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Nurses win right to make unlimited flexible working requests

Unions agree deal aimed at ensuring better work-life balance for NHS staff
A nurse pointing to a duty roster

Unions agree deal aimed at ensuring better work-life balance for NHS staff

A nurse pointing to a duty roster
Picture: Chris Woods

NHS nurses will be able to make unlimited flexible working requests under a new agreement aimed at preventing staff quitting the health service for a better work-life balance.

From September, NHS staff in England, Wales and Scotland will no longer need to justify flexible working requests and will be able apply from their first day in the job. The changes are the result of a deal between health unions – including the RCN and Unison – and employers to improve staff retention.

Making flexible working a ‘more realistic’ option

NHS Staff Council chair and Unison head of health Sara Gorton said a lack of flexible working was driving staff out of the health service.

‘Rigid shifts and long hours mean staff often miss out on valuable quality time with family or the chance to pursue outside interests,’ she said. ‘Flexible working does happen in the NHS, but this new agreement will make it a more realistic option for staff in all roles’.

Flexible working: what are the changes and how might they affect me?

From 13 September NHS staff working in England, Scotland and Wales* will be able to:

  • Request flexible working from the first day of employment (currently only allowed after six months of employment)
  • Make unlimited requests for flexible working (currently only one request per year is allowed)
  • Request flexible working without needing a reason to justify it

Does this mean my manager has to accept my request?

No, but any flexible working request that is initially denied by your manager will be escalated to explore ways to accommodate it. Employers will be expected to promote flexible working when recruiting and in meetings and appraisals.

*Similar measures are expected in Northern Ireland

Lack of work-life balance cited by NHS leavers

The need for greater flexible working opportunities was highlighted in the 2020-21 NHS People Plan, the government’s recruitment and retention strategy.

More than 56,000 people who left the NHS between 2011 and 2018 cited a lack of work-life balance as the reason for leaving, the report said. It also found staff often changed to agency or bank work because of a lack of flexibility to juggle work with their personal commitments.

Ms Gorton said the new rights would only be effective if chronic staff shortage issues were also addressed.


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