Business owners are being urged to prepare for new legal rights which will give employees the right to request flexible working if they care for a sick or disabled relative. Law firm Mace and Jones said employers needed to be aware that the Government had given a definition of what a carer is, to clarify who has the right to request flexible working in the Work and Families Act (see notes to editors). The new right will be extended to an estimated 2.6m carers from 6 April 2007.

Employees with young children already legally have the right to request flexible working and under the Work and Families Act.

Mace and Jones employment law partner Justin Beevor urged business owners to audit their staff to ensure they are aware of who will be requesting flexible working.

'Failure to prepare for this significant change in legislation could be seriously disruptive if left to the last minute,' he said.

'The definition of a carer covers a broad range of people and consequently this legal change could have a significant impact on how a business operates.

It is vital employers are fully informed of what this legislation means and precisely what rights staff do and do not have.