Submitting a flexible working request

[notfromstepford]

Hello wise mumsnetters
Hoping you can give me an idea on where to start.

Having just come back to work after mat leave, I've decided that I want to put in a flexible working request to work school term time only.

The nature of my particular job means that my quietest period is July and August. With my holiday entitlement, I can cover pretty much all holidays apart from the 6 weeks in the summer.

I had an informal chat with my line manager about it. Although she made all the right noises (I like to be family friendly etc), she did mention more than once about how her work load was huge and although I might find July and August fairly quiet - she didn't - and how it might not be operationally viable for me to do this when taking in to account her workload.

I only get one shot at submitting a formal request and one appeal if it is rejected. If it fails I can't submit again - that's it game over.

So I was wondering if any one has successfully managed this sort of thing and if anyone had any ideas of what I should include in my formal proposal. I need it to be as robust as possible to give little/no chance of a knock back but I don't know where to start.

[2014newme]

It sounds unlikely to be approved if your manager is very busy in school summer hols. Term time only requests can be easy to decline compared to other flexible working requests as 13 weeks is a long time out the company. I have seen it argued that if we can manage without them for 13 weeks let's go the whole hog and cut the job all toge. Sorry.

[OliviaBenson]

Does anyone else have this arrangement?

It doesn't sound as though it would be well received to be honest. The summer is also a time where staff cover could be less due to summer holidays etc.

Could you look at other options?

Also you need to factor in that your annual leave would be pro-rata if you dropped down to that arrangement so check it does cover it all.

[notfromstepford]

Thanks for your replies.

My manager has 14 people reporting to her, we all cover different aspects of the business, so the examples she used were for areas I would never cover.

From my point of view it's the 6 weeks summer holidays that would be the stumbling block, but I could arrange my work either side so no one really have to cover as such. I work in a university if that makes any difference, and because of the area I look after, it really is dead during that time. I have big peaks other times of the year where I work longer hours etc to get the job done, which I would be at work for.

The only other option available is 2.5 days a week which I can't afford to do and doesn't fit in with the summer holiday problem with my 4 year old. The baby isn't a problem really - he already has a nursery place so that makes no difference.

[2014newme]

It's worth asking!

[notfromstepford]

Thanks - not holding out much hope though.

[notfromstepford]

That's an idea. I don't think they are keen on annualised, but it's worth looking in to. Thanks