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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Flexible work request denied

56 replies

Flex12 · 27/08/2018 21:01

Would you be annoyed if you had your flex working request denied (3 days a week) but someone else in the exact same role has recently been allowed to do this? I asked first, about a year ago and was refused. I continue to work full time. There is literally no difference between our jobs/roles/managers/purpose in the company or reason for asking (childcare). I work in sales if that makes a difference and have been in the job for over 15 years! I want to put in another request...aibu to think they cannot possibly refuse this time?

I realise that flex working is just a request, not a right. They are within their rights to say no of course. But this just seems so unfair!

OP posts:
Fatted · 27/08/2018 21:03

If someone else has been granted it then it sets the precedent and they have to give you a clear explanation of why they have refused it if they do.

Scrumptiousbears · 27/08/2018 21:05

Similar happened to me. I got refused and was given a reason there was not enough staff to cover. Then someone else came back from maternity leave and applied and got it. This was because I was back full time and therefore allowed cover for her.

What was the reason given? It has to be a valid business reason.

Thehop · 27/08/2018 21:06

Can you ask outright why?

aperolspritzplease · 27/08/2018 21:06

I would imagine it's not working out well with the precedent and they don't want to give more. Can you prove it needs the needs of the business, that's they key point?

Original poster
Flex12 · 27/08/2018 21:11

The reasons they gave when I asked were valid (as much as I hate to admit that), work would be hard to do in 3 days, no cover etc. A job share would cost business too much money, service and quality would drop if I was not full time. They really thought of everything.

OP posts:
Mouikey · 27/08/2018 21:11

Check your policy, we are only allowed to apply once every 12 months. It maybe worth a conversation with the decision maker to understand why your request was refused but a colleagues granted. They may come back and say they had a good reason. Maybe they put together a better business case? Do you have a union? Are you in it? If so go get some advice.

Chocolate50 · 27/08/2018 21:12

I would be asking why your request was denied & hers wasn't? What reason for denying it to you did they give?

Chocolate50 · 27/08/2018 21:14

Ok now seen your reasons they gave. That doesn't explain why your colleague was given this agreement & you weren't though?

squadronleader87 · 27/08/2018 21:15

If you do decide to apply again, tackle the potential reasons for refusal in your application and explain why they wouldn’t be an issue/your ideas for mitigating them. In my experience doing this makes it harder to say no.

Original poster
Flex12 · 27/08/2018 21:16

Exactly! Why is she allowed? I’m not sure I’ll ever know as I guess they can’t talk about someone else’s circumstances and case.

OP posts:
peachypetite · 27/08/2018 21:20

I think you can only apply once every 12 months

Neverender · 27/08/2018 21:21

Appeal and use her as an example of favouritism.

inquiquotiokixul · 27/08/2018 21:24

Could it be that the quality of your work is significantly better, such that the business is more easily able to lose 40% of her time that is unproductive and unprofitable than they are to lose 40% of the excellent work you do?

abbsisspartacus · 27/08/2018 21:25

Can you offer to do some work at home?

HailSatan · 27/08/2018 21:27

She could have more reason than you, maybe something medical and you just wouldn't know. It could be this or nothing so they chose to keep her

Violetroselily · 27/08/2018 21:30

Her "business case" may have been stronger, or there could have been changes in the operating environment over the last year which means their reasons for refusal or no longer relevant. I wouldn't start accusing them of favouritism as a PP has suggested Hmm

Check when you can make another request and when you do so, make sure you specifically counter the reasons for the first refusal.

jacks11 · 27/08/2018 21:35

I don't think it's easy to decide if YABU or not. It might be unfair towards you- BIT I think the key thing here is that you asked a year ago and they had valid reasons at that time.

However, a colleague has asked now, a year on. It is possible that at the time you asked it really was not feasible and this is why your request was denied. But now circumstances have changed and they feel it is possible to allow your colleague. It does not mean favouritism towards her, necessarily. Of course, it might be. I just don't think that you can definitely say (or imply) that without a bit more evidence.

If you reapply, look again at the reasons they gave and see if you can find workarounds. If you ask again and they say no, you MAY have grounds to complain.

A0001 · 27/08/2018 21:37

If someone else has been granted it then it sets the precedent and they have to give you a clear explanation of why they have refused it if they do.

My company’s flex request policy specifically says granting 1 person’s request does not set precedent and shouldn’t be seen to.

aperolspritzplease · 27/08/2018 21:41

You can't set a precedent you have to meet he need of the business.

Shit, for you, but how it it is.

NaomiNagata · 27/08/2018 21:43

I'm guessing if she's just come back and applied for it, then when you applied she was on maternity leave?

So they needed you full time. When she came back, they already had you full time so were able to grant her request.

Sucks but that's how it is.

Sandstormbrewing · 27/08/2018 21:43

You can't apply again for 12 months, but you could submit a grievance/ unfair working complaint siting that you have been refused something someone else has been granted. In this circumstance, as everything about the two of you is the same, their answer should be the same.

Original poster
Flex12 · 27/08/2018 21:44

Hmmm thanks for all the advice. So as shit as it is I need to forget her and focus on making my own case really strong.

OP posts:
quince2figs · 27/08/2018 21:47

I really battled to reduce my hours at work, in a situation where they had no alternative cover, and very clearly were not going to look at employing someone to do so.
I was successful with the help of a fantastic union rep. She rightly advised me to be very dispassionate and rational in my application (which was for childcare of pre-schoolers and adult relative), but also a decent amount of detail as to why in my particular case, that would be sensible (implication that would avoid perhaps otherwise level of stress that may affect work in long term- I guess this only works well if they want to retain you, though!
We came up with answers to possible defences of why it would not be feasible, that they really could not refuse:
Precedent set by 2 others, same grade to reduce hours (without cover)
Able to cover some of job plan at home (CPD)
Delegation of some of duties to juniors, or sideways transfer of duties to different post (which was attractive as cheaper and more flexible)
Annualised hours? eg: term-time working only
Compressed hours? eg: 40 hours over 4 days
I went for a modest reduction to 30 hours over 3 days. Don’t much notice the difference between 8 and 10 hour day, and going in to work 2 less days a week makes a big difference. I actually find it more efficient to finish emails, boring admin tasks off, etc all on the same day.
Good luck.

Urubu · 27/08/2018 21:47

I would be really annoyed as well. But they are allowed to do that unfortunately.

suitechild · 27/08/2018 21:48

@flex12 you should have a look at Mother Pukka on Instagram. She has a campaign called Flex Appeal is advocating for flexible working