Hello, I am now a single parent caring for two minor children. I don't know how to go about caring for all their needs -- physically and financially -- without requesting for a little flexibility at work, especially when it comes to my schedule. Do I have the right to seek this? What shall I do to get my employer's approval?

Yes, you can actually request for flexible working. Your having the parental responsibility to care for children under 16 years old gives you the statutory right to apply for flexible work arrangements.

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I love mermaids!

From what I know, you can ask your employer for flexible working arrangements or pattern if you are an employee and not an agency worker, if you have worked for your employer for 26 weeks continuously before applying for it, and if you have not made another flexible work application during the past 12 months.

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When you say flexible work arrangements, what does this mean?

You can seek to work part-time or less than the normal work hours, or work for fewer days per week. You can also opt to work on a flexible work schedule or time; or you can work annualized hours, compressed hours, or staggered hours. Or, you can also ask to be allowed to work from home.

Does this flexible work arrangement only apply to single parents?

No. You have the statutory right to flexible work if you:

- have parental responsibility of a child aged under 16 or a disabled child under 18 who's receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- are the caretaker of an adult who is a spouse, partner, civil partner or relative; or who although not related to you, lives at the same address as you.

Take note, however, that the magic words are "right to ask," "right to request," or "right to apply." This means that if you are one of the above, you have the right to REQUEST flexible working, and not exactly the right to have it. Under the law, your employer should consider your application and can only reject it if there are good business reasons for his/her doing so.

Hi LonzNoGenius:

Be careful, you are giving the impression that parental responsibility gives you the right to get a flexible schedule at work... it doesn't really. You can only ask for it.

My thoughts exactly! You can only ASK for it, not DEMAND it.