Asking for part time when offered new job

[Olivetree23]

I’ve been offered a new job. It’s a new role and one a pool of new people in the newly created pool of roles. I want to ask to work part time - do you think I can? I’ve read a few threads on here from 2015 so 8 years ago and the advice was mixed. My husband thinks it’ll annoy them. Does anyone have advice please? It’s a full time (35) role. I could compress that into try o 4 days and need to given childcare availability

There is no way they are going to rescind their offer because you've asked for part time. 1. They've been through a recruitment process and have chosen you and have no desire to start from scratch plus 2. They would presumably be opening themselves up to a discrimination claim (am not a lawyer).

So what have you got to lose? The worst they can say is no and you have set up to go in, perform well and put in a flexible working request in 6 months.

It really depends on the role and the job and the company. They can absolutely say the role needs to full time. It's not discrimination to not offer part time hours for a job advertised as full time.

And also, as they have recruited several people they may not need to give through recruitment again. They may have a pool of people they will offer if any of you choose not to proceed. If you are recruiting several people chances are at least one would drop out. So it would be sensible to have people in mind that you can offer to.

That said, it's always worth asking. Especially, if you can compress your hours into 4. Many positions and many companies work well with compressed hours or part time. Always worth asking.

I’ve read a few threads on here from 2015 so 8 years ago and the advice was mixed

Which is still going to be the case because it's very much it depends on the employer, the job, how easy it is to recruit etc.

No-one on here can say whether this employer is going to agree to PT and/or compressed hours for this job. Some will, some won't. They may say FT or nothing, if they require a certain number of tasks to be completed each week or need certain staffing levels. Or they may be more flexible and accept your request without question.

you can ask, or you can start the job and ask after a period of time.

Depends on so many things. Our company doesn't give compressed hours contracts at all so it would be an instant no from us.

None of us can tell you, you need to ask them. FWIW I once took the MN advice to wait to be offered the job then ask for part time (I wanted four days so nothing crazy) and the guy flipped his lid. In future I’ll ask at application stage.

I have always asked for reduced hours, only once been turned down.

If you would 'annoy' them, they're a bad employer. They can say no if they genuinely need full time, but they shouldn't get annoyed.

I wouldn't let one bad experience change your behaviour. I always ask after offer.

Is it a role where someone has to be available every day for client contact? Would someone need to cover you (phone/emails/meetings) when you're not there? If either of those is yes then they may not agree. I'd still ask though.

What I wouldn't do is say "well I've only got childcare for 4 days so I'll just work those".

Definitely ask . If they say no do what a pp said and join, wait 6 mths then put in a flexible working request

It’s a full time (35) role. I could compress that into try o 4 days

Surely you are not actually looking for the position to be part time then?

If you would still be working the 35 hours, you would still be working full time, albeit in a different 'format' to the expected 5 day week.

I'm not being picky here, it's important you are absolutely clear when you approach the employer and if you ask for a part time position but still expect full time hours they will probably be a bit confused.

There is no way they are going to rescind their offer because you've asked for part time.

This is silly advice.

In my organisation we would rescind the offer - we are approved for the role we recruit for, and it's not possible to change it to part-time after that. If we're recruiting full-time, we need full time.

However, as PP said, it depends on the nature of the role & the employer. Having an open conversation around flexibility is a good place to start eg 4 longer days (which isn't part time just a different work pattern).

I wouldn't be annoyed if a new recruit asked about certain options; it would be a sense of entitlement that would be a red flag.

thanks so much. I wrote this in the night so not as clear as could be. I would do the job full time if that’s all I could be offered. In my ideal world (lol) I’d love to reduce it slightly and do 3 longer days.

as it’s not as clear cut for me as “I’ll do 18 hours or leave it” I’m not sure how to frame this as I want to ask but if I don’t get it, I wouldn’t walk away as I still have the option to (hopefully!!!) compress.

the sticking point is 5 days only as it makes childcare fees crippling, I need 2 settings, I’ll have no time with my child and I’ll have no time to manage the house and life.

if you havent agreed why cant you raise it now?

I'd be quite irritated by someone applying for a job being uncertain about if they could fulfil the advertised conditions.

It's fine to ask for some flexibility around hours, longer days etc.

I would be very surprised if they agreed to a reduction in the overall hours - they need a full time person working because that's what they advertised.

Again, it's very dependent on the role & how the organisation works. Even longer days wouldn't be a runner for us - we need colleagues to be working together due to the nature of our work.

In terms of how to approach it, I would frame it as looking for some flexibility in hours and work pattern, and was there scope to consider this?

You can certainly ask
I would almost certainly say no,but would not be ‘ annoyed’
We don’t normally allow compressed hoours

What made you apply in first place if the job won’t suit you?

I had an offer rescinded once because I couldn't do their fixed hours of 8.30 - 5pm. It was a senior finance role, so back office, and I said to be able to do pick up or drop off I would either get in early and leave at 4.30 or I'd be in just after 9 and stay late. Not the same pattern each day or anything, I'd juggle the week with my husband depending on our calendars. I made it clear I'd always log back on later in the evening if necessary.

That was a very lucky escape, I still don't think I was asking for outrageous flexibility.

I'd ask and I think the response will tell you what you need to know!

you can ask for it to be a part time role, but you applied for the full time position? The company see's it as a full time position?

My view would be no, sorry the role is full time 5 day week.

I think it depends on culture but what you’re asking for. I think for 35 hours you can ask about anything from 0.8 to 1fte and flexible arrangements. I’d say no to 3 long days: that pattern would be exhausting and just not around enough CV and would say no to 0.6fte but would likely say yes to 4 days, 41/2 days, flexible hours over the week etc.

If you want 5 days in 4 you can ask me before acceptance and I’ll probably offer it. But if you want to do less hours a week ask me at interview stage so I can put together the team puzzle as a whole. If not you’ll put me off, if I wanted part time I would have advertised that. Six months down the line tell me it’s not working for you and I’ll reconsider.

What made you apply in first place if the job won’t suit you?

I can’t get reply function to work but to answer this, I work in a sector that is generally seen as progressive and family friendly. It’s a role i can do very well and I am interested in. So that’s why I’m interested in the job. I suppose I feel that many women want to do roles which don’t perfectly suit them as they grapple with childcare. It’s my view that we need flexible workplaces to have diverse workforces which enable everyone to work and work well. Rather than race to the bottom in saying well that woman can do it and never asked, I want to ask as nothing is lost - unless the offer is rescinded - as I want the younger women to have a better working life than me and I hope we can ask for flexibility 🤷‍♀️

Also ver few jobs are really advertised as part/time so if you don’t ask you don’t get.

I think it doesn't hurt to ask. Why would a prospective employer be annoyed? I don't think I'd want to work somewhere that took offence at a flexible working request.

They absolutely might say no due to the needs of the business, but sounds like there is also scope for you to find a solution that works for both of you. Even 4.5 days worked over 4 might be a compromise that works? It's also possible to suggest a trial period.

I made a 4 day week request at my current employer, they considered it and decided against. Probably correctly given the workload - I would have had to do the work anyway and would not then have been getting paid for it. A year later I had a flexible working request for a 9 day fortnight approved as I was able to demonstrate that this fit the workload pattern. So your starting work pattern doesn't need to be the only one you ever have.

Thanks Mothersruin123 that’s reassuring to hear.

thanks everyone for your comments. 😊