According To Disability Rights UK.pdf

Disability Rights UK responds to the Right to Request Flexible Working Consultation 2021, emphasizing the importance of making flexibility the norm, particularly for disabled people. The organization recommends a broad definition of flexibility, covering when, where, how, and what work is done, and suggests that guidance accompanying legislative change should encourage employers to think more broadly.

The consultation is criticized for failing to consider the benefits of flexible working for disabled people, with disabled people mentioned only three times in the document. Disability Rights UK recommends that actions following the consultation should highlight the positive outcomes of flexible working for recruiting and employing disabled people and promote the right to flexible working in ways that support closing the disability employment gap.

The organization agrees with the proposal to remove the 26-week rule, which currently bars many disabled people from seeking employment, and suggests that 'day one' is not soon enough to consider flexible working requests. Instead, flexibility should be built into the recruitment and selection processes, beginning at the job design and advertisement stages.

Disability Rights UK also emphasizes the importance of reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, which provides a stronger pathway for disabled people to access flexible working arrangements. The organization recommends that employers be encouraged to build flexibility into job roles and introduce discussions on flexibility during the advertising, recruitment, and selection processes.