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Original poster

Flexible working request

60 replies

Janch13 · 21/03/2024 20:46

What would your flexible working request look like if this was your current setup:

  • returning to work following maternity leave
  • work mostly remotely, with some visits to offices
  • part of a global team, reporting into someone on a California time zone (particularly relevant!)

I am thinking about the fact that my “new” manager will be logging in just as I am finishing up for the day. I will have a strict hard stop on my work day due to childcare pickup. I’m not working late (past 5pm) when 5-7pm is pretty much the only time off my day to really see my kids (and it will be chaos with dinner, bath, bed routine) but was considering maybe to request to change my working hours so that I log on for a bit say 7:30-9:30pm and took a could of hours out during the work day.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the above, has anyone done this or similar?

OP posts:
Overthebow · 22/03/2024 09:32

And I don’t mean making up the time of you need time off for these things, I willingly agree to work sometimes in the evening if projects or time zones need, and therefore work have never had an issue with whatever I need off during the day as they know I put the effort in to help them.

Overthebow · 22/03/2024 09:30

Keep 9-5 but be flexible with occasionally logging on in the evening to work with your manager, in return for flexibility from them during the day occasionally if your DC is sick, DC appointment or there’s a nursery event to go to. I do this, no formal agreement but an understanding on both sides and it works very well.

BananaPalm · 22/03/2024 09:25

Yep, as pp said - it doesn't look like this could be a sustainable solution. I'd keep 9-5, at least you know (!) you'll have childcare covered during these hours. That's not the case at 8pm Grin

Original poster
Janch13 · 22/03/2024 09:09

Thanks for the perspectives.

My current hours are 9-5 and yes this does suit me.

I reported into someone based in Europe before I went on maternity leave and so now coming back to a manager on a US time zone I thought there might be a way to use this to my advantage in a flexible working request, but as many of you said before perhaps this wouldn’t suit it anyhow, as I do definitely know how hard it is to peel yourself off the sofa for work once the kids are down.

OP posts:
WolfFoxHare · 21/03/2024 21:01

Why do you need to make accommodations because your manager is in California? Have you been asked to do this by your employer? What flexibility do you want in return?

Violettaa · 21/03/2024 20:58

I tried this for a while (not becasue of time zones, but as part of compressed hours).

It was HARD. I was knackered after I logged off and put the baby to bed (and as PP said, you can’t assume they will always go to bed).

Getting back into the headspace of work when all I wanted to do was veg then sleep was really tough. I lasted about 6 months before switching.

What I do now is have ‘official’ compressed hours of about 8.30-6.30. But in reality outside of 9-5 I’m really flexible about when work gets done. It suits my role (meeting based but all London) , but wouldn’t if I needed to have regular calls / be expected online after the kids were home.

benjoin · 21/03/2024 20:54

Sorry, not clear what the arrangement is now. There's no need for you to flex for your manager if your previous hours suited you

benjoin · 21/03/2024 20:52

If your hours are 9-5 at the moment then I'd keep 9-5

Posithor · 21/03/2024 20:52

What will you do if your child decides he/doesn't go to sleep any more?

My 2nd DC was a dream until he was 17 months slept 7pm-7am even thought I breastfed until 16 months. Now he's 2 and a half I'm finally not bed sharing or sitting on his floor for 2 hours a night...before letting him in bed with me anyway 😂
Just a thought!

mynameiscalypso · 21/03/2024 20:50

I think if one of my team came to me with this request, I'd be very reluctant to agree to it as a permanent change as I would worry about the impact on your wellbeing. I do generally keep between 6 and 8 clear for similar reasons (my son js 4) and will log on i the evening if I need to but I couldn't do it every night. We also have a member of our team who lives in California and it's not impossible to manage within normal working hours.