flexible working application turned down - advice please

[ChasingButterflies]

I'm about to appeal the decision to turn down my request to work from home one day a week. But looking at the letter they sent me, they haven't explicitly cited one of the specific business grounds (as on the BERR website) for refusing the request. They have given a couple of reasons and one of them would fit the "planned structural changes" reason, but they haven't actually said that. Is this worth raising in the appeal?
The other reason they give is "extra pressure" on the job. Not sure what category that would fall under. But I'm not sure whether they're obliged to state clearly which of the reasons they're using, or whether I'm just meant to assume...
TIA

[ChasingButterflies]

Hopeful bump

[flowerybeanbag]

CHasingbutterflies yes they have to specify which one/s of the eight reasons you found on the BERR website applies, and how it applies in your case, so do mention that in your appeal.

That won't make them change their mind though, so you need to make sure you focus on what the problems are. Obviously without knowing more about why it's been turned down, or about the job, difficult to help more, but make sure you address every concern they have.

Just to make sure, if you want to work one day a week from home,you are not hoping to be working at the same time as having childcare responsibility are you? Because that would normally be a deal-breaker for most employers.

Sorry if you are not planning to do that, but thought I ought to mention it.

Have a look at workingfamilies website for lots of helpful stuff

[ChasingButterflies]

Thanks flowery, was hoping you'd appear!

I have childcare for the day I want to work from home, and my bosses do know that, though I'll stress it again in my appeal. I know I couldn't work with ds around!

I'm finding it quite hard to counter their reasons in my appeal letter as it's difficult to know quite what they mean by saying working from home would put "extra pressure" on the job. That feels so general as to cover pretty much anything. When I met with my boss, she told me she was worried that work would spill into my home life and make me miserable - though they've not said that in the letter. Seems odd to me, and frankly, I don't agree.

My feeling - though of course the letter doesn't say this either - is that they think there are too many people working from home. This came up in a couple of conversations with my boss - someone else whose deal isn't really working out (though my proposal is different to hers); there have been a couple of mentions of another home-working deal that "failed". But I'm not sure that's a reason to turn me down

[flowerybeanbag]

Homeworking doesn't always work. But depending on the job/the individual/how much time is spent at home, there's no reason it can't work. Especially only one day a week!

If you can try and get some feel for why you think homeworking isn't working for others, it will help you come up with a strategy for making sure it will work for you.

Having lots of people working from home does give employers a bit of a challenge in terms of managing their health and safety, monitoring their equipment use, providing remote access to systems if appropriate, possible expense of phone lines/internet costs. Don't know if any of that would be a problem for your employer.

Lots of the arguments against homeworking apply when quite a lot of time is spent at home, lack of contact with colleagues, lack of 'face time' inability to manage a team remotely if applicable, that kind of thing.

My advice would be to meet with your boss, say you are appealing the decision as is your right. Say that part of the reason for your appeal is because they have not followed the required procedure in terms of specifying the reasons for the decision, part of the reason is because you disagree with the decision and don't think it's reasonable. In order to get a resolution to this, you would like to discuss with her exactly what her concerns would be, so that you have an opportunity to consider/address them fully.

I think that would be a very reasonable request from you, especially bearing in mind your employer hasn't given sufficient reason.

Consider offering a trial period for your proposal as well. That way if they feel it is 'failing' they can end the arrangement, so they have a safety net, but equally, you have an opportunity to prove how marvellously it will work and how much your productivity will increase...

[ChasingButterflies]

Thanks flowery, I will do that - really appreciate your help