Help. Does this flexible working request sound fair?

[flexiworkingqs]

I work for my local council, there should not be issue in covering my hours and my work can probably be done in that time- tbh.

I’m due my first baby soon and when I return to work next autumn I would like to request to work 90% of my hours over 4 days.

I currently do a 37 hour week. Day length is 7.4 hours atm. Under my new request I’d be doing a 33 hour week with days about 8.25 long.

After you’ve considered tax and NI, I would actually only be losing £100 a month through doing this. We will get child benefit too which is about £100 a month, so in terms of household monies there won’t be any notable difference for me doing this. To me it’s a no brainer

I would like a Wednesday off (this works best for childcare) but with the option to request to my manager to change this to a different weekday off. DH is a shift worker so may be able to be around some weeks on Wednesdays if that’s his day off

Does any of this sound unreasonable and at what point do I need to make my intentions known? Now? While I’m off? Once I’m back?

many thanks :)

Personally I would wait until towards the end of maternity leave to make a request. In the meantime, it's possible that 1. Your financial circumstances could change which may mean you no longer want flexible working 2. You may decide you want to request a different pattern of flexible working than what you have outlined.
It's best to give yourself the flexibility rather than committing to it much earlier than needed.

I believe an employer has 2 months to respond to a formal flexible working request so you'll want to bear that in mind in terms of timing.

Have you got any kit days coming up? I think it's always best to chat it through in person if you can, talk through the practicalities with your line manager, you are more likely to get their support. I think it sounds reasonable.

Wait until towards the end of your leave to be sure you want to go ahead.

The only bit they may see as slightly unreasonable and may decline is the wanting your day off to change.

I’m sure that that works well for you, but from an employers perspective trying to fill a role 1 day per week with a good employee is likely to be a nightmare, it probably won’t work well for your employer but no harm in asking, I would expect to be turned down though

It sounds fine, apart from the expectation of changing your non working day each week.

I used to do 4.5 days with three longer days and half a day on Thurs and Fri so not dissimilar to what you're proposing. There was no issue with it at all although our team is very relaxed and I'm quite senior so, as long as the work was done, it was all good. Your way actually sounds better because I found I was working more than a half day on Thursday and Friday so I've now gone up to 5 days a week.

Does anyone need to “cover” you in your absence, or is your role more of a “you work through your own stuff and arrange to meet with others to collaborate where convenient” type thing?

You may want to propose what you would do less of to allow for your shorter working time - realistically you’ll prob be able to do all of it but if you suggest something a bit flexible it shows you’re thinking of options.
Also, has anyone else done similar, and if so talk to them about how it works for them so you can cite reassuring precedent.

It does sound reasonable, but I definitely wait until closer to the time. You may find you are desperate to come back 5 days a week or can't bear (bare?😄🤔) leaving your child for any amount of time and not wat to return to work at all.

I used to work 4 days a week with a Wednesday off and I loved it, (9-5 Mon-Fri job), never worked more than 2 days in a row. It really was wonderful for my mental health and life management! (my children were both in primary school though). Totally recommend it over asking for a Monday or Friday off which everyone assumes is the best option. I also just worked 7.5hrs a day on the 4 days. I literally just dropped a day, rather than a complicated semi-condensed option.

I'd definitely wait until the baby is a few months old though, you have no idea how the whole thing might affect you mentally, physically and emotionally.

I do 90% over 4 days and it's fab. There was never any question of hiring someone to cover my day off - I basically just have to get the work done in less time. But it's been fine. As long as your manager understands that sometimes things will have to wait an extra day, it's really a win win for everyone.

I get a day off a week? With only a 10% pay cut.

I see your point though. It works for me because my job isn't super full on and I don't end up working extra unpaid hours to fit everything in.

I'm probably not explaining myself brilliantly. Maybe I would do more work if I still worked 5 days - but like most office jobs, there isn't a precise, finite number of tasks that need doing every week so no-one really needs to cover my day off. I just do what I can in my hours and if things take a day longer than usual it really doesn't matter.