Advice about how to apply for a flexible working arrangement, the different types of flexible working arrangements, devising a business case for flexible working, providing supporting evidence of successful flexible working arrangements to support an application to work flexibly. Time4balance can also advise about obtaining finance to pay for consultancy and legal fees.

People have a variety of reasons to want to work flexibly:

• Caring for children and elderly relatives
• Playing in an Orchestra or band
• Stress
• Professional development
• Hobbies
• Religion/Spiritual development
• Sports
• Housing problems
• Travel
• Transport difficulties
• Not wishing to commute
• Congestion charging
• Parking problems
• Illness, long-term or short-term

A better work-life balance can bring:

• Greater responsibility and a sense of ownership
• Better relations between management and shop floor
• Improved self-esteem, health, concentration and confidence
• Loyalty and commitment
• A reduction in bringing home problems to work - and vice versa
• Time to strike a better balance with life outside work
• Greater control of your working life

A Unique Service

Time4balance recognises that many individuals need to work more flexibly in order to balance the conflicting demands made on their time.

Employees need help and guidance on how to approach their employer to find a flexible working arrangement that suits their personal need for flexible time whilst meeting their employer’s business needs.

Time4balance provides the following unique service to people seeking to work flexibly:

Legal advice on employment legislation

• The right to request a flexible working arrangement under the new Employment Act 2002
• Parental leave rights
• Part-Time Workers Regulations
• The Working Time Directive
• Discrimination issues (sex, race, age)
• Health and safety legislation
• Other related legislation.
• Practical assistance
• Drafting the “right to request” application
• Submitting a business case to support the application
• Assessing the needs of the employer and devising ways of meeting those needs
• Negotiating with the employer to find solutions to any issues raised by the employer
• Providing examples of how a flexible arrangement can work

Time4balance can find and interview other workers who are in a comparable job, with a comparable client base and in a comparable organisation.

We can provide these case studies to the employer, illustrating how a particular job can be performed flexibly.

This will help employers and employees to better understand the issues raised by the proposal to work flexibly and thereby find possible solutions.

Funding an employment dispute

Unfortunately, people sometimes find that they are forced to either resign or litigate in order to obtain a flexible working arrangement. Should all negotiations with your employer break down, Time4balance can help individuals find funding to assist with legal fees to bring a claim against their employer.

Bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal

Time4balance does not act on behalf of employees bringing claims in an Employment Tribunal but works in association with Palmer Wade, a specialist firm of lawyers who specialise in these types of cases. They are considered leaders in their field for this type of work.