to download a copy of the staff handbook. - Downing College

SECTION 3.8
Flexible working
POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Staff who are parents of children under the age of six (or 18 if disabled)
and carers of certain adults have a legal right to request flexible working
in order to care for that child or adult, and the College has a duty to
consider such requests seriously. Employees who do not have the legal
right to request flexible working may ask the College if they may do so,
and their request will be considered on an informal basis. Anyone
thinking about requesting a change to his or her working pattern should
make a request as early as possible in order to explore the opportunities
that might be available. The process of making a request and having it
considered may take up to 14 weeks. If the College agrees to your
request, this will result in a permanent change to your contract of
employment. It is the employee’s responsibility to present a carefully
thought-out application. A set procedure is then followed to ensure that
the request is considered seriously and to enable both the employee and
the College to gain a clear understanding of each other’s thinking. The
College may refuse a request only when there is a recognised business
need for doing so.
ELIGIBILITY
Flexible working
To be eligible to make a request to work flexibly, you must have been
employed by the College continuously for 26 weeks at the date the
application is made, and either:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Be the parent of a child under six, or under eighteen if disabled.
Have responsibility for the upbringing of a child under six, or under
eighteen if disabled, and be making the application to enable you to care
for the child.
Be the carer of an adult in need of care, who is your spouse, partner, civil
partner, or near relative (parent, parent-in-law, adult son or daughter,
adopted son or daughter, brother or sister (including in-laws), uncle, aunt,
grandparent, or step relative)
Be the carer of an adult in need of care who falls into none of the above
categories but who lives at the same address as you.
80 S
TAFF HANDBOOK