Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to expect better?

37 replies

MassagesDeclinedByNetmums · 05/07/2011 12:19

I've just had a letter through saying that my application to return to work part time from my mat leave was unsuccessful. It seems I must return full time (once travel is included that would be 7am-6pm Mon-Fri) or not at all. My mum would have had DS originally, but has had to move to the other end of the country for my dad to work. And apart from the lack of childcare, I dont want to not see DS for 5 days a week before hes even one.

I had a meeting with my boss about 6 weeks ago to let them know as much in advance as possible that I wouldnt be able to return full time due to my mum moving (I'm due back in another 6 weeks). I thought that if this wasnt possible, they would let me know earlier than this so I could start job hunting. Money will be very tight if I dont work, but we would have more coming in than going out so I guess I am lucky in that respect. I thought my boss was a friend. She was only promoted this time last year when we were both pregnant and we've worked together for years.

She knows I've been looking forward to returning to work. I was actually suspicious that I would get bad news as shes been avoiding me :(

But surely, whether shes my friend or not, it would have been more professional of the company to not leave me waiting this long for bad news?

Now I dont know what to do.

OP posts:
tyler80 · 05/07/2011 13:23

I think they should have told you earlier but equally I'm surprised you didn't chase the decision (or lack of) at all when it's obviously really important for you to have known the outcome asap.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 05/07/2011 13:28

Definitely object to them having not got back to you in the proper timescale. I'd also ask for more detail on the jobshare thing, if you can (I'm not sure whether or not you're legally allowed to, or if it would be a good idea politically). But I'm not convinced by the bald statement that a jobshare isn't viable because of additional costs.

Original poster
MassagesDeclinedByNetmums · 05/07/2011 13:30

If I'd thought it was actually a decision like that I would have (plus as you can see from my second post, time has gotten away from me and it was longer ago than I first thought!!), but the way the meeting went, I honestly thought that there was no chance of a problem. She basically agreed to the hours I suggested. If the meeting had been with the witchy big boss, I would have chased it, but didnt think twice about it as she is (was? i dont know?) a friend :(

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 05/07/2011 13:30

You don't have the right to have flexible hours, you have the right to request them and employers have to consider them. Sadly

Sadly? Somebody has to cover the hours the flexible worker does not. We are not told what the OP does but there are many lines of work which by their nature invlve somebody working awkward hours: late, early, nights, weekends, 24/7.

Those hours are difficult for people with small children. Insomnia11, are you saying that they should be entitled to refuse them and lumber their colleagues?

The world is not like that and nor should it be. Every sort of private life is entitled to equal consideration. If that sounds harsh, remember BC and think of when tey are grown up and you might change your mind.

Original poster
MassagesDeclinedByNetmums · 05/07/2011 13:33

lady unfortunatley I do understand the job share thing, you need to know what is going on everywhere all the time in my job and its just not possible to split it between two people (unless they are psychic twins? Grin), as someone will inevitably miss something. I dont have a problem with that at all really, as I was led to believe that I would be returning to a slightly different role anyway

OP posts:
LadyClariceCannockMonty · 05/07/2011 13:44

I see. Pity; often it's a very good solution. It does sound as if they led you on a bit in the meeting, if they'd thought through the 'support' issues you mention.

I suppose the way to look at it is, if they can't offer you a solution they will have to lose a valuable employee. Their loss. And you never know what better, more flexible job might be out there. I do hope you find something that works for your family.

Original poster
MassagesDeclinedByNetmums · 05/07/2011 13:50

Do you know what? More than anything I'm annoyed at myself :( We've spent money on things during my mat leave that weren't anywhere near essential, based on the assumtion that debts could be paid off when I was earning again. Money that could have really helped if I'm out of a job. We went on holiday in May. I never thought there would be a problem working part time, but I should have known better :(

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 05/07/2011 13:56

It depends HOW you applied for the flexible hours. You need to have specificaly stated you were making a request under flexible working for them to have to consider it as such. Even if you do though, they are only obliged to consider it and it really isnt difficult for them to come up with a "reason" to say no. It does suck though :(

M0rgana · 05/07/2011 14:03

I had almost exactly the same problem.

I returned to work in April this year. Last October (i.e. six months before my return) I met with my boss to let him know I wanted to return part time. He said then he wasn't entirely against it, but needed to speak to other people and would let me know. He didn't. It wasn't until January that I found out (from his WIFE who I was only then meeting for the first time at someone's birthday party!!!) that the answer was "No"!

It wasn't the no that was the issue - I'm not an ogre and he should have had the respect not to avoid me in the interim. Still, that's not the point...

Re your case, it's all very well that your current role can't be made part time (they're not obliged to make it so) but what they are obliged to do is demonstrate that they have looked elsewhere in the company for a part time opportunity for you.

Have they done this?

My OH works as an HR Manager and he says the law is very much on your side as the employee. There are eight valid "business reasons" whereby a company can refuse you part time work - i.e. restructing which would mean your workload would increase, for example; but they have to give one of these reasons otherwise you can take them to court.

Keep on at the HR people, and make sure you've read the link above that someone posted re your rights.

M0rgana · 05/07/2011 14:06

That was meant to be "restructuring", sorry!

catgirl1976 · 05/07/2011 14:07

Sadly though - all they have to do is give one of the 8 reasons and they are home and dry.

Original poster
MassagesDeclinedByNetmums · 05/07/2011 15:00

Thanks guys, I feel better talking about it, even if I havent actually solved anything :) Everyone I would normally talk to is in work

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page