Labour reveals plan to make it easier for staff to work from home with new rules for firms trying to block flexible working requests

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 11:30 EDT, 15 September 2026 | Updated: 11:54 EDT, 15 September 2026 Labour is to make it harder for businesses to stop staff working from home, a senior minister said today.Louise Haigh told union leaders that companies planning to turn down requests for flexible working will have to meet the employee face-to-face and 'explain why'.It is the latest step in Labour's pro-worker agenda, which saw it bring in the Employment Rights Act. Union leaders welcomed the move saying it would make it 'harder for employers to turn down requests' to stay away from the office.Standing in for Andy Burnham at the TUC Conference, Ms Haigh told delegates that 'life isn't always as neat as employers would like it to be'.She went on: 'There's kids to pick up. Parents to look after. Families who rely on us at short notice. And sometimes, a little bit of flexibility can make all the difference.' Louise Haigh told union leaders that companies planning to turn down requests for flexible working will have to explain to the employee face-to-face and 'explain why'.TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: 'The government is right to recognise the importance of flexible working.'Anyone with kids or caring responsibilities knows that being able to work flexibly isn't just a perk – it's a lifeline.'That's why this move is a welcome step forward. It makes it harder for employers to turn down requests while giving workers a stronger voice in the process.'Improving access to flexible working benefits workers, businesses and the economy - whether it's through increasing staff productivity or higher retention.'