Code Of Practice On Right To Request Flexible Working And Right To Request Remote Working: What Employers Need To Consider

The Workplace Relations Commission (the "WRC") has published the long-awaited Code of Practice on the Right to Request Flexible Working and the Right to Request Remote Working (the "Code"). The Code sets out steps to assist employers and employees in navigating requests for flexible working for caring purposes and remote working in compliance with the provisions of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 (the "Act"). It is important to remember that neither the Code nor the Act give a legal right to flexible or remote working.

Specifically, the purpose of the Code is to set out the detail of the processes that should be followed regarding the making and managing of requests for flexible and remote working and recommends that employers should have an all-encompassing Work Life Balance Policy to include both flexible working for caring purposes and remote working.