Requests To Work Remotely - Lessons From Karabko v TikTok Technology Ltd

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 ('the Act') gave employees the right to make a request to work remotely. It also outlined the process for employers to follow to address such a request. In this regard the Act makes various provisions for addressing such requests including having regard to the employee's needs, the employer's needs and the WRC Code of Practice for Employers and Employees Right to Request Remote Working ('the Code') when considering a request. The Act also contains the time limit within which a response should be issued as well as provision for reasons being given with any refusal of a request.

There is a key difference between having the right to make a request and have that request processed and adjudicated upon in a certain way versus having the right to work remotely.