Flouting Employees´ Rights: The Costs Can Be Substantial

This month we report on a recent case in which an employee successfully claimed against her employer for breaching its obligations in relation to a request for flexible working. This is a useful illustration of the pitfalls of failing to deal properly with such requests. We also draw attention to a recently reported whistleblowing case where a prison officer was awarded nearly £500,000 after being badly treated as a result of reporting bullying and intimidation. In addition, we provide an update on the age discrimination regulations.

Since April 2003, employees with children under six (or disabled children under 18) who have been continuously employed for more than 26 weeks have had the right to request to work flexibly. When an employee makes a request, an employer must follow certain procedures when dealing with it. The employer must consider the request within specified timescales and can only refuse it on the basis of one or more