Flexible working for nurses in the NHS and UK law
Introduction
Flexible working allows individuals time to recover and deal with familial issues, as well as complete day-to-day home tasks that cannot be performed during working hours.
Flexible working was made a priority during the COVID-19 pandemic, as employers were forced to find new ways in which employees could do their jobs. However, nurses were working at the frontline of in-person healthcare during the pandemic, in many cases resulting in a loss of flexibility and work–life balance.
Employees have a right to request flexible changes to their work, including:
- the number of hours they work
- when they start or finish work
- the days they work
- where they work (HM Government, 2024)
Work pressures and burnout
The Royal College of Nursing (2024) recognises the benefits of flexible working, noting that:
Flexible working arrangements help create a healthy work–life balance for employees and their families.
Flexible working may help to
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