Filling in a flexible working request.

[mumsies9]

I'm just about to start filling in my request form and I am wondering wether to put in some info.
Some back story - I said in november I would be available to work sundays because I was desperate for the hours and now I'm working every sunday under the sun. I'd never worked sundays before this and I've been there two years. This has had a detrimental impact on my marriage as its the only day my husband is guaranteed off every week.

Do you think I could put on the form;
I would hope the impact on the company and my colleagues would be minimal because I only started working sundays in november. With only 1 day in 7 my flexibility isn't greatly changed but my focus during the 6 days I am available would be greatly improved with a better work/life balance

Its such a hard form :(

[MaverickSnoopy]

I would put:

Up until [date] I was working [state pattern] which worked well as [insert some evidence/statement to back this up]. I therefore anticipate that reverting to this pattern would not have a negative impact on the business or to my colleagues as I would like to work a pattern which was previously successful.


However, what changed to accommodate you working a Sunday? Have others hours been reduced or has someone else's pattern changed, or are you just extra? What will the impact to the business be? It's better to address it and outline how you suggest resolving any possible problems. Once you have written that bit you can go on to say that since straying this new pattern your work/life balance has changed.

Can I just check one thing....I take it your change in hours and days was updated in your contract? How long have you been working Sundays for?

I would hope the impact on the company and my colleagues would be minimal because I only started working sundays in november. With only 1 day in 7 my flexibility isn't greatly changed but my focus during the 6 days I am available would be greatly improved with a better work/life balance

[mumsies9]

I'm not sure about contract, I started there not working sundays and I have a lovely vague 'variable hours contract' which states they need me to be flexible with no minimal hours, but is not zero hours because I accrue holiday . I just told my manger informally that i could work sundays if she needed me, this was in winter when hours are lower as a whole. She has since left on mat leave and I'm dealing with the two big bosses and cannot be informal.
2 members of staff could cover the work and I was treated as extra. Lately though I have been treated as the main employee and the other has been moved onto another section with more hours and has been treated as the extra in my area. We are understaffed for the summer months though with only 3 of us. (Last summer there were 4 of us with me still be the extra)
I have been working the sundays now since november. So 4 months.

[mumsies9]

The reason for the change is because my marriage has suffered as a direct result of my working every sunday.
Husband can't change his hours as he is the 'bread winner'
There isn't any where on the form then have given me to outline the reason for my request, all the questions as company and colleague impact......

[Asmoto]

Maverick's wording is really good. If there's nowhere on the form to include your reason for the request, could you put this in your covering email (or letter if it's a paper form)?

If staffing in the summer is going to be a problem and this is used to reject the request, you could propose that your new pattern is implemented on a trial basis, to be reviewed before the busier months (giving your employer an opportunity to arrange alternative cover).

[mumsies9]

The other half of the form is how could we remedy this.

I have that covered. I have written that I could train staff who have expressed an interest in my area of work and outlined how this could benefit the other employees giving them greater flexibility and that it would give greater cover opportunities for sickness and holiday

[Asmoto]

That sounds like a really good response - especially the part about better sickness and holiday cover. In my experience, flexible working requests are 90% about ensuring the needs of the business are met - if you have all that covered, the reason for the request doesn't really matter.