I'm due to return to work in an office based job within the next few months following the birth of my first child and am currently in negotiations around my flex working request. I am very stressed out and would really appreciate some advice please.
I have asked to finish work at a set time each day as much as possible, and have indicated that I would be happy to take calls outside usual business hours and travel for work, given reasonable notice to arrange childcare. I've made my employer aware that I will be responsible for drop-offs and collection of my child from nursery. I wanted to return three days per week and they have declined this but offered four. I am prepared to do this. It is not the same role I had before maternity leave, but they have a number of roles they would like to discuss with me. My boss made it crystal clear in previous conversations that my career development/progression would be halted if I opted for a three day role, so I have felt very much pressurised into agreeing to four days. However, they have said that when not travelling, I can work from home.
My boss has now emailed me saying that I am required to take calls outside of usual business hours and travel away from home and away from my usual base location office 'as the need arises and at short notice' saying that there is an 'expectation and understanding that people of my level of seniority will do whatever hours are required to get the job done' (I'm a senior manager). My boss has said that if I don't commit to this, they will demote me to a role of lesser rank and cut my salary accordingly.
I totally understand that in order to meet the needs of the business, our department needs to offer some flexibility in the hours we work. I've been in the team for several years with excellent appraisals and have had four promotions in that time. That said, how can they possibly expect someone with caring/parental responsibilities to provide a total blanket commitment to travelling away from home at short notice 'as the need arises'? I would move heaven and earth to try and meet that need, my work ethic and commitment to the organisation hasn't changed. nevertheless the possibility exists that there will come a time when I have to say 'no' because I physically cannot arrange childcare with short notice. What happens then? I'm pretty sure that I would either face disciplinary proceedings or at the very least face damage to my career prospects.
Can they do this? My contract states that I will be required to work from other locations from time to time, and I want to be clear, I'm happy to try and do what I can, but I cannot offer that total commitment which they say is required.
I feel bullied into four days, bullied into travel and 'discretionary effort' and honestly after almost a decade of seriously hard work, it's difficult to digest.
There are other parents in my department working three day weeks with limited travel. Were they threatened with demotion if they didn't promise to work outside business hours no matter how short notice the need?
I have a call in a week or so with said boss and department head. Absolutely dreading it and don't know what to do. Sorry to rant on - I'm stressed beyond belief as you can probably tell!
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.
Work
Demanding travel and calls outside normal hours
25 replies
CheeseAndWineParty · 27/08/2016 19:37
OP posts:
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
Please create an account
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.