A company would need to provide an explanation of the business reasons against flexible work if a request is rejected, and binding mediation and arbitration services would be available if the case cannot be resolved in the workplace. About 3.8 million mothers and fathers would be eligible, and officials hope to see a huge savings in recruitment costs as just one benefit of the new policy, which would go into effect in April 2003.
See "Parents in UK to be entitled to request flexible working", Rosemary Bennett and Christopher Adams, Financial Times, November 19, 2001