Flexible Working Request Denied

[Gingergoddess]

I am really quite upset about this, as if i haven't got enough stress with my step daughter soon to be joining us, to add to it, the support i thought i would get from work is apparently not there?

So last week during a discussion with one of my two bosses she said that she would be happy to offer as much help as possible during the difficult times ahead when my step daughter moved in....as teh circumstances under which she is coming to us are quite traumatic we want to ensure that she spends as much time at home with us as possible, i was lead to believe that i would request flexible working and as such that's what i did.

I am not in a customer facing role and am office based, doing administrator based work. I had requested, for a temporary period of 3 months) that i start at 7.45 and finish at 4, with a reduction to my lunch break so that i still work my normal number of hours. I did it all in writing etc as requested and today that it has been declined on the basis that they have decided that my role will be changing (first i've heard of it) and they can't possibly loose me for an hour early everyday????

They have made a counteroffer of a reduced hours contract (allowing me to finish at 4 but keeping my original start time and lunch hour) for a period of one month only, but of course this will mean a reduction to my salary and as we now have a childminder to pay for this isn't going to work out financially

I understand that i am able to appeal their decision, but in all honesty i don't think that there is any point as i don't feel like it will change anything and i do think it would have a negative effect.

I have been looking for a new job as i really do hate this one, but i had pulled back from seriously looking as i was lead to believe that they would assist me and so thought i would be better off here for now. Apparently not.....so i am looking again and i do plan to leave ASAP.

I really am disappointed - i know that there are thousands of people that balance working and childcare but i never planned to be one of them so i guess i am even more disgruntled!

[OllyBJolly]

It doesn't sound as if you have anything to lose by appealing?

I probably wouldn't recommend a reduction to lunch break. People need that time away from work, and many people who say they don't take lunch actually do, taking the time in lots of breaks for coffee/watercooler chats etc. An actual lunch break is far more manageable for everyone.

Can you find out how your job is changing? You could then try to think up some solutions so that the role is still covered, but there is a compromise reached where you get something out of it too.

I would also advise you to think carefully about leaving.Is there no way to make things better where you are? If you take on another role you have two years before you have protected employment rights so you would have to be sure you're jumping ship for the right reasons.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

Baffled as to why on the one hand they can't lose you for an hour each day but then offer you a reduced hours contract.

I would challenge it. I'd be good money that the reduced hour contract wouldn't involve much of a reduction in your workload.

Good luck.

[flowery]

Well, you're not entitled to request temporary changes under flexible working legislation anyway, so it's good that they did consider it, and also good that they have managed to offer a compromise.

I know the compromise isn't what you want, but objectively it does sound as though they are trying to help you rather than just flatly refusing.

[Gingergoddess]

It was explained briefly how my job will change, although realistically we are talking about 2 months before anything will happen. Unfortunately, its not a change i want as the work they are describing is not what i have done before so i don't feel qualified or experienced enough to do it.

I really do need to leave here, sadly its not just the job i don't like, its the two bosses that i don't like either and i am getting to the point whereby its making me ill even thinking about coming to work.

I took this admin role as a step backwards in my career as i wanted to reduce the stress i was under in my previous account management role, but this is just turning into the same thing for less money and sadly i am in the minority that i don't live for my work, it almost seems frowned upon but that really isn't who i am. Its not that i don't have ambition, its just that for me, life and family is more important to me.

[Gingergoddess]

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid - yes i wondered that too!

flowery - by our HR policy i am fully entitled to make the request, they just aren't obliged to agree it. Yes i agree that they have been good enough to make a counteroffer, but its kind of what i asked for but just with me losing money!

[Stubbed]

You need to leave I'm afraid. My flexible working request (to go to 4 days a week from ft) was declined and I'm fitting ft into 4 days + evenings now. I hate it. It will mean me leaving in the end, and they will find it difficult to replace me. I am waiting til someone else resigns before giving them an ultimatum when they are vulnerable. They also know this is coming, but...

[PisforPeter]

It's so wank when folk are not understanding. Why can't people see that as long as the work is done it doesn't matter if you leave at 4. I have plenty of colleagues who do less than me and finish later as they like to 'plod' [

[Millionprammiles]

Its perfectly understandable that life and family are more important to you than work.

Just as its understandable that work requirements are more important for your employer than your life/family.

It sounds like you really don't like your job and that may be coming across to your managers. Perhaps try to leave while they'll still give you a good reference. There are more (and less) flexible employers out there.

[Gingergoddess]

thank you for all of your responses, i have spoken to DP whilst i was on lunch and we agreed that the cost of the childminder would be far less than the money i would lose by taking the reduced hours so we are going to leave things as they are.

we are both still disappointed that we won't be able to have the extra time with the little 'un as we both think that under the circumstances she could do with us being at home home but i guess that's just how things go. Hopefully she will be ok, to be honest her mother sent her to the childminder for the same length of time we are planning to so that won't be a change for her at all.

[PisforPeter]

Best of luck x