Working from home legal rights explained as Andy Burnham's government announce major change, tell me about this news in (https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/home-working-legal-rights-explained-34643410)

Based on the Chronicle Live report, here is an overview of the announced changes and existing legal rights regarding working from home:

The Government’s Announcement

• Higher Bar for Employers to Refuse Requests: Under proposed reforms expected to take effect in 2027, businesses will have to prove they have properly considered and weighed up an employee’s flexible working request before rejecting it. Employers will be required to sit down with staff, give genuine consideration to requests, and provide clear explanations if a request is refused.

• Support from Unions: The Trades Union Congress (TUC) welcomed the move, stating that flexible working is a vital support rather than merely a perk, and noting that it benefits retention and productivity while giving workers a stronger voice.

• Realistic Limits: Ministers noted that while not every job can be carried out from home and not every request can be approved, every request must be taken seriously.

Current Working-From-Home Legal Rights

• Right to Request, Not an Automatic Right: Since 2024, employees in the UK have had the statutory right to request flexible working (including working from home, changing working hours, or adjusting shifts) from their very first day on the job. However, this does not grant an automatic legal right to work from home.

• Grounds for Rejection: Employers can refuse a request if they have a valid business reason. The law outlines eight specific reasons, including extra costs, inability to reorganize work among existing staff, negative impact on quality or performance, inability to meet customer demand, or planned structural changes.

• Application Limits & Response Time: Workers can submit up to two statutory flexible working requests in any 12-month period, and employers must respond and complete the process within two months.

• Reasonable Adjustments for Disabilities: Employees with disabilities have distinct protections under equality laws, requiring employers to make reasonable adjustments, which can include home working.