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Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Work

Flexible working straw poll...

40 replies

emskaboo · 13/09/2008 20:55

just interested really, how many of us have applied for flexible working and how many of us got what we asked for/got anything like what we asked for?

Thanks

OP posts:

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StealthPolarBear · 13/09/2008 20:57

I got what I asked for (33 hours in 4 days) but my boss requested I make that day usually a Friday rather than usually a Monday.
Worked fine, and I still had loads of flexibility, if work commitments meant I couldn't do I Friday I had another one, no questions asked.
As it was I'm going back FT for a number of reasons as of Monday.
I work for the NHS.

AnotherFineMess · 13/09/2008 20:57

I applied for 3 days (Wed-Fri) after mat leave and got it. I also got that reduced down to 1 day so that I could take on a temporary project for 6 months. That was with the Probation Service who were very good at accommodating flexible workers.

Now I've left & work for a charity and they are even more brilliant, I just have to do my job and I can work when I like.

ChukkyPig · 13/09/2008 21:14

I asked for 2 or 3 days.

I was offered 5 days 9-1 (with a total 3 hour commute) or 4 days.

We couldn't meet in the middle.

I was told to resign.

Worked in finance in london.

Still pretty pissed off about the whole thing TBH.

emskaboo what about you? Is it something you've got happening at the moment?

southeastastra · 13/09/2008 21:16

i get it but i work odd hours

fishie · 13/09/2008 21:18

i got it but inevitably work more hours than i want to and less pay than i would otherwise get.

llareggub · 13/09/2008 21:19

I got what I asked for, which surprised me. In fact, I have had two different flexible working arrangements in place. I think myself lucky, I've been very fortunate.

DontCallMeBaby · 13/09/2008 21:20

I went to three 7.5 hour days after maternity leave, and I've switched to five 6 hour days, term-time only, now that DD's started school. No problem either time - biggish govt department, it's one of the things they're pretty good at.

MarlaSinger · 13/09/2008 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gigglewitch · 13/09/2008 21:25

I work for a charity but am a manager/teacher in special ed if that makes sense. I have had all sorts of FW agreements - over the last 7 yrs, varying from 3 days straight to three and four with extra paid time - anything up to full time hours so that i can work at home and be 'on call' for advice when i'm not in the office. My company is absolutely fantastic for family-friendly stuff which is the reason i've stayed there for ever...

strawberrycornetto · 13/09/2008 21:26

I am a lawyer in a firm in the city. I have just agreed to go down from full time to 4 days a week with one of those days worked at home when I go back after maternity leave. We are going to try two different days working at home to see which works best because my boss and I didn't agree, but its from a work point of view either way so I don't mind.

Basically, I got what I asked for, but I asked for something I knew should be accepted IYSWIM. Someone else in my team has a similar arrangement. I very much doubt they would have agreed to 3 days a week and I know for sure I will probably get close to doing 5 days work in 4 for 4 days pay. I've decided its worth it.

Hulababy · 13/09/2008 21:26

I got what I asked for - every time I have asked.

1st - when returning to teaching after DD was born (6 years ag) - went from FT to PT 3 days a week.

2nd time - current job at prison (arranged about 2 years ago), changed PT hours so that on a Tues I finish 30 min early (30 min less lunch) and then Wd.Thurs I do 1.5 days hours equally, finshing at 2:10pm with just 20 min lunch.

3rd time (just started new arrangements this month; DD now 6y5m so above 6y old). Dropped half a day to go down to 2 days a week, now finish 30 mins early than normal end time both days (with reduced lunch hour to make up for it)

deanychip · 13/09/2008 21:27

I was made an example of, so i get the hours that i asked for.
Its so that they can boast that they offer family friendly hours.

They dont, there is only me that does these hours.

Im in nursing, in nursing, you work the shift patterns OR you find another career. END OFF.

spudballoo · 13/09/2008 21:30

I worked for a law firm. I can't quite remember what I asked for, 3 days a week I think. Initially they agreed it, and then made me redundant and it cost them a lot lot lot lot lot of money.

foxinsocks · 13/09/2008 21:31

I asked for one day at home, 4 days in the office (work 5 days a week).

It was agreed on the proviso that I'd go in on that day if I was needed (this was never overtly stated but we both agreed it had to happen that way).

At the moment, I'm going in for 50% of those days but it's worth it and they are good with things like appointments etc.

so basically in reality I get to work at home 2 days a month and the rest of the time I'm in the office

(am in finance too)

ChukkyPig · 13/09/2008 21:31

spud from the redundancy pay or did you sue them? [nosey]

spudballoo · 13/09/2008 21:35

No, I had a lawyer but they immediately offered a gigantic amount and a compromise agreement. Even the lawyer advised to take it rather than attempt to haggle for more. It was a clearcut case of discrimination and, as a major international law firm they (a) knew it and (b) always avoid the risk of a tribunal and (c) as head of media relations I'd been advising them for years in terms of the potential media interest in such cases and mostly (d) they must have been TERRIFIED I would use my media contacts to damaging use had they not paid up.

So I took the money and ran.

And got another job, super super flexible the next day

deanychip · 13/09/2008 21:42

Its odd because in nursing probably 80% of the work force are women, probably 70% of them are of childbearing age or who have children and yet it is just accepted as the way its always been.
Same as the wages, no one really gets too emotional about a situation that is completely unacceptable, and makes life difficult.
Personally i worked christmas day for 10 consecutive years, before i had my son. Now i am asking for christmas day off so that i can watch my son open his presents and be with my family..liek every one else, and i will not get it off.
Might get boxing day.
Thats not flexible working is it?
Im told..."if you want christmas day off...get another job".

strawberrycornetto · 13/09/2008 21:53

Spud, good for you . Law firms are really mixed from what I've seen. I work in the employment team so my team are great because they know the law (and its also an area with a lot of women working in it). Other people I know have had different experiences though. I do have some sympathy for firms when it comes to fee earners as we are client facing and my clients do not care about my personal life, they pay a fee and expect a level of service. That's why I know I'll work on my day off, in the same way that my full time colleagues work on their weekends and holidays. The industry is tough for everyone, full time or part time.

pippylongstockings · 13/09/2008 21:55

I applied for 3 1/2 days and got it on a jobshare basis - this then became unworkable as the girl I was going to job share with wasn't up to the management role.I was offered new role in my home town on same hours - worked it, love it - as much as anyone can enjoy work.

I do struggle with the whole swapping days at short notice etc. for instance my manager was just off for 2 weeks with stress. I then had a family breavement plus my CM daughter had a baby with complications but I called on my mum to come (her mother had died) and sit the kids so I could do a handover to my manager in person.

There was no thanks which makes me wish I hadn't bothered.

I guess it's always a work in progress.

ruddynorah · 13/09/2008 21:57

yes i got what i asked for. but i chose to work where i do before starting a family as i knew flexible working, on the hours i wanted, was no problem.

rookiemater · 13/09/2008 22:08

I requested 3 days a week or job share, finally agreed on 4 days a week with slightly reduced hours. I work in the financial sector.

4 days a week is a pain in some respects as work load isn't adjusted at all to account for the reduced hours. But at least I get a day with DS which makes it worth it.

ChukkyPig · 13/09/2008 22:12

nice one spud!

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Twinklemegan · 13/09/2008 22:24

I applied for, and got, compressed hours. 5 days (35 hours) into 4.5 days so I could save us half a day's childcare costs. Easy to do, but my work is suffering because I used to do a lot of extra hours that I now can't fit in to the time available. But that half day makes all the difference. I take DS to a toddler music group, then we go the park and have lunch before I take him to nursery and go to work. For half a day a week I feel like a proper mum.

gigglewitch · 13/09/2008 23:38

@ spud

Tinker · 13/09/2008 23:45

I asked for term-time working about 6 years ago and got it. Not an issue (then) where I work

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