Guide

Flexible working request examples

A flexible working request asks your employer to change when, where or how much you work. The examples below show how people commonly word the request, the reason behind it, and how the change could be managed at work. This is general information about the process, not legal advice.

What makes a request easier to say yes to

Employers have to consider a request and deal with it reasonably, and they can refuse it for specific business reasons. A request that names the exact change, the start date, and a practical answer to the obvious objection is much easier to agree. Offering a trial period is often the difference between a refusal and a yes.

Childcare — school hours

The change requested: I would like to change my working hours from 9am–5.30pm to 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday, starting from 1 March.
Why: My daughter starts school in February and the nursery pick-up I currently rely on ends. Finishing at 4pm lets me collect her without needing to leave during the working day.
How it can be managed: My core tasks are completed by mid-afternoon and I would be online for the full team stand-up at 9.15am. I am happy to stay contactable by phone until 5pm on days we have client deadlines.

Caring for a relative

The change requested: I would like to work from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays, keeping my hours and duties the same.
Why: I provide care for my father on the days his carer does not visit. Working from home means I can be present for his morning and lunchtime routine without taking leave.
How it can be managed: I have worked from home successfully during the past year and my role is largely calls and written work. I would come into the office for all team and client meetings on the other three days.

Health condition or recovery

The change requested: I would like to move to a 4-day week (Monday to Thursday, 30 hours) for an initial six-month period, with pay adjusted accordingly.
Why: I am recovering from surgery and my medical team has advised a phased increase in activity. A shorter week means I can keep working reliably rather than taking further sickness absence.
How it can be managed: A trial period gives us both a way to review it. My workload can be planned across four days and I would hand over anything time-critical before Friday.

Commute and travel costs

The change requested: I would like to work from home on Mondays and Fridays and be in the office Tuesday to Thursday.
Why: My commute is over two hours each way. Two home days reduce travel time and cost and mean I start the day fresher.
How it can be managed: Team collaboration is concentrated midweek, so the office days cover every planning and review meeting we currently hold.

Study or training

The change requested: I would like to finish at 3pm on Wednesdays, making the time up across the rest of the week.
Why: My course runs on Wednesday afternoons for the next academic year. Making the hours up keeps my pay and contract unchanged.
How it can be managed: The qualification is directly relevant to my role, and no regular Wednesday afternoon meetings sit in my diary.

Compressed hours

The change requested: I would like to work my full 37.5 hours over four longer days rather than five.
Why: It gives me one predictable non-working day for family responsibilities without reducing my hours or pay.
How it can be managed: Cover on the fifth day can be shared with a colleague who already handles my inbox during leave, and I can be reachable for urgent issues.

How to structure your request

• State clearly that this is a statutory flexible working request, and give the date you are making it.
• Describe the change you want: the new hours, days, pattern or place of work, and the date you would like it to start.
• Say whether you want the change permanently or as a trial for a set period.
• Explain the effect you think the change would have on your work, and how it could be dealt with.
• Say whether you have made a previous request and when.
• Ask for a written decision and offer to meet to discuss it.
• Keep a copy of the request and any reply.

If your request is refused

Ask for the decision and the reasons in writing, and for the alternatives your employer considered. It is often worth proposing a shorter trial, a smaller version of the same change, or a later start date before escalating. If the position does not move, the next written step is usually an appeal or a formal grievance setting out the request, the reason given, and why you think it should be reconsidered.

Put your request in writing

RightWords asks about your role, the pattern you want and how it could work, then builds a clear written flexible working request you can download as a Word document. We prepare documents and explain the process — we are not an AI lawyer and we don't provide legal representation.

Build your flexible working request See pricing