The standard 9-to-5 workday is becoming a thing of the past. If you are looking for a better work-life balance without reducing your pay, you are likely searching for how to get flexitime at your current job.
Flexitime is one of the most popular forms of flexible working because it offers freedom while maintaining structure. Instead of fixed hours, you get to choose your start and finish times, usually within agreed "bandwidths."
But asking for a change to your schedule can be daunting. Will your manager say no? Do you have the legal right to ask?
This guide explains exactly how to get flexitime, from understanding the new "Day One" legal rights to crafting a proposal your boss can't refuse.
If you want to know more about flexible working you can read our guide.
We also have an app to submit flexible working requests in minutes called Flexi Worker.
What Does "Getting Flexitime" Actually Mean?
Before we dive into the process of how to get flexitime, it is important to know what you are asking for. Flexitime is not a free-for-all. Most successful arrangements operate on a simple framework:
- Bandwidth: The earliest you can clock in and the latest you can clock out (e.g., 7:00 am to 7:00 pm).
- Core Hours: The specific hours you must be at your desk (e.g., 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm).
- Accounting Period: You track your hours over a set period (usually a month). You can build up a surplus or deficit, as long as you hit your total contracted hours by the end.
Because flexitime often doesn't change your total hours or salary, it is often easier to get approved than a compressed hours or part-time request.
Your Legal Right: Can You Request Flexitime from Day One?
If you are researching how to get flexitime, the first thing you need to know is that the law is now on your side.
As of April 2024, the law changed to make flexible working a "Day One" right. This means:
- You do not need to wait 26 weeks to ask.
- You can make a request from your very first day in the job .
- You can make two statutory requests in any 12-month period .
However, remember that while you have the right to request, your employer does not have to automatically say yes. They must handle your request in a "reasonable manner" and can only refuse for specific business reasons.
How to Get Flexitime: A Step-by-Step Process
If you want to know how to get flexitime approved quickly, following the correct process is vital. There are two ways to do this: informally and formally.
Step 1: The Informal Approach (Best for Flexitime)
Since flexitime is often less disruptive than other forms of flexibility, many employers allow it without a formal contract change .
- Check the Employee Handbook: Your company may already have a flexitime policy. If it does, you can usually just opt-in by speaking to your manager.
- Have a Chat: Ask your manager, "I'd like to discuss adjusting my start and finish times. Is now a good time to talk about how to get flexitime for my role?"
- Suggest a Trial: Propose a one-month trial to prove it doesn't impact productivity.
Step 2: The Formal Statutory Request
If your manager asks you to put it in writing, or if the informal chat is unsuccessful, you need to make a formal flexible working request. This must be in writing (an email is fine).
How to write your flexitime request email:
- State it is a statutory request: "I am writing to make a statutory request for flexible working."
- Propose your new hours: Be specific. "I would like to change my working pattern to flexitime. I propose to start between 7:30 am and 9:30 am and finish between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm, covering core hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm."
- Suggest a start date: "I would like this to take effect from [Date]."
- Declare previous requests: Mention if you have made any requests in the last 12 months.
Your employer must then consider your request and respond within two months, including any appeals .
Building an Unrefusable Business Case
To successfully learn how to get flexitime, you must answer one question for your boss: "What's in it for the business?"
The Problem with Personal Reasons
If you base your request solely on personal reasons (e.g., "I want to avoid traffic" or "I want to go to the gym"), your employer has no obligation to care. You need to show how the business benefits.
The Business Case for Flexitime
Frame your request around these points to prove you have thought about how to get flexitime without causing disruption:
- Extended Coverage: "With a staggered start, our department can respond to client emails from 8:00 am instead of 9:00 am."
- Increased Productivity: "I am most productive in the early mornings. Shifting my schedule allows me to complete deep-focus tasks before meetings start."
- Commute Efficiency: "By shifting my hours, I can avoid a 90-minute traffic jam, ensuring I arrive on time and well-rested."
Address Potential Objections
Show that you have already solved the problems your manager might worry about.
- "I will ensure I am available for all team meetings, regardless of my start time."
- "I will keep a timesheet to prove my hours remain the same."
What Happens After You Submit Your Request?
Once you have asked how to get flexitime and submitted your request, here is what to expect:
- The Meeting: Your employer may invite you to a meeting to discuss the proposal. This is your chance to reiterate your business case.
- The Decision:
- Approval: You can start your new schedule.
- Compromise: They may offer a variation (e.g., slightly different core hours).
- Refusal: They must give you a valid business reason.
Valid Reasons for Refusal
Your employer can only say no for specific reasons, such as:
- Burden of additional costs.
- Detrimental effect on customer demand.
- Inability to reorganize work among staff.
- Detrimental impact on quality or performance.
If they refuse for any other reason, you may have grounds for an appeal.
Top Tips to Guarantee Success
If you want to master how to get flexitime, follow these final tips:
- Focus on Output: Emphasize that you will get the work done regardless of the hours you sit at your desk.
- Be Flexible Back: State that you are happy to attend early or late meetings with notice, showing goodwill.
- Suggest a Review Period: Offer to review the arrangement after 3 or 6 months to ensure it is working for the team.
- Get it in Writing: Once approved, ask for written confirmation so there is no confusion about your new hours.
Conclusion
Learning how to get flexitime is mostly about preparation and understanding the law. With the new "Day One" rights, you are legally entitled to ask. By building a strong business case that highlights the benefits to your employer—rather than just yourself—you dramatically increase your chances of swapping the rigid 9-to-5 for a schedule that works for your life.
If you want to know more about flexible working you can read our guide.
We also have an app to submit flexible working requests in minutes called Flexi Worker.