To ask for flexible working of 1 day a week??

[Jennyandbaby]

I'm thinking of asking if I can do 1 day a week...

I am a shift worker and usually do 15 shifts a month, laid out like this...

Week 1 - 5 late shifts (4pm - 2am)
Weeks 2 - 2 late shifts
Week 3 - 5 early shifts (7am - 5pm)
Week 4 - 2 early shifts

And 1 random day somewhere...

I was planning on being a SAHM when my maternity leave ends and was quite excited about it, but recently I've visited work, taken my baby in etc, and it makes me realise how much I miss it.

I want to raise my baby, and it's not about the money so much as keeping my job.

I'm thinking about asking if I can do 1 day a week?

Does anyone have any experience of this and do you think it would be frowned upon?

My company hire a lot of freelancers for busier days so in theory I'd be cheaper than them?

AIBU to ask for this?

I don't think there's any harm in asking if your company has a flexible policy. You just need to be prepared for them to say no if they feel it's not in the interests of the business. Good luck!

A friend of mine does one day a week. I suppose it would depend on the job and whether they can work it into rotas.

well, in your situation i would definitely ask to do one day, but i would expect (but not let on to employer) to have to compromise and find some middle ground. but my theory is, that the more you ask for, teh furtherthey have to go in order to be meeting you in the middle.

You can ask...I'd be surprised if you got it though, although obviously don't know your industry.

If it's just about keeping in touch/keeping your hand in, could you become one of those freelancers?

No harm in asking - they have to provide you with a solid business reason of why not in order to reject your application.

I was allowed to drop my working hours to 1 day per week after my maternity ended. This was mostly given because of extenuating circumstances though because my baby was unexpectedly born with medical problems. They did refuse my application to extend this after 6 months however so I left!

I would have just become a freelancer but you have to have not been an employee for a year in order to qualify... To stop people just leaving and coming back the next day on double pay.

I never expected that I would actually choose to go back!!

Go for it - what have you got to lose? I would echo what has already been said about being prepared with a compromise plan. I have twice now renegotiated my contract from 30+ hours a week (both different jobs, many yrs apart), to 15 hours a week and have been much happier for it both times.

If not, could you freelance or do agency work to keep your hand in - again, something I have done in the past when it has suited

ah - xposted jenny - now see why you can't freelance!

Ah then Jenny, as you were thinking of being SAHM anyway, can't you take the year as a lovely long maternity leave and then go back in 12 months' time freelance?

I just think 2 years is too long to be away from work - in terms of work relationships and even just the practicalities of doing my job...

I might forget how!

I'm just worried they're going to think I'm taking the piss.

Well I do two half days, term time only so why not ask?!

I did think my employer would say "no" so was prepared to negotiate a bit, but didn't need to. I'd been on a career break though, so it wasn't so much a "reduction" but a getting me back!