Flexible working request-how long is reasonable to wait for an answer?

[Noodge]

My workplace tend to be quite 'slack' at responding to any sort of request (annual leave, any allowances for time off for appointments etc). They're very 'nice' to work for, but just a bit disorganised.

I requested to change my hours around two weeks ago.

I didn't expect a response by now, but how long would you say is reasonable before I prompt them for an answer?

I’ve been waiting since November !Sorry that’s no help 😂 I would say they should have acknowledged it by now, but could take a couple of months to implement if agreed.

They have 2 months www.gov.uk/flexible-working/after-the-application

Legally they have 2 months to respond (or longer if they agree that with you).

However you should check if your employer has a policy on flexible working and what that says about timescales.

www.gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working

2 months legally as others have said.

Have you had a chat with your manager about the flexible working request already? IME it's much better to have an informal discussion about what you want and how it will work before putting in a formal request. So, if you haven't done this, it might be worth suggesting you have one?

Thank you all-I should've thought to google it shouldn't I!

I have had the informal chat. One factor is, when I first began this job I was offered it either Mon-Wed, Mon-Thur or Mon-Fri.

I had another job (self-employed) on a Thurs. I asked if I could do Mon-Wed with a view to eventually doing Mon-Thur when the contract expired on my Thurs job.

They said yes-but when they gave me the formal offer they had put me down for Fri too. I now want to work Mon-Thur instead of Mon-Fri with Thurs off. So in short, they were aware that this would probably happen, but their decision was to give me the Friday too.

If you made a statutory request, they have 2 months. If you made an informal request I think there's no timeline for this.

Another thing about this workplace is, there's nowhere to view your annual leave entitlement, how many you have left, what you've already booked etc. Of course I have my booked days in my diary, but I find it odd not being able to see them on the work system anywhere.

Well, they got back to me within the legal time frame (just!) And said that they'd honour it once they'd recruited someone else who could do the Friday. They recruit a lot so this didn't seem so bad-the company is getting larger and busier.

So I promoted my manager a month or so ago as some new starters who do my job were being recruited but they were all part time and wouldn't be working Fridays.

I work 12-8 on a Friday. It's good for getting things done of a morning, having a lie in and it's a nice quiet shift BUT it is eating into my weekend. I'm a single, childless woman who doesn't live near any friends and likes weekend breaks etc and every time I have weekend plans I have to book A/L for half day on the Fri otherwise I miss out.

I guess there isn't much I can do but wait, but I am currently looking for another job for this amongst other reasons
They're a great company and flexible in many other ways but I'm underpaid and the Friday shift is irritating me a lot now.