Flexible working question - not obliged to answer?

You sound like a difficult person. I manage a team and out of respect for the rest of the team, I know 100% my colleagues would all think about their team mates.

If anyone wrote “I’m not obliged to answer this”, it would tell me everything I need to know. That I’d do the minimum I had to legally, and I absolutely wouldn’t be looking for ways to make it work for them.

You get what you give in life.

Answer it if you can, but if you don't want to I would just leave it blank.

You might not have to answer it, but your manager will 100% be thinking about it anyway, because they have to manage the team as a whole. So if the answer is that it won't affect them negatively, then you'd be mad not to mention that. If you refuse to answer it, your manager might therefore assume it's because you think it will negatively affect your colleagues, but don't want to say so. Sometimes the strategic thing to do is play along.

If you don't answer the question, you are going to come across as either the sort of person who does not think through the possible implications of a course of action or the sort of person who does not give a damn about her work or her colleagues. Neither is likely to be helpful to your application.

What are the flexible terms you’re seeking?

In the effort you've gone to to write this post and reply to responses... you could have just answered the question on the form...

what flexbility are you asking for?

Even if I thought the business did have justified reason I would still fill in this box. OP could point out that she's a valued worker, has had consistently strong performance reviews, and will be hard to replace, which will have a detrimental impact on the team.

Filling in the box would take less time than OP is pending arguing about it on the thread.

There's no law that says the employer can't take this information into account OP.

OP it seems like there's more to this. For whatever reason you are pissed off at your employer and it seems don't want to work there anymore, but aren't prepared to just hand your notice in. It seems like your employer refusing your flexible working request is exactly what you want.
Did you ask informally expecting a yes, but got a no? Is that why you're being a bit arsey about the form and defeatist?

Do you want to give up work but your partner doesn't agree? Remember just because you can afford it on their wage doesn't mean all the burden should be on them.

It's a good idea to keep in mind that you've changed your life by having a child. You presumably still have the job you did before. Your employer is not obligated to adapt to your life choices. The right to request flexible working is not an entitlement to have flexible working. Too many people (mainly women) make that mistake.

As someone who works flexibly and was granted the maximum amount of flexibility at work:

Does the request impact your work or colleagues? If you genuinely believe it doesn't, then you should say that, and support your request with this. I would think it would be more likely to be approved, if so.

If you are honest with yourself that it does impact your work and colleagues, you could put NA and it may well not be approved but that's fair enough in this instance. Flexible working should not come at a cost to the quality of your work, or your colleagues.

Surely there is an updated form for the new, legal requirements? Can't you just ask HR for that and say this one appears to be out of date?

Buy why won’t you ask for the form to be updated before filling it out?

It doesn’t sound congruent with how your employers view holding on to you

perhaps you could volunteer back there to help your colleagues out (sorry couldn’t resist)

you've been there 17 years…I’d be sore about the non flexibility

I don't know why you're bothering with this form if you have no interest in actually persuading them it could work.

Just resign.

But OP if you want to stay, why would you not help yourself? The approach you plan to take is just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The company can only reject your application for one of a number of specific reasons (previously given on this thread). This box is your opportunity to explain why none of those reasons apply upfront and make it harder for them.

They can't reject your application because you didn't fill in this box, but equally they're not doing anything wrong by suggesting you do fill it in because it's in your interests.

It might not work, but if you can't be bothered to even try, then don't waste the time filling in the form and just quit!

Why are you asking the question if you just want to argue against any answer that is not in line with your opinion?

I’d just leave it blank or write n/a

No one who describes themselves as "bloody good" at their job is even remotely good at it.

I hire people all the time and the best ones never think they're as good as they are, and the worst ones always think they're amazing or deserve a promotion.