requesting flexible working

[choccychick]

I am due to return to work soon and am after some mn advice. Before my maternity leave i was full time 9-5 plus worked out of hours shifts on a rota until midnight. When i left to start maternity leave i wrote a letter to my manager requesting the whole year as mat leave and also to say that i would like to work part time when i returned. I thought i was doing the right thing letting her know my intentions however this letter was pretty much thrown back in my face with her saying that i was full time and that she didn't want to discuss it until i was coming back.

So now i have been to see her to ask to work 2 days a week ( many other people have requested this within our department and succeded) This was turned down with her saying that my collegues have been working really hard to cover me and that i can't just expect to come back and work willy nilly She wants me to work 3 days and covershifts that don't end until midnight!! I was quite restrained in my reply explaining to her that it is impossible to do that with a baby when my husband is in the same job and works silly shifts too.

Anyway to cut a long story short - she is unwilling to compromise with me. I have come up with lots of suggestions involving me working the odd evenings or weekends when i have childcare ( my job would allow for this as i am sitting in my office on my own)
Has anyone had the same problem? I realise that managers are not obliged to let you return part time but i thought they should at least consider it.

Any advice would be really appreciated

[hebetalbot]

I do shift work and my employers managed to accomodate me with a job share. I do an average of 17.5 hours per week over a six week rota. It includes night, lates and weekend work. Your employer has to have a valid business case for turning down your request. One of the government websites should have the low down on requesting flexible working. Does anyone else know the best place to look?