Yes, an employer can refuse flexible working arrangements, but only if they have reasonable business grounds, must follow a specific process, and provide a written response detailing their reasons. They must discuss the request, genuinely try to agree on alternatives, and consider the impact on the employee before refusing. Generic refusals or not following these steps can lead to disputes with the Fair Work Commission.
“As an employer, you can only refuse a flexible work request if you've discussed it with them, and you've genuinely tried to reach an agreement with them,” says Hill. This doesn't mean employers are obliged to offer different work arrangements to reach a compromise, as the employer did in this case.
1/ The basics. What is the flexible working law? Currently covering England, Wales and Scotland, this law came into force on 6 April 2024. It means that rather than having to wait 26 weeks (or six months) before making a flexible working request, you can now make the request from day one of employment.
The "3-month rule" in a job refers to the common probationary period where employers assess a new hire's performance, skills, and cultural fit, while the employee learns the role and decides if the job is right for them; it's a crucial time for observation, feedback, and proving value, often with potential limitations on benefits until the period ends. It's also advice for new hires to "hang in there" for three months to get acclimated and evaluate the job before making big decisions.
What are the rules for a 9/80 schedule? Employees in a 9/80 schedule receive an extra day off every two weeks, but must still work a total of 80 hours during that time. To reach that mark, they work eight nine-hour days and one eight-hour day.
Ideal shift schedule: Late-morning to evening shifts (9 AM–5 PM or 11 AM–7 PM) work best with their sleep cycle. If rotational shifts are necessary: A structured weekly rotation (rather than daily changes) gives your team time to adjust and minimizes sleep disruptions.
The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule that derives its name from its requirement that workers clock in from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week, resulting in employees working 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week. It is practiced illegally by some companies in China.
Most people agree that five years is the max amount of time you want to stay in the same job at your company. Of course, this answer changes depending on your pre-established career arc and the promotions within your company.
A 30-60-90 day plan is a document used to set goals and strategize your first three months in a new job . 30-60-90 day plans help maximize work output in the first 90 days in a new position by creating specific, manageable goals tied to the company's mission and the role's duties and expectations.
Even if a gap was not part of the plan, it should not affect your marketability to a future employer. Times have changed, and an employee can still be loyal and committed even if they do not work every day of their adult life. For employers, candidates having an employment gap should no longer come as a surprise.
My employer wants to end our flexible working agreement
If you have a flexible working agreement in place, your employer can only change your flexible working agreement with your consent. If you do not agree to the change, you can protest and bring claims against your employer (see below).
Remote work isn't going away, it's evolving. While some companies are pushing for return-to-office policies, the broader trend shows remote and hybrid work are here to stay. The data tells us that: According to SHRM, the share of U.S. employees working remotely has grown from 17.9% in late 2022 to 23.7% in early 2025.
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia are forms of neurodivergence – there are others too. Being neurodivergent will often amount to a disability under the Equality Act 2010, even if the person does not consider themselves to be disabled.
What to do when your boss or manager is bullying you? When a boss or manager is bullying you, it's important to document the behavior, report it to HR or a higher authority, seek support from colleagues, and consider consulting with a lawyer if necessary.
Real-World Examples of Unfair Treatment at Work
If you do choose to resign, it is a decision that is up to you, as an employee. Your employer cannot prevent this or force you to stay. However, if you do provide the wrong notice period, your employer may refuse to accept that period. In this circumstance, your employer can ask you to amend your notice period.
The biggest red flags in an interview often involve toxic culture indicators like the interviewer badmouthing past employees, aggressive pressure to accept quickly, extreme vagueness about the actual job, or a disorganized process. These signal potential issues with management, a poor environment, or a desperate need to fill the role, rather than finding the right fit, showing a lack of respect for you or the position.
Example 90-day probationary period policy
As an at-will employer, the company has the right to fire the new hire at any time without cause and likewise, the employee has the freedom to terminate employment during this timeframe.
The three golden rules of an interview are Be Prepared, Be Professional, and Be Yourself, emphasizing thorough research, appropriate conduct, and genuine personality to showcase competence and fit for the role, ensuring you understand the job and company while presenting your authentic, confident self.
The biggest red flags at work often center around toxic leadership, poor communication, and a high-turnover culture, signaling deep issues like micromanagement, lack of transparency, burnout, and disrespect, where problems are normalized and employee well-being is ignored in favor of short-term gains. Key indicators include managers who don't support staff, excessive gossip, broken promises, constant negativity, and environments where speaking up feels unsafe or pointless, often leading to high employee churn.
The "7-second resume rule" means recruiters spend only about 7 seconds scanning a resume initially to decide if it's worth a deeper look, making first impressions crucial for grabbing attention with clear formatting, a strong summary, and relevant keywords from the job description. To succeed, focus on clean layouts (ATS-friendly), a concise professional summary, tailored keywords, and bullet points highlighting recent, relevant achievements, ensuring it passes both Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and the quick human scan.
In an ideal world, you should stay at each job for a minimum of two years. However, if you quickly come to realize you made the wrong choice when accepting a position, don't feel obligated to stay at the company until your two-year anniversary.
“996” working hour system referred to as “996”, is a work schedule which encourages or forces employees to extend their working hours or even work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. This is a common phenomenon among Chinese tech companies and startups.
The "42% rule" for burnout suggests dedicating roughly 42% of your day (about 10 hours) to rest and recovery activities like sleep, hobbies, exercise, and socializing to prevent mental and physical exhaustion, countering the "always on" culture that leads to burnout. It's a science-backed guideline emphasizing that sustainable success requires balancing intense work with sufficient downtime for your brain and body to recharge, not just a quick nap.
The healthiest shift work schedule minimises night shifts and prioritises consistent sleep routines. Rotating shifts with a gradual transition from mornings to evenings to nights is often considered ideal.