Recorded Webinar: Flexibility under Pressure: Managing Difficult Employees and the Complexities of Flexible Work

With expanded rights to request flexible working arrangements—and a growing willingness by employees to challenge refusals—employers are under increased pressure to navigate these requests lawfully and fairly. When the employee is already “difficult” to manage, the stakes are even higher. This session explores the legal obligations and strategic considerations involved in handling flexible work requests from high-risk or resistant employees. It will:

• Clarify the current legal framework for flexible work arrangements, including recent legislative changes and key takeaways from recent case law;
• Examine how tribunals and external decision makers are interpreting what constitutes a “reasonable” request or refusal—and what this means for HR decision-making;
• Discuss the need for a differentiated approach across roles and seniority levels, and how to articulate operational grounds for refusal without inviting legal challenge;
• Unpack the growing use (and misuse) of the right to disconnect as a shield against performance management, and how to respond when it’s raised by a resistant employee;
• Provide practical guidance for responding to requests, documenting decisions, and managing the risk of bullying or adverse action claims linked to flexible work disputes.