Under the law, employers have a duty to give serious consideration to requests of parents with young children under 6 years old, or disabled children under 18, and carers of dependent adults to work flexible hours.

Employers can only refuse a request for flexible hours where there is a clear business reason for doing so.

Following the recommendations of an independent review in May 2008, the right to request flexible working is to be extended to parents of children aged up to 16.