WORKERS across Scotland have a new legal right to request flexible working from their first day in a new job.

The new right came into force in Scotland, England and Wales on Saturday.

Previously, employees only had a legal right to request flexible working after being in their role for 26 weeks or more.

The Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 was backed by the UK Government last year as a means to create “a happier workforce, [which] means increased productivity”.

Peter Cheese, the chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), said the new right could benefit millions of people.

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“Flexibility around time, scheduling and place of work can be transformative in opening up opportunities for people to get into and stay in work, especially those who have health conditions, caring responsibilities or other life choices they want to make,” he said.

“With an ageing population, and rising levels of economically inactive people due to ill health, flexible working is more important than ever, and has been shown to support better wellbeing, making it good for individuals as well as organisations.

“The pandemic accelerated the understanding of flexible working, and the demand for it, and many organisations have responded positively by introducing more flexible working policies.”

It comes after a study of 4000 workers by campaign group Timewise found that half of those surveyed would consider asking for a flexible working pattern using the new legal right.

The group’s chief executive, Claire Campbell, said: “The new legislation will help job hunters feel entitled to ask about flexible working options and requests could start coming thick and fast.

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“Flexible working and diversity and inclusion are interwoven, and businesses that make the most of the opportunity could really open some doors to new and exciting talent.”

The group Pregnant Then Screwed, which campaigns against discrimination associated with pregnancy and maternity leave in the workplace, said its own research had found mothers were twice as likely as fathers to ask for flexible working following parental leave.

Joeli Brearley, the chief executive of the group, said: “Mothers are more likely to shoulder the lion’s share of the unpaid labour required to care for children and manage a household.

“As a result, they are more likely to need flexible working. Just three in 10 job adverts offer flexibility, limiting the progression opportunities and earning potential of mothers.

“Then we wonder why the gender pay gap widens when couples have children and continues to widen further over the subsequent decades.”