HELP! employer rejected flexible working request

[TTCbaby2x]

Is my only option now to hand my notice in? No alternatives have been offered to me under the request.

What was their reason for rejecting it

What did you request? Compressed hours? Could be anything!

We can't really advice without knowing what you requested and why they rejected it?

@Redglitter inability to reorganise work and detrimental effect on customer demand

What did you request?
What was their reasoning?
Did they meet with you to discuss the request? Since last year they cant reject without consultation with you.
Did they give you right to appeal?

I previously worked 4 days a week 9-5, I asked to reduce to 3 days a week 9-5.

They stated they could agree the amount of hours I wished to work but not the amount of days. That doesn't make sense to me as my flexible request is to drop a day due to no childcare but I am being told I still need to work 4 days which does not help me in any way. If the hours can be agreed why does it matter if it's over 3/4/5 days?

I have appealed but I feel it is pointless

Just want to know if they don't budge then my only option is to resign isn't it?

So the issue is that they need an employee who can work 4 days (for client based reasons, so there is a valid business concern underlying their rationale) and you are unable to work 4 days due to childcare issues.

So, unless there is another PT employee who would like to pick up your 4th day, thereby ensuring they are short-staffed, it looks as though you need to fix your childcare issues or leave and find another job that will accommodate a 3 day week?

@CautiousLurker01 they haven't mentioned attempting to ask anyone else to do a 4th day. This is just why I wanted clarity what my options are here as some mums can't just magic up childcare when I am already doing so for 3 days of the week.

So to confirm, my only option here is I would need to hand my notice in as I don't have child care for a 4th day? I just want to make sure I am taking the right steps and not rushing to do anything without clarification. I have never been in this situation before.

Of course it is if you can no longer fulfil your contract then yes. They didn’t chose for you to have children and have given fair reasoning.

Or is this a case of you wanting to challenge as unfair dismissal?

So you basically wanted to work from home so you could look after your child?

Seriously what is the world coming to.

I would definitely look to see if you have colleagues already doing part time that might want to pick up an extra day? If you can show that the business concern of not having enough cover to meet client/customer need can be addressed by another staff member who would like to do an extra day, then it is harder for them to decline the request isn’t it?

Have you explored childminders? There are usually local pages on FB ‘MidSommer Child Minders’ or even the local community pages are useful if you post that you are looking for one day a week. Whilst good CMs are gold dust, there are some great ones who will have the odd day free and might reach out to you on that basis?

@Starlight1984 of course not!! What a ridiculous thing to say. I have not indicated that here or in any of my responses.

Is anyone else working three days or do you know of another willing to pick up a day? If so you can address their response. Can you really not find childcare for that day?

@Starlight1984 there's no mention at all of working from home. Simply a request to drop to 3 days a week which was refused.

@LoveBluey This person has clearly not read the thread. I have not mentioned working from home and they have just chosen to come on here and be rude for no reason. Worlds gone mad!

Could dad not go down a day instead? Would save you having to quit.

Ok edited as I hadn't RTFT. Only the OP.

It sounds like they needed someone there 4 days which is completely valid and if you can't find childcare for the 4th day then yes you will need to leave the position as you can no longer meet the requirements of the job. I do wonder though why it would be you leaving and if the child's father is making any attempt to work flexibly?

@Starlight1984 AGAIN, where did I mention working from home to look after my child???? You are on the wrong thread.

I had similar - they were willing to accept the FTE I wanted but needed me in for part of every day. In my case I’m a teacher and they didn’t have a member of staff spare to cover my class on any morning so I could understand the reasoning even if I was frustrated by it. I imagine it may be something similar in your line of work - clients need a contact available on set days or something?

I contacted my union who advised I could appeal but ultimately if they had good business reasons there wasn’t much i could do. In my case I did resign as a result. Sorry if that’s not what you want to hear.

How old is the child? I know you’re getting criticised for trying to work from home when looking after a child and that’s not what you’re trying to do - but actually, might that be a compromise? Could you say you’d be available for 1 hour a day on day 4 (flexible time to fit with child’s nap) to respond to client emails or something? If you’re up front about the fact the child will be there you’re not doing anything wrong, and it may solve their issue that they need someone available every day. They may still decline of course but sounds like you have nothing to lose.

Would you want to stay at 4 days if you could find childcare? If it’s a waiting-list issue, could you and your DP/DH/someone else if no other parent in the picture, use annual leave to do childcare on the 4th day until you’re at the top of the waiting list.

What has happened to your 4th day of childcare that it's no longer available? We'd had staff requesting a temporary reduction to their working hours due to childcare problems and they have been granted flexible working for a fixed period to enable them to find alternative childcare - could you suggest that? Alternatively, use A/L or unpaid leave for a period of time?

Who minds your children on the 3 days, can they not do 4 days?