Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 24 seeks to delete section 13B(4), which provides that an employee’s approved flexible working arrangement "shall not commence before a time when the employee concerned has completed 6 months continuous employment with the employer concerned" and replace it with the provision that such a restriction would be subject to the approval of the employer and the employee. This is a regressive provision which seems to be out of step with the reality that many employers may wish to offer flexible work arrangements from the outset and that such arrangements may be better suited to the nature of the employment being offered. Such a limit seems arbitrary and betrays a lack of ambition in the context of how people actually enter the workforce. This provision may particularly negatively impact women returning to work after a period of informal care work and may act as a deterrent for such women seeking to return to formal work.

Amendment No. 25 is an alternative to amendment No. 24, which would provide that subsection (4) shall not apply where an employer and employee agree to commence an employee's approved flexible working arrangement prior to the completion of six months continuous employment with the employer concerned.