Wibu to ask to ask to reduce working hours? Nhs

[Commuteisbreakingme]

More of a wwyd I suppose but I'm not sure if Iwbu and like the honesty here.

I've been out of the workplace for 10 years. Had 3 dc and did a degree in that time. Decided to look for a job I would enjoy and get back into work. Found a brilliant job with training and the option to sit professional exams after a few years. Job is perfect for my skills/education but it was a 50 minute commute. There were major roadworks being done along the route but I was told they were due to finish by beginning of next year . I decided I could manage the commute and took the role. I've only been there 3 weeks but my commute to ends up being around 1.5 hours each way. Despite enjoying the role and liking the team and manager I'm dreading each day being stuck in traffic/Road works and it's making me miserable to know it will be like this for at least another 2 years because they have hit a problem with the road development and the plans have been extended to finish in 2020.

A person has just left my team who worked 4 days a week and they are in the process of advertising for his replacement. I don't know if they are advertising his role as full time or part time. But I'm thinking this may be a way for me to ask to reduce my hours by asking my manager if he is advertising for a part time role would it be possible for me to work 4days a week and then they advertise for a full time member of staff. And explain that even though I'm enjoying the role doing the commute 5 days is too much for me.

So, wibu to ask to go from working 5 days to 4 when I've only been in the job a few weeks? I know I have to wait 26weeks to have the legal rights to request flexible working in the NHS but my manager seems approachable. Wwyd? Tough it up and wait until 26 weeks to ask or mention it now before they advertise for another team member and I end up seriously miserable doing the drive every day?

You have nothing to lose by asking. By the time you pay tax & fuel for the 5th day, you may not be worse of financially.

YANBU. Ask informally first. What's the worst that could happen?

Thanks both. To be honest I was expecting to be told I wbu to ask this soon

Now is the perfect time to ask, if they are recruiting anyway.

If they are recruiting anyway I’d ask.

Also look at whether you could work from home 1-2 days a week if you’re in an office job? I’ve been told I’ll be expected to in my new NHS role. It’s also been suggested that I could work a 100% contract over 9 days.

Any of the above might help?

You can’t ask formally because you haven’t been there long enough but there’s no harm in asking informally.
You might find they’ll jump at the chance because a 5 day week is easier to recruit to than a 4 day week.

Otherwise could you do compressed hours I.e. 4 long days instead of 5 normal ones so you still work the same contracted hours?

Ask.

Definately definately ask. Hours are rejigged in our dept when someone leaves and when job advert goes out

Definitely ask. They may find it easier to recruit to the new post if they can put it at FT rather than 4 days.

Also that works in your favour because if the role is similar to yours you are more likely to genuinely be dropping to 4 days of work rather than 5 days' worth squished into 4 days (and accompanying pay reduction).

Is it bournemouth by any chance?

Definitely ask.

Now is the time

Nope not bournemouth.

It's not the type of job I could do from home.
I'll try and pluck up the courage to ask tomorrow. Just so worried it will make me seem uncommitted which I'm now, I'm so dedicated to getting the experience and passing my exams but my manager doesn't know me yet so I don't want to seem flaky. And worried it might be a bit awkward then

That should say 'which I'm not'

They most likely have only got the budget for the 4 days. Which can be difficult to recruit too.

Ask! This is how I got 3 days. Someone left, I had to drop my hours down before the advert went out for the replacement - I work for NHS.

This was something to do with the budget and HR etc etc
I was happy with that though!

lemonsorbetinthesun that's what I was thinking. If he had only been contracted 30 hours a week they may only have funding for that so I might be in with a chance to drop a day.
Thanks all getting more sure that I'll approach the boss about it