Flexible Working Hours application - need help selling the idea to my boss.

[Raggydoll]

I currently do 3 days a week. I have requested 3 reduced office days , finishing at 2pm but working 2 full days from home.

Ultimately this will be more working hours but less of them in the office.

I am going to produce a supporting document to show I have considered the needs of the business... what kinds of things can I say to show that working from home can work and ultimately it will be in their interest for me to work more hours regardless of my working location.

Thanks for reading...

[EffiePerine]

some things to consider:

Communication: how will you talk to colleagues/deal with problems/update your boss when working from home

Benefits of working 5 days rather than 3

Are there any specific issues atm that this would solve (work not personal)

Advantages to you working from home (again work, not personal, maybe less distraction from tasks?)

The important one for me would be childcare arrangements when you are at home: how to make sure you;re not running after your DCs all the time

[Raggydoll]

thanks. fortunately dc's will be at school and nursery. I do work some hours at home already and they are in childcare then too... it is a very brave woman that attempts working with young dc's around

[flowerybeanbag]

Raggy have a look at workingfamilies website there's a useful factsheet and online guide to flexible working.

Immediate issues just from reading your post that leap to my mind are;

You want more hours - is there a need for more hours, is there work that isn't being done? More hours will obviously cost your employer more, so unless a need has already been identified to increase your hours, you may be more successful asking to rearrange the hours you already do. You ask how to show it's in their interest for you to work more hours, that's not really something anyone else can advise you on without knowing whether there's a need in your job.

Childcare - ensure you have childcare in place for the times you are working from home, and make sure this is clear to your employer.

What equipment will you need working from home? I don't know if your organisation has a homeworking policy which addresses things like office equipment, health and safety, insurance and all those things, but if not, might be worth considering them yourself.

[flowerybeanbag]

x-post, glad to see childcare isn't an issue

[Raggydoll]

thanks flowery i will check out your link.

The bit I need to sell is the less time in the office and more time at home aspect.
My boss would like me to work 35 hours from the office - I would like to do 25 hours from home - the compromise I have suggested is 18 hours in the office and 12 hours at home.

I am a project manager and I do work from home already so the practical setup is already in place.

[flowerybeanbag]

well that sounds very promising. Not too drastic a change for anyone, and a compromise is always good as well.

[Raggydoll]

just in case anyone is reading in and interested in advice I found the direct gov site helpful

[Raggydoll]

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/EmploymentInteractiveTools/DG_10028030

[titchy]

I would sell the benefit of working 5 days a week rather than 3 - if anything crops up that needs dealing with you are there to deal with it straight away, rather than it being left for one or two days till you are back at work.

Maybe also sell them the idea that IF something urgent came up you would be prepared to go into the office exceptionally - just to back yourself up really and not give them anything to disagree on.

[Raggydoll]

yes a good point re: the 5 days instead of 3. I would be able to go in any day really so also another plus. Thanks