Slight change in working hours- is this a bad idea....

[Tweet2tweet]

I would like to return to work and work 8-4, normal hours are 9-5. Although I am one of the managers, there is a deputy who works 9-5 and another manager in a different team who can be contacted for emergencies.

The business is currently considering more flexible working times so my starting earlier may help, if they go with this development.

Anyway, I have a very unsupportive, paranoid mother who has told me that if I put in a request to work 8-4 rather than 9-5 my work will write me off. She says they will think I put my family first and overlook me for any future promotion. She also said I'm putting myself at a higher risk of redundancy.

I haven't told anyone else this, just MN now, but I am having real anxiety about asking for this change at work. They gave me a hard time when I asked to leave 30mins early once a week after my last mat leave. However I really struggled and 8-4 will be a huge help as my DP works nights. I feel I must ask in order to have some slack. I am also willing to stay back from time to time for important meetings etc.

Personally I don't think it is a lot to ask and shouldn't be held against me but what my mum has said has really wound me up. For anyone with experience of running organisations or deciding flexible work requests, is this a lot to ask? Would you look down on someone who asked this and not think them ambitious?

[pizzaqueen]

you should ask! what kind of a job is it you do? is there a business reason why they would say no.

I work 8:30-4:30 its the only way I can get home for nursery closing time. occasionally I need to stay late for meetings or if I'm further away than usual office but I always have lots of notice so can sort someone else to collect ds (dp works 3pm - midnight).

[Dackyduddles]

Moving hours from 9-5 to 8-4 will barely be noticed by work.

Word of warning, ensure its bloody clear what hours you will do as those that turn up at 9 will be very snippy about you "part timing" and "waltzing" out the door at 4. They will conveniently forget you started at 8. And it can play havoc with working late as your either working two hours extra to everyone else's one or panicking to get out on time.

I did it for a short time. It was great but thick skin required.....

[Tweet2tweet]

I manage a frontline help desk type thing. I work mainly in office but deal with irate customers, returns, queries on refunds and service development. My deputy can also do frontline operational tasks in my absence.

It's to collect from nursery that I want to finish early too. I want it official though which is why I want to put flexible wok application in. Last time they wouldn't give me anything in writing so if my manager changes I have nothing concrete. If I put in application, if I got it, it would be permanent.

Feel really down by negativity my mother has put into my head!

[pinktransit]

I'd look at it from a business point of view - can you show any evidence that customers want to call before 9am?
If you can look at the volume of calls at a particular time then you could sell this as a plus for the business, as well as being good for you.

[Tweet2tweet]

Dackyduddles, yep I know what you mean. Just finishing a bit early one day a week last time made me feel guilty. However before I had kids I did loads of extra hours and feel I was taken for a bit of a mug. So now my attitude is that I do a good job and am more productive than a lot of my colleagues so if they want to talk about me leaving early so be it. Will be hard to live by that but much easier than letting my children down.

Also I was criticised for leaving at 5 whilst pregnant so am sure will get it regardless. Funnily when I'm in at 8 office is deserted! Ones staying in lat often arrive at 9.30, perception. Work life is so unfair

[Tweet2tweet]

Thanks champagne bubble, really appreciate your advice.