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Flexible Working: Devon

Asked by Martin WrigleyLiberal DemocratDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 27 April 2026UIN 129029

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increased flexible working rights for workers in Devon.

Answered by Kate Dearden

We are making changes through the Employment Rights Act to make it more likely that flexible working requests are accepted.

The impacts of the Employment Rights Act have been assessed through a comprehensive package of published analysis. This includes an assessment of regional impacts, which is available here: Employment Rights Act 2025: economic analysis. In addition, this package features the Impact Assessment ‘Making flexible working the default’, available here: http://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments

From 2027, employers will have to discuss challenges in accommodating requests with employees and consider alternative options, and, if they can’t agree an arrangement, to explain their reasoning.

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