Does this flexible working request sound reasonable?

[mummasoon]

Looking at options for after baby is here. I appreciate I won’t know how I feel until I’m nearly due back at work, but would help me to have a rough plan outlined.

For financial reasons I probably won’t be able to have the whole year off as the 3 months unpaid would be really tight.

I know of others in my organisation who have managed to agree a part time working arrangement for 12 months, and then at that time can say whether or not they would like another 12 months at those hours.

I’m wondering if it would be reasonable for me to request something similar…

If I went back when baby is 9-10 months, it would be ideal if I could work 3 days a week for 6 months only. This wouldn’t be sustainable forever but I suppose it is a way of maximising time off with baby while they are small whilst still receiving some pay. After those 6 months, I would like to do 0.9FTE over 4 days.

Does this sound reasonable or is it too faffy for most employers?

I’d be happy to support one of my team if they requested that (public sector). I guess it depends on your role and the organisation. Are you one of many in your role/position?

You can ask for it, having put in several flexible working requests over the years. The one thing you have to remeber is that if they are happy to reduce your hours there is never any guarantee that they will be willing or able to increase hours when or if you need them. So you need to take this into consideration when looking at your finances.

Don't forget to take into consideration things like, cost of childcare, childcare vouchers, any child benefit you maybe entitled to.

Don't request flexible working until you go back. Instead use your accrued annual leave to work 3 or 4 days a week until it runs out. (although save a bit for breaks and baby illnesses).

After a few weeks getting back into the swing of things you'll have a much better idea of what type of flexi working to ask for.

Make sure your partner considers reduced hours and he saves annual leave for child sickness too.

Not all employers will let you do this as you need to have a proper break.

Yes this sounds reasonable, I did 3 days then 4 days. A colleague was doing 8.30-2.30 over 5 days.
But as an earlier post mentioned remember to factor in holidays, I managed an extra month at the end of both my maternity leaves so only did 2 months unpaid then on full holiday pay.
Or you could work out how many months you could use your holidays to work 2/3 days a week (if your employer agrees) then do the flexible working application to start after that, might give you more like 9 months at 3 days/week rather than 6

0.9fte, what does that actually look like structured as a week?

I think unless it’s really beneficial to you, what’s going to happen is you’ll get the same work load as if you’re full time but just less of the pay/holiday allowance.

Could compressed hours work?

I'd consider the request positively (also public sector). At my org, you get one flexible working request a year so I agree that you should be strategic about the timing of it. The law is on your side but only you know the staffing situation at your work and what precedent has been set by others. Could you mention it to.a manager and see if it might work, hypothetically?

It’s about 8.3 hours a day. Currently do 7.4 a day. So it will feel like 4 days with not much less pay than full time

DH will have a day off in the week too.