Section 19: Flexible working: removal of requirement to be a carer
Section 19 removes the requirement that an employee must have parental or caring responsibility in order to make a request to an employer to change the employee's terms and conditions with respect to hours and location of work. The effect is to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees who have the necessary period of service (currently 26 weeks).
Subsection (2) repeals Article 112F(1)(b) of the ERO which requires an employee to be responsible for the care of a child or in certain cases a person over the age of 18 in order to make a request for flexible working. Subsection (3) repeals other provisions which are no longer necessary following the removal of the requirement to be the carer of a child or adult.