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6 Flexible Working Request Example Templates for 2025

Posted by Robin on 04 Oct, 2025 in How To

Requesting a change to your working pattern can feel daunting.Requesting a change to your working pattern can feel daunting. Many employees hesitate, unsure of how to frame their proposal in a way that is both professional and persuasive. A well-crafted flexible working request does more than just ask for a change; it presents a compelling business case, demonstrating how the new arrangement can benefit both you and the organisation. It shows foresight, professionalism, and a commitment to maintaining productivity and team cohesion.
This guide moves beyond generic advice to provide you with a series of detailed, practical templates. We will break down several common scenarios, offering a specific flexible working request example for each. You will find ready-to-use templates for arrangements such as remote working, compressed hours, job sharing, and hybrid models. Each example is accompanied by a strategic analysis, highlighting key clauses and offering customisation tips to help you tailor the request to your unique role and company culture.
Often, the primary motivation for seeking flexible working arrangements is to achieve a healthier equilibrium between professional demands and personal life. For more insights into this critical aspect, consider exploring additional strategies for balancing work and family life. By understanding how to present your needs effectively, you can confidently propose a solution that supports your wellbeing while aligning with your employer’s objectives. Let’s explore the examples that will help you build your strongest case.

1. Remote Work/Work from Home

A remote work arrangement, often called "working from home" or "telecommuting," is one of the most popular forms of flexible working. It allows an employee to perform their job duties from a location outside of the traditional office, typically their own home, on a full-time or hybrid basis. This arrangement relies heavily on digital communication tools like video conferencing, instant messaging, and cloud-based project management software to maintain team cohesion and productivity.
Pioneered by tech companies like GitLab and Basecamp, this model has been adopted globally. GitLab, for instance, operates as a fully remote company with over 1,300 employees across more than 65 countries, showcasing its scalability and effectiveness. This model eliminates the daily commute, offering employees significant time and cost savings, and provides the autonomy to design a work environment that suits their personal needs.

Strategic Breakdown of a Remote Work Request

When crafting a flexible working request example for remote work, the key is to demonstrate that your productivity and accessibility will not be compromised. Your proposal must proactively address potential management concerns about supervision, communication, and performance.
Strategic Insight: A successful request frames remote work not as a personal perk but as a business benefit. Focus on how this arrangement will enhance your focus, increase your output, and contribute positively to team goals, while ensuring minimal disruption to existing workflows.
To achieve this, your request should be structured to build confidence. It needs to show you have thought through the practicalities and are committed to making the arrangement a success for both you and the company.

Actionable Takeaways for Your Request

Here is how to apply this strategy to your formal request:
  • Specify Your Proposed Schedule: Clearly state whether you are requesting a fully remote or a hybrid arrangement (e.g., "I would like to work from home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays").
  • Detail Your Home Office Setup: Briefly describe your dedicated workspace, including your reliable internet connection and necessary equipment. This reassures your employer you have a professional, distraction-free environment.
  • Outline Communication Protocols: Propose a clear communication plan. For example, "I will be available on Microsoft Teams and email during standard working hours (9:00 am to 5:30 pm) and will attend all scheduled meetings via video call."
  • Suggest a Trial Period: Proposing a trial period (e.g., three months) demonstrates your confidence in the arrangement and provides the business with a low-risk way to assess its effectiveness. It shows you are thinking from the company's perspective.

2. Flexible Hours/Flextime

A flexible hours arrangement, often called "flextime," allows an employee to vary their start and finish times while still working the total number of contracted hours. This model typically operates around core hours, a set period during the day (e.g., 10:00 am to 3:00 pm) when all employees are expected to be available for meetings and collaborative work. It gives employees autonomy over the start and end of their workday to accommodate personal commitments, like the school run, or to align their work schedule with their most productive hours.
This approach was pioneered by companies like Hewlett-Packard in the 1970s and has since been adopted by major organisations such as Microsoft and Deutsche Bank. By empowering staff to manage their own schedules, companies can boost morale, reduce employee burnout, and improve retention. For example, IBM's implementation of flextime has allowed teams to better accommodate global collaboration across different time zones, directly enhancing operational efficiency.

Strategic Breakdown of a Flextime Request

When drafting a flexible working request example for flextime, your objective is to reassure management that your change in hours will not negatively impact team collaboration or your accessibility. The request must demonstrate a clear understanding of team needs and business objectives, presenting the change as a way to enhance your focus and overall contribution.
Strategic Insight: Your request should be positioned as a mutual benefit. Frame the adjustment not just as a solution for your personal schedule, but as a strategy to increase your productivity during your peak performance times, which ultimately benefits the team and company.
To build a compelling case, your proposal needs to be specific and considerate of others. It should address potential concerns about availability and communication head-on, proving you have thought through the implications for your colleagues and the wider business.

Actionable Takeaways for Your Request

Here is how to apply this strategy to your formal request:
  • Propose a Specific Schedule: Clearly state your desired start and finish times (e.g., "I would like to adjust my working hours to 7:30 am to 4:00 pm"). Acknowledge the company's core hours and confirm your full availability during that period.
  • Emphasise Team Collaboration: Explain how you will maintain seamless communication. For instance, "I will ensure my shared calendar is always up-to-date with my schedule, and I will be fully available for all team meetings and collaborative tasks during the core hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm."
  • Highlight the Business Benefit: Connect your request to improved performance. You could say, "This schedule aligns with my most productive hours, allowing me to complete focused work in the morning, which I believe will increase my output and the quality of my work."
  • Offer a Review Period: Suggesting a trial period (e.g., one month) followed by a review shows you are committed to making the arrangement work for everyone. It provides a formal opportunity to assess the impact and make any necessary adjustments, a key aspect when managing flexible work policies.

3. Compressed Work Week

A compressed work week allows an employee to complete their full-time contractual hours in fewer than the standard five days. The most common arrangement is working four 10-hour days (a "4/10" schedule) instead of five 8-hour days, granting the employee an extra day off each week while maintaining their full workload and salary. This model focuses on condensing working time rather than reducing it.
This approach has been successfully trialled and implemented globally. Microsoft Japan's four-day week pilot resulted in a reported 40% productivity improvement, while large-scale trials in Iceland involving over 2,500 workers showed maintained productivity and improved employee well-being. These examples demonstrate that condensing hours can lead to more focused, efficient work and significant operational benefits.

Strategic Breakdown of a Compressed Work Week Request

When submitting a flexible working request example for a compressed week, your goal is to prove that you can manage a longer workday and deliver your full output in fewer days without negatively impacting team collaboration or client service. Your proposal must address potential concerns about burnout, availability, and maintaining consistent team coverage.
Strategic Insight: Frame your request as a productivity enhancement. Position the longer, uninterrupted workdays as an opportunity for deep focus, leading to higher-quality output. The additional day off is presented as a tool for better rest and rejuvenation, which in turn boosts engagement and reduces burnout risk during the working week.
To be effective, your request needs to show meticulous planning. You must demonstrate that you have thought through how to manage your workload, coordinate with colleagues, and ensure your new schedule integrates smoothly with existing business operations.

Actionable Takeaways for Your Request

Here is how to apply this strategy to your formal request:
  • Propose a Specific Schedule: Clearly define your proposed working pattern. For example, "I would like to work my 37.5 hours across four days, from Monday to Thursday, working from 8:00 am to 6:15 pm, with a 45-minute lunch break."
  • Create a Coverage and Handover Plan: Address how your responsibilities will be covered on your day off. For instance, "I will ensure all urgent tasks are completed by Thursday evening and will provide a clear handover to [Colleague's Name] for any ongoing projects."
  • Highlight Productivity Gains: Explain how longer workdays will benefit your role. You could state, "Working 10-hour days will allow me to dedicate extended, uninterrupted blocks of time to complex tasks like financial modelling, reducing errors and increasing efficiency."
  • Suggest a Reversible Trial Period: Offer a trial period of three to six months. This gives management a low-commitment opportunity to evaluate the arrangement's impact on individual and team performance, making them more likely to approve the request.

4. Hybrid Work Model

A hybrid work model is a flexible arrangement that blends remote and in-office working. Employees split their week between a home office and the company’s physical location, aiming to capture the benefits of both environments: the autonomy and focus of remote work combined with the collaboration and social connection of being in the office. This approach often involves a structured schedule, such as two days in the office and three days at home.
Major companies like Microsoft and Salesforce have popularised this model. Salesforce, for example, gives teams the flexibility to decide how and when they use offices for collaboration. This approach acknowledges that while remote work boosts productivity, in-person interaction is vital for innovation and building company culture. The key is finding a balance, and effective implementation requires careful thought, as outlined in our guide on top tips to help your employees safely return to the office.

Strategic Breakdown of a Hybrid Work Request

When crafting a flexible working request example for a hybrid model, your goal is to present it as a strategic choice that optimises your work patterns. It is not just about convenience; it is about leveraging different environments for different types of tasks. You must show your manager you have considered how to maximise both your focused work time at home and your collaborative time in the office.
Strategic Insight: Position your request as a proactive plan to enhance both individual productivity and team synergy. Emphasise how you will use in-office days for collaborative meetings and team-building, and remote days for deep-focus tasks, creating a more effective work rhythm for everyone.
Your proposal should demonstrate a clear understanding of your role’s requirements. By aligning your proposed schedule with your core responsibilities and team needs, you show that your request is a well-considered business case, not just a personal preference.

Actionable Takeaways for Your Request

Here is how to apply this strategy to your formal request:
  • Propose a Specific Hybrid Schedule: Clearly state your desired arrangement. For example, "I propose working from the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays to align with team meetings, and working remotely on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays."
  • Link Your Schedule to Job Duties: Justify your proposed split. For instance, "I will dedicate my remote days to deep-focus work like report writing and data analysis, and use my office days for brainstorming sessions and client-facing meetings."
  • Address Technology and Logistics: Reassure your employer of a seamless transition between locations. Mention that you have the necessary equipment at home and can transport your laptop to ensure you are fully operational in both settings.
  • Coordinate with Your Team: Show you have considered the wider team impact. You could add, "I have discussed this with my immediate team members to ensure our in-office days overlap for effective collaboration." This proactive step minimises disruption and shows initiative.

5. Job Sharing

Job sharing is a flexible work arrangement where two or more employees share the responsibilities, duties, and compensation of one full-time position. Each person works part-time hours, and together they provide complete coverage for the role. This model hinges on exceptional communication, coordination, and often complementary skills between the partners to ensure a seamless workflow and consistent productivity.
This approach has been successfully implemented by forward-thinking organisations like Unilever, which offers job sharing for senior management roles, and the NHS, which has extensive programmes for medical professionals. These examples demonstrate that job sharing can retain top talent who require reduced hours, bringing two sets of skills and experiences to a single role. It can be an effective way to manage a phased return to work and support employee well-being.

Strategic Breakdown of a Job Sharing Request

When creating a flexible working request example for a job share, your proposal must be a joint business case. It needs to address how the partnership will deliver more than a single employee could, mitigating any risks associated with a split role, such as communication gaps or inconsistent output. The focus is on synergy and coverage.
Strategic Insight: A compelling job share request positions the partnership as a value-add, not a complication. Emphasise the benefits of two mindsets, broader skill coverage, and continuous role presence. You are not just asking for part-time hours; you are proposing a more resilient and dynamic way to fulfil a full-time role.
Your request must be meticulously planned and presented collaboratively, if possible, with your proposed partner. It should instil confidence that you have a robust system for handovers, decision-making, and client communication.

Actionable Takeaways for Your Request

Here is how to apply this strategy to your formal request:
  • Define the Division of Labour: Clearly outline how responsibilities will be split. For example, "I will work Monday to Wednesday morning, and [Partner's Name] will work Wednesday afternoon to Friday. Wednesday afternoon will serve as our dedicated handover period."
  • Highlight Complementary Skills: Showcase how your combined skills benefit the role. "My expertise in data analysis combined with [Partner's Name]'s experience in client relations will provide comprehensive support for the department's objectives."
  • Detail Communication and Handover Protocols: Propose a concrete plan. "We will maintain a shared digital log for daily updates and hold a 30-minute handover meeting every Wednesday to ensure seamless continuity."
  • Propose a Review Period: Suggesting a three- or six-month trial demonstrates your commitment to making it work and gives the business a chance to assess the arrangement's success without long-term commitment.

6. Part-Time Work Arrangement

A part-time work arrangement is a form of flexible working where an employee works fewer hours than a standard full-time week, typically less than 35 hours. This can be structured in various ways, such as working fewer days per week, shorter hours each day, or even on a seasonal basis, offering a powerful way to balance professional responsibilities with personal commitments like caregiving, further education, or phased retirement.
This model has been successfully implemented across various sectors. Retail giants like Starbucks offer part-time roles with pro-rata benefits, including stock options, to attract and retain talent. Similarly, many healthcare organisations and professional services firms provide part-time senior positions to retain experienced professionals who seek a better work-life balance, demonstrating the model's adaptability to both operational and strategic roles.

Strategic Breakdown of a Part-Time Work Request

When crafting a flexible working request example for a part-time role, the primary objective is to demonstrate how your key responsibilities can be effectively fulfilled within the proposed reduced hours. Your request must address how the business's needs will be met and how potential impacts on the team will be managed, positioning the change as a sustainable and efficient solution.
Strategic Insight: Frame your request around value and efficiency, not just reduced hours. Focus on how you will prioritise high-impact tasks and reorganise your workload to deliver core results. This shifts the conversation from what is being lost (your time) to what is being maintained (your output and value).
A strong proposal anticipates and mitigates concerns about continuity, workload distribution, and overall team performance. It shows you have thought through the practical implications for the business and are committed to making the transition seamless.

Actionable Takeaways for Your Request

Here is how to apply this strategy to your formal request:
  • Propose a Specific Schedule and Workload: Clearly state your desired hours (e.g., "I propose to work 24 hours per week, structured as 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday to Thursday"). Crucially, detail how your current responsibilities will be managed within this new schedule, perhaps by delegating certain tasks or focusing only on core duties.
  • Define Communication and Handover Processes: Outline how you will ensure a smooth handover for the days you are not working. For example, "I will provide a detailed handover summary every Thursday afternoon and ensure all urgent matters are addressed before I finish."
  • Discuss Benefits and Compensation: Acknowledge that your salary and benefits will be adjusted on a pro-rata basis. This shows you have a realistic understanding of the business implications and are ready for a constructive discussion.
  • Suggest a Review Period: Propose an initial trial and review period (e.g., three months) to assess the new arrangement. This provides a safety net for both you and the business, making it easier for your manager to approve the request.

Flexible Work Request Examples Comparison


Work Arrangement Implementation Complexity Resource Requirements Expected Outcomes Ideal Use Cases Key Advantages | Remote Work/Work from Home  | Moderate: Requires digital tools and policies  | Reliable technology and internet connection  | Increased productivity, cost savings, broader talent pool  | Computer-based roles, knowledge workers, creative professionals  | Eliminates commute, flexible environment, cost reduction
| Flexible Hours/Flextime  | Moderate: Policies, manager training, monitoring  | Time-tracking tools, shared calendars  | Improved work-life balance, employee satisfaction  | Knowledge workers, employees with commutes, parents  | Accommodates peak productivity, reduces rush hour stress
| Compressed Work Week  | Moderate: Scheduling adjustments, trial periods  | Planning for coverage and workload distribution  | Longer rest periods, potential productivity gains  | Roles where longer daily hours are feasible  | Extended weekends, reduced commute, better work-life balance
| Hybrid Work Model  | High: Coordination of schedules, office redesign  | Tech for seamless transitions, workspace management  | Balanced remote and in-office benefits, maintained culture  | Knowledge workers needing collaboration and flexibility  | Combines remote flexibility with in-person collaboration
| Job Sharing  | High: Coordination, communication protocols  | Partner management, shared accountability  | Shared workload, maintained coverage  | Roles suitable for part-time sharing, senior or specialized positions  | Reduces burnout, career progression for part-time workers
| Part-Time Work Arrangement  | Low to Moderate: Scheduling flexibility, contract adjustments  | Adjusted benefits and compensation management  | Work-life balance improvement, potential income reduction  | Employees seeking fewer hours, managing other commitments  | Flexible hours, reduced stress, career retention option

Making Your Request Count: Key Takeaways for Success

Navigating the process of formally requesting a flexible working arrangement can feel daunting, but as the examples in this guide demonstrate, a well-structured and thoughtfully presented proposal is your most powerful tool. The journey from initial idea to approved arrangement is paved with strategic planning, clear communication, and a focus on mutual benefit. By dissecting each flexible working request example, from remote work to job sharing, we’ve uncovered a universal truth: success lies in the details.
The most effective requests are not just appeals for personal convenience; they are compelling business cases. They anticipate managerial questions, pre-emptively address potential concerns, and frame the proposed change as a positive development for the team and the organisation as a whole. Remember, your manager’s primary responsibility is to ensure departmental productivity and cohesion are maintained. Your request must show you share that priority.

Your Blueprint for a Successful Request

To transform a template into a persuasive proposal, it’s crucial to internalise the core strategies highlighted throughout our analysis. Let’s synthesise these into a final, actionable checklist:
  • Lead with Logic, Not Just Need: While your personal reasons for the request are valid, your written proposal should centre on professional benefits. Emphasise how the arrangement will enhance your productivity, focus, and overall contribution to the company.
  • Present a Detailed, Actionable Plan: Don't leave your manager to figure out the logistics. Clearly outline your proposed schedule, communication protocols, and strategies for ensuring seamless collaboration with colleagues. This demonstrates foresight and ownership.
  • Address Concerns Proactively: Put yourself in your manager's shoes. What are their biggest potential worries? Coverage gaps? Team communication? Client availability? Address these points directly in your request, offering concrete solutions for each.
  • Quantify the Benefits: Whenever possible, use data to support your case. Reference past performance on independent projects or highlight potential efficiency gains. A data-driven argument is always more compelling than a purely qualitative one.

Beyond the Written Word

Crafting the perfect written document is only the first step. The subsequent conversations are where the nuances of your proposal will be explored. To ensure your flexible working request is well-received and effectively negotiated, it's essential to continuously improve your communication skills. Being able to articulate your points confidently, listen actively to feedback, and collaboratively problem-solve will significantly increase your chances of a positive outcome.
Ultimately, a successful flexible working request is a testament to your professionalism, strategic thinking, and commitment to your role. By leveraging the examples and insights provided, you are now equipped not just to ask for flexibility, but to build a robust business case that makes saying "yes" an easy decision for your employer.
Managing various flexible schedules, hybrid models, and part-time arrangements can become complex for any business. Leavetrack simplifies the entire process by providing a clear, centralised system for tracking all types of work patterns and leave. Ensure fairness and transparency in your team by exploring how Leavetrack can streamline your workforce management.