Flexible working issue

[kate76]

I am due to go back to work next year and have asked my manager for a change in hours and the opportunity to work from home a few days a week. We have a good relationships and he has said informally that he is happy with this as he knows I will still get the work done and trusts me to do a good job, regardless of my contracted hours and whether I'm based at home or in the office. However, he doesn't want to set a precedent of letting everyone in our department do this (there are eight of us doing the same job), partly as there is too much work to let everyone start cutting their hours, and some people he doesn't want working from home, for various reasons. Although I think that flexible working requests are granted on a case-by-case basis, I can see his point of view that it would be hard to turn down a similar request, if everyone does the same role. No-one has requested anything similar to date, however I can see that he is trying to look over the longer-term.
I'm trying to write my official flexible working application and propose some solutions, as I really don't want it to end up being turned down. One thought I had was that my company amend my job title/job description slightly, so that it is slight different to the rest of my team.
Would be grateful for any help or any advice!

[bethjeff]

Obviously, I don't know what is expected of you at work etc. But I would basically write what you have just said!

Based on the fact that you have previously met all targets and workloads etc the fact that you have a change of hours should not affect this. I wouldn't write on the form about the change of job title but it might be worth canvassing your boss about it- perhaps even changing your responsibilities slightly so that other staff members cannot compare their workload to your own.

If he doesn't want other people to work from home then surely that is down to the fact that they either cannot work to target or he feels that they need to work under supervision. His feelings towards your colleagues should not affect his feelings towards your attitude to work.

[seeyoukay]

Generally one person doesn't set a precedent. So he could allow you to work from home. If other people ask he could say that there are already people working from home and any more would be unsustainable by the business.

[decidedlydizzy]

don't you have a right to request based on child responsibilities- maybe others you work with haven't got? Your employer won't be setting a precedent- merely following guidelines. see direct.gov

[spritch]

there's an excellent piece in the teleworkers digest this month about this problem - just google them