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Flexible working for nurses in the NHS and UK law

Adam Bernstein First published:

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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Adam Bernstein