People now have the right to request flexible working from the first day they start a new job after a Bolton MP’s bill became law.

The bill, put forward in Parliament by Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi has now come into effect as of April 6 this year.

This means that employers will now have a legal duty to consult with their workers before they can refuse a flexible working request.

Ms Qureshi said: “It isn't the silver bullet, but the bill lays down the framework and expectations for employers and gives employees the right from day one to request flexible terms.

“I am proud to have worked on it to push for more rights in the workplace.”

The Bolton News: Workers now have the right to ask for flexible working from day one of their jobsWorkers now have the right to ask for flexible working from day one of their jobs (Image: Newsquest)

Flexible working can refer to different styles of working to normal nine-to-five office-based shifts.

This could include spending time working at home or adapting work to where someone lives to help them avoid lengthy commutes.

The demand for flexible working has surged in the years since the pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns from March 2020 onwards.

In response, the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 was first proposed by Ms Qureshi as a private members bill before it was given Royal Assent in July last year.

The new law will now allow workers to ask for flexible working from the very first day of their new jobs and to do so twice every 12 months.

Previously, workers had only been allowed to ask after six months and then only once every 12 months.

ALSO READ: Bill for flexible work backed by 'Bolton Mafia' close to becoming law

ALSO READ: Bolton Mafia's bill for flexible work is law after Royal Assent 

ALSO READ: Bolton MP calls for more understanding on flexible working in new Bill

But requests could still be rejected if the employer judges that it would cost them too much money or if flexible working could negatively people’s performances.

They could also be rejected if the company is not able to hire enough employees to accommodate this.

Having been proposed by Ms Qureshi in the House of Commons, the bill was then put forward by Baroness Ann Taylor, also from Bolton, in the House of Lords.

Both the governing Conservative Party and opposition Labour Party had committed in their manifestos at the last election to make flexible working the norm.