Who can make a request to work flexibly to care for a child?

To be able to make a formal request to work flexibly you must:

• Have a child under 17 years old, or under 18 years old if the child receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
• Make the request before the child's 17^th or 18^th  birthday.
• Be responsible for the child. The reason for the request must be for you to care for the child.
• Be an employee and have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks when you make the request.
• You cannot be an agency worker or a member of the armed forces.
• You cannot have made an another application under the same right during the previous year.

If you do not meet these conditions, you can still ask informally, and you may still have rights under sex discrimination law if you are unreasonably turned down.