While it seems like a long time away, it will be Christmas and the end of 2024 before you know it.

If you’re seeking to put in place Flexible Working Arrangements for the new year, the best thing you can do is to start having these conversations about Flexible Working Arrangements now with your team leaders and managers.

A Flexible Working Arrangement (FWA) is an agreement between a worker and the employer to change your standard working arrangement to better accommodate your commitments and responsibilities outside of work. Which can benefit workers and employers!

Family of three sitting together on a sofa demonstrating flexible working arrangements.

Changes may include, but aren’t limited to, hours of work, shift patterns and location of work. FWAs can help to:

  • Promote fair and equitable workplaces
  • Improve morale and productivity, and refuse stress and burnout; and
  • Reduce absenteeism and improve work life balance.

Who can request Flexible Working Arrangements?

Under the Agreement and the Fair Work Act, Full-time and Part-time workers with 12 months service, and regular casual employees with 12 months service who have an expectation of continuing employment.

You also need to meet one of the below specific circumstances:

  • Experiencing, or are providing care or support to a member of your immediate family or
  • household who requires care or support due to family and domestic violence;
  • You’re the parent, or have responsibility for the care of a child who is school age or younger;
  • You are a carer (caring for someone who has a disability, medical condition – including a terminal or
  • chronic illness, mental illness or is frail or aged); are a person with disability; or you are 55 or older; or
  • You are pregnant.

If you meet the criteria above, reach out to your manager.

Requests for Flexible Working Arrangements need to be made in writing and can be done via email. You should set out the change that you’re looking for and provide the reasons for the change – subject to any confidentiality requirements relating to family and domestic violence.

Download the fact sheet from our website

Need more information or clarification, let us know – contact the Union on (03) 9623 9623, via email at enquiry@msav.org.au or through the Member Portal

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