To ask about flexible working hours at an interview?

[lilyb84]

At my current job I work through lunch so I can fit in my 7-7.5 hour day and still do childcare drop offs and pick ups. I have an interview this week - is it appropriate to ask then about the employer's flexible working arrangements or is that something you bring up if you're offered the role?

I wouldn't be able to do the job if I didn't have some flexibility as I live and work in London and the commute is too long and unpredictable. It's an office job, so no shifts, 35 hours a week.

Look. Depends what you do really. I work in Tech so my boss is flexible with me if he wants I respond my phone at 3am in Saturday (example) if something when wrong with our systems. So my point is ... this type of situations need to be a win-win for everyone. You have your knowledge and they will pay you for that. It is not like they are doing you a favour. But you need to be clear in how flexible/hours/commute etc etc. My commute journey is 1-1.1/2 hours a day. So I work only 3 days a week in my office and 2 from home. Sooo be polite but be really clear in what you want and what you need specially for your family and children. Good luck girl :)

If it comes up at interview I would discuss it then - if not at offer stage.

When an employer offers you a job that is what they are doing - offering it, you are under no obligation what so ever to accept it.

If it is not an option you can turn the job down - you will have lost nothing. They can then offer the job to their second choice

No one loses out here.

None of my breaks are paid, we're also never allowed to skip them to leave early, we have to take our full breaks within our work day.

That said, my workplace is flexible and would offer a contract with less hours if you wanted to do 6 hour says instead of 7.5, or they might agree an earlier start. The break is non-negotiable though

HOWEVER this is something that should be raised informally before the interview. At the application process it would be normal to approach the line manager and ask if they were willing to consider applicants for less hours.

Since you haven't done that you absolutely need to raise it in the interview, not after

Wait till you get offered the job

At interview, try to find out enough to know if you want to negotiate to work there.
Ask about the company culture
Ask about company values - written or implied. (can they give some examples of those values in action)
Ask about a typical working day for people in this role/department

Go to the interview and don't mention it because it currently does not exist, does it? DH (why are you so knackered when he's not working, he is presumably doing a lot of the child care, getting up at night etc?).

When DH goes for an interview, HE can ask for flexible hours, if he cannot get them, or if they don't fully cover it but he is offered the job and it pays more than yours, then at that point talk to your employer about needing the flexibility as that is when you will need it - you have a right to put in a flexible working request (though in theory you need 6m service, but that's only to have the legal right, you can always ask).

I find it odd that so many people wouldn't find out how flexible hours are before applying. I'm an employer in a small business. We have certain hours that need to be covered. There is some flexibility but it is very unlikely we could accommodate someone needing to do all school drop offs which implies they would work 9.15-3.30 only. Early mornings and late afternoons are our busiest times.
That would however be made clear in the job description. If they have been vague about what the hours actually are then they may be flexible. Depends what the job is I suppose.
Often new people get the less popular hours as well, but maybe the employer doesn't have to have cover early morning and late afternoons so if everyone works fewer than primary school hours it's OK.

Thanks for continuing feedback and good luck wishes.

Since I'm not asking for less hours but flexibility to work the full hours around my childcare commitments, and having discussed irl with a couple of people from different industries, I've decided to enquire non-specifically in the interview as to the culture/benefits of working there to get a feel for their approach to flexible working. Should I then receive an offer I would discuss working hours as part of the negotiation process.

As DH's situation is not yet clear I don't know yet exactly what I'm going to need to do. The ideal would be that we share childcare drop offs and collections but that depends on our respective commutes (in his previous job he had fixed shifts and commuted in the wrong direction which is why I took on all childcare duties, as I had more flexibility). He actually has a 2nd interview this week so may end up being offered a job before I am therefore is in a similar position wrt needing to know that employer's flexibility! If he doesn't get a job soon he may need to be a sahd for a while so this will all be moot...

Out my ds is bf and won't settle for anyone but me, hence why I'm so knackered. DH would love to help but it's not possible right now. We're currently researching some sleep techniques to help as I'm pretty much at breaking point now.

And whatever job he's able to get will be less salary than mine so really he's the one potentially needing greater flexibility.

I'll let you all know how it goes!

Lots of interesting views here. I have applied for jobs when ds was small and I asked about possible working arrangements before applying. I could not see the point of going through an interview to be told they would/could not accommodate my hours. However, I was using an agency so it was easier for them to raise the issue. In both cases I was offered the job. Like you, I wanted to work FT,. I just wanted to shift the hours from the 9-5 core to 8.30-4.30 as that allowed me to do nursery drops offs and collections. I would say however, that sometimes you just can't do the job properly if you constantly have to rush off so it does depend on the role.

I've skimmed the thread, and I don't think anyone's said this - when I looked into this before as a manager, there are certain professions in which breaks are enforced, i.e. you have to take it - things like lorry driving and possibly retail. For other professions you are entitled to a break if you want one, so you can insist your employer gives you it, but it's not a legal requirement that you must take it - you and your employers can choose not to. I haven't got time to look this up now, but maybe check out on ACAS website.

Oh and I'd only mention it if offered.

Good luck and be positive - its a small detail - you're not asking for the moon on a stick! It is a reasonable request for many roles and a reasonable employer should be willing to try to accommodate.

You could suggest at negotiation if you need to that you're willing to start the hours on a trial basis for say 3 months if they're unsure.

I work in Recruitment and as a recruiter this would be an issue for the employer if you don't mention the hours you can commit to BEFORE the interview, most places offer flexible working hours to fit in around family but I would definitely mention before an interview situation and not at offer stage, as you are already going for an interview mention it whilst in three towards the end so you have had a chance to win them over! Good luck!

I recently interviewed someone who didn't interview well anyway but she also asked about flexible working. We're pretty good with flexible working at our company and are usually happy to accommodate but she dwelled on it so much in the interview that we thought she'd be a nightmare to manage. So you could ask in the interview but just as a by the way sort of thing when you've asked any other questions relevant to the job.

If it turns out they can't be flexible and you can't take the job because of it then at least it's given you some interview practice for your next one.

Definitely ask after the offer, there's far more discrimination than you realise. Even if it's an element of 1st impressions, that you might be more tricky than an alternative candidate. If they offer you the job they've already committed to you a bit so are more likely to be accommodating. It's also not a waste of time as you've been out of the interview game for a few years so it'll be good practice.

It's a second interview question. Get the job, then discuss finer details at the second interview.

The working time directive states that a break should be had of a minimum of 30 minutes after 6 hours of constant work. Whilst you can waive your rights to the directive most employers will expect an individual to have the minimum break. there isn't anything wrong with asking about flexible working in an interview, but if you are going through an agency I'd get them to ask the question prior to the interview.

I had a similar dilemma, as I wanted to
Work part time. Went for interview & employer was thrilled to have me. Towards the end it emerged that they did not know about the part time requirement. So they said no to me. But immediately told me that they had liked my profile so would keep me in mind. Within 2 weeks they offered me a different (preferred) role for 3 days at the same rates.
So I guess if they'd not interviewed me I'd have been a name who they may have simply struck off. Out of the 3 days I now do 1 day from home as the commute is too long! This I did not negotiate upfront but waited a few weeks for them to see my work and trust I can do it remotely.
Some of these things take time to work out. I'd suggest you don't ruin your chances by speaking too soon. At the earliest wait for the interview to talk about shorter days.

No it doesn't Josey, it's twenty minutes after the first six hours.

1. twenty mins, not half an hour
2. after the first six hours - there is no further entitlement in the Act for having it every six hours of work (and there is case law that agrees this is not written into the Act, whether one thinks it should have been if not, it isn't)

And you can't opt out of the rest break regulations! Only the 48 hour a week maximum.

And it's not after the first 6 hours. You can take your break 3 hours into a 12 hour shift if that's what works for you/your manager. It's the length of the shift, not how long you must have physically worked.

(Otherwise 9-5 office workers couldn't take lunch until 3pm. )

Twenty minutes after the first six hours is what the regulations say. Post a quote if you think it says something different.

And while you can't officially 'opt out' (which you rightly point out you can with the 48 hour rolling average weekly hours) there is nothing forcing you to take them and if you and the employer agree to vary them, it's fine. If an employee tries to assert their right and is refused, it's not fine

Your example of "otherwise office workers couldn't take a break til 3pm" is clearly ridiculous. Obviously you can have a break earlier.

The law is that you must at least have twenty minutes after the first six hours. That does not preclude any earlier or longer breaks, which would also fulfill the criteria.

Gov.uk, citizens advice, acas, the hse (among many others according to google) all use similar wording ablit a 20 min rest break during the working day as long as the working day is more than 6 hours In their guidance.

I was in exact same position as you OP. I went through a recruitment agency though and sounded out the idea of flexible working through them before interview. I was told it could be possible.
During the interview I asked what the expected hours of work were and whether flexible working was an option. I was asked what I needed. I repied 8.30-5 instead of 9-5.30. They laughed and said 'is that all? We thought you were going to want different times on different days. No problem'
Why not just say... at my current job I work 8.30-4.30. This works well for my employer as it means there is someone in the office early every day and it works well for me and my family. Is this something you would consider?
If the answer is no... it isn't the job for you.
Most employees know that working parents with flexible working hours work hard to keep those hours!
By the way...I got the job I went for doing the hours I needed 😀