Flexible working

Flexible working refers to employment arrangements that give employees greater choice over when, where, and how they work. In the UK, employees have the legal right to request flexible working from their first day of employment.

Types of flexible working include:

• Flexitime — choosing start and finish times within agreed core hours
• Compressed hours — working full-time hours over fewer days
• Staggered starts — different start times for different employees
• Shift swapping — exchanging shifts with colleagues
• Part-time or job sharing

For hospitality businesses, flexible working presents unique challenges. Rotas must cover opening hours, and last-minute flexibility can leave gaps. However, offering flexibility improves retention, reduces absenteeism, and attracts a wider talent pool.

AceRota supports flexible working through shift-swapping features, availability tracking, and self-service rota access.