Employers should expect a significant rise in requests for flexible working as a result of new legislation which will come into force in April 2007, warns international law firm Bird & Bird.

The new Flexible Working Regulations 2006, which have been introduced as part of the government’s plans to extend family rights under the Work and Families Act 2006.

The new laws will extend the right to request flexible working to carers. It is estimated by the DTI that 6.5% of the working population will fall within the definition of carer and that 1.4 million carers will be eligible to request flexible working from April 2007.

Bird & Bird employment lawyer Elizabeth Lang says: "The extension of these rights to carers, and the broad way in which the definition of carers has been drafted, will mean that employers can expect a significant increase in the number of requests from employees to work flexibly.

Requests for flexible working can be made by employees with six months' service; a request can only be denied on certain specific business-related grounds. Flexible working can include decreased hours, different hours or a different pattern of working.