without a fair reason or without acting fairly in how they do it. In England, Wales and Scotland you currently need at least 2 years of continuous employment to claim ordinary unfair dismissal, or at least 6 months where the employment ends on or after 1 January 2027. In Northern Ireland you need at least 1 year.
When is statutory sick pay paid?
From 6 April 2026, statutory sick pay (SSP) is paid from the first full day of sickness absence, in Northern Ireland as well as in England, Wales and Scotland. It is £123.25 a week, or 80% of your average weekly earnings (normal weekly earnings in Northern Ireland) if that is lower. In England, Wales and Scotland it is paid for up to 28 weeks.
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The checker answers only from the guide for the nation you choose, plus what you tell it. If your question is not covered there, it says so instead of guessing. Each guide was checked against primary sources on 25 September 2026.
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Directed and published by Matt Thompson, founder of UK Work Rights. Guidance checked against GOV.UK, ACAS and legislation.gov.uk. This is general rights guidance, not legal advice.
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