Flexible Working - What It Means For Your Business

Flexible working is becoming popular in the 21st century workplace, as an increasing number of people seek to combine an active family life with full-time employment. Employers have become more aware of the benefits that flexible working can bring to their business: these can include greater staff retention and better morale along with increased efficiency and productivity. Indeed, for many global businesses some kind of flexible working policy is becoming essential for co-ordinating with their international offices, and recent changes in legislation have significantly increased the number of people with a legal right to apply for flexible working.

Who has the right to apply?

Any employee can apply informally and ask for flexible working hours; whether or not you approve an informal request like this is entirely down to your company’s flexible working policy. But only two kinds of people have a legal right to apply: employees with young or disabled children, and employees who are caring for infirm or disabled adults. Currently, parents with children aged six or under have the right to apply, but from April 2009, this right will be extended to parents with children who are sixteen or under.

An employee must have been working for a company for at least 26 weeks before they can apply for flexible working. For those with a legal right to apply, only one application can be made every 12 months.

What are some of the options for flexible working?

There are numerous flexible working options, and it is important to consider which of them can practically be applied for your business. Some of the most common are:

- Flexible hours. An employee works full or part time hours, but when these hours are worked is fully negotiable. An employee could start and finish two hours later than usual, for example.

-Zero hours contract. A contract that has no fixed hours. The employee works only when there are specific tasks to complete.

-Work from home. An arrangement where an employee works partly or fully from home.

-Job Share. The full time role of a single employee is shared between two or more people on a part time basis.

How do I handle a flexible working request?

Just like any other negotiation with your employees, it is important to follow the correct legal process when handling an application for flexible working. Failure to do so could leave you vulnerable to litigation, so make sure you draw up proper legal documents and follow a clear procedure when considering flexible working for a member of staff.

As part of your flexible working policy, make sure that the employee puts in a written request clearly stating their reasons and the kind of flexible working that they would like to apply for. You should deliver a first reply within 14 days. If you approve their application, you should inform them in writing and draw up a revised contract of employment. If they are going to work from home, you need to agree how their work will be monitored e.g. through daily task lists and timesheets, weekly meetings, and so on.

You can reject an application for flexible working, but you must provide an explanation, based on a sound business reason, and give your employee the right to appeal your decision. Rejections need to be judged carefully – your employee may well consider working somewhere else if you reject their request completely. See if a compromise can be reached, or if there is another flexible working option that may be appropriate.

Useful legal documents

It is very useful to have a written company policy on flexible working, outlining under what circumstances flexible working will be considered, whether any particular positions will be exempt, and so on and so forth. This will give you something to refer to in case of a dispute, and will also be useful to your staff. You may also wish consider some letter templates for certain legal documents, such as a range of flexible working contracts.

Flexible working can seem difficult to implement correctly, but as long as there is clear procedure and consistent company policy, it can bring great benefits for employees and the business alike.

About the Author

Iain Mackintosh is the managing director of Simply-Docs. The firm provides over 1100 legal documents and small business templates covering all aspects of business from equal opportunities in the workplace to a sample flexible working policy.

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Christmas Venue Reviews To Help When Choosing The Perfect Winter Break

Christmas should be a time to relax and reflect.It's an opportunity to step back from the pressures and stresses of modern life and enjoy some time away from work.Because more people are working longer hours, taking less holiday time and rarely taking adequate breaks throughout the rest of the year, Christmas has become the only real time that some people get to unwind and do something completely different.With this in mind many people are choosing to spend the break at a hotel.

Most venue reviews now include details of Christmas menus and facilities because the market for Christmas weekend or short breaks has increased so much in recent years.People, especially working professionals, are looking to get away from the day to day grind of work without having to do housework, cooking, cleaning and the other domestic chores that they inevitably get drawn into when spending time at home.

There are plenty of options when considering a Christmas break.Most hotels and venues that operate all year round have now seen how lucrative the market is around Christmas breaks and have acted accordingly.So now you can not only go for a meal, you can take part in themed weekends, outdoor pursuits be entertained at concerts and live events or simply have a relaxing spa or health break.

Here are three Christmas venue reviews to illustrate what is available if you're considering a break this Christmas.

Charing Cross Hotel, London - The Charing Cross Hotel screams style and sophistication.A recent refurbishment has added to the sense of glamour without taking away the feeling that you are somewhere steeped in history.The individualism that makes a place special in the minds of visitors is also still present with architectural features still present and liveried staff on hand to meet and greet you.

The whole hotel has a grandness to it that is so often missing with modern buildings and its location next to the station reminds you that many famous and important people have crossed its threshold and stayed in its rooms.The restaurant and bar have views across the Strand towards Trafalgar Square which provides a perfect backdrop to a relaxing Christmas break.

Coombe Abbey, Nr Coventry - Coombe Abbey is steeped in history.This former 12th century Cistercian Abbey has been lovingly restored while at the same time adding all the modern features and facilities that you'd expect from a venue.Set in 500 acres of parkland the location is perfect for a winter walk through forests and beautifully kept gardens.

All year round the venue is host to exciting and innovative entertainment.There are regular themed banquets and even murder weekends.The Christmas Carol event has become a regular and very special feature in the calendar.The rooms have a royal grandeur to them and this sense of importance and splendor is reflected in the hotel menu.Coombe Abbey is also ideally located in the heart of Warwickshire and places like Stratford upon Avon and Warwick Castle are both nearby.

The Met, Leeds - Located in the heart of a revitalized and vibrant Leeds City centre, The Met is one of the best hotels in Yorkshire.After a six million pound refurbishment the grade II listed building has been transformed into a top class hotel with modern facilities and offers a top class dining experience to visitors.The new Tempus Bar at the hotel is an ideal place to relax and celebrate Christmas with a glass of something sparkling.

About the Author

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the hotel industry.

Find out more about venue reviews and hotels.

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What Are Junior Lien Foreclosures

Unless you have been living in a cave somewhere, you have probably heard that the residential real estate market is practically in the gutter. Foreclosures are at an all time high and are expected to continue to rise in the next two years. Many so-called real estate investors are packing up and heading back home, with their tails between their legs. But not you. Not if you know how to use this buyers market to your advantage and make more money than ever.

Junior lien foreclosures occur prior to an actual bank foreclosure. It takes about 6 months for the bank to complete the entire foreclosure process. During this time, the bank is not getting paid any money, the house is lived in but most likely not being taken care of properly, and the bank cannot sell the house. No money is coming in for the bank, but plenty is going out. Lawyers cost plenty and foreclosures have to go through the court system.

Because of the influx of foreclosures on the market, the court system is overburdened with the foreclosure process which means it can even take longer for a bank to foreclose on an errant borrower. During that time, the borrower is living rent free and doing whatever they want to the property. If you have ever been inside a house that went into foreclosure, you know that it is not a pretty sight. You might see holes punched in walls, doors missing, light fixtures ripped from their sockets. People who are getting tossed out of their homes are sometimes angry or trying to take everything that is not nailed down.

This is where a savvy investor comes in. If you proceed with a junior lien foreclosure, you can intercede in the middle of the foreclosure with the bank, purchase the property and satisfy both the bank and the owners.

In most cases, the owners of the property just want to get out and on with their lives. They cannot sell the property and may owe more than what the property is worth. They are anxious and scared. You come in and make them an offer to sell their property so that they can walk away without it costing them any money. This is known as the short sale, or junior lien foreclosure.

Because you are saving the bank not only from the legal hassle of foreclosure, but also from having to sell the property once it has been foreclosed upon, you can offer quite a bit less than the property is worth. And the bank will most likely take it You may have to negotiate for a while, but it will be well worth it. More than likely, the bank does not need another foreclosure on their hands.

In order to facilitate such a transaction successfully, you need to learn as much as you can about junior lien foreclosures, short sales and real estate investing in general. Once you are armed with this knowledge, you will be able to not only make money in this down buyers market, but you will not have to compete with thousands of other investors who want to get their hands on foreclosures. Your knowledge and skills that you can easily learn from one seminar or class will knock the competition out of the water and put you at the head of the real estate investment game.


About the Author

For more articles and a 10 part e-course on how to create your own Ultimate Buying and selling Machine plus over 50 training audios, simply go to

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