What do employers need to do to comply with work-life provisions in the new National Employment Standards?
It is recommended that employers implement documented management guidelines and procedures to standardize the process of managing employee requests for flexible work arrangements. This needs to include a timeframe to comply with the requirement to respond to such requests within 21 days.
The NES requires ‘consideration’ of requests rather than guaranteed ‘accommodation’ of them.
To effectively support these changes line managers should also be provided with training and development to ensure they comply with the procedures and are supported to successfully manage new flexible work arrangements. Such procedures and training will help employers appropriately ‘consider’ requests for flexible work. We can help you comply.