To be gutted they're going to reject my flexible working pattern?

[SodTheBloodyLotOfThem]

DH and I are in public sector roles. 2 DC, after DC1 went onto core teams doing opposite shifts. All good. Just before I went back to work after DC2, shifts all agreed, DH was moved roles (and shift patterns) with fairly short notice. Luckily I managed to find a role which I didn't want but was promised was flexible 're hours, and got approved to work around DH.

Now, 9 months later, big restructure, both had our same jobs given to us but I've been told mine now requires standard office hours. I have a 4yo with additional needs well settled into preschool, various activities and therapies booked into the week, and a toddler who has never been in childcare. How the fuck can I sort this? I'm going to have to pull DD out of her preschool, seeing as it closes at 3, I won't be able to get her to speech therapy, and the childcare costs for DS (assuming I can find a place for them both!) Is going to seriously pinch.

I have been really quite unwell these last few weeks and this is not what I need I think pulling DD out of the preschool she has been at for 2 years, who have been so supportive and nurturing, is the biggest kicker :(

@SodTheBloodyLotOfThem

Sorry about this OP, and it's a real shame, and I don't know what you can do about it, except take it further (with a higher manager or a union..) Or as someone said, maybe go to HR?

A similar thing happened to me a few years ago. (Though not exactly the same.)

A position similar to mine came up that was part time..... I was doing 40 hours a week, often 44-45 hours, as I often ended up staying longer, and as I knew I wanted to start a family, I applied for a job that was 24 hours a week (Tues, Wed, and Thurs...)

I got it, and they advertised my job, and someone else had it.

Within a year of starting, I was pregnant, and long story short, I came back to my '3 days a week' job when she was 4 months old.

Within a year, the office manager was saying 'you will probably want to go full time again now? Must need the money yeah?' I was like 'NO.' Every few weeks he went on at me. I don't know why he thought it was his business, or who he thought he was, but he even went to the manager above HIM, and said 'Isn't it about time Lavendar went full time again? The bairn's 2 now, and at nursery... blah blah blah...' He even told me that I couldn't be an integral part of the team, if I ONLY worked 24 hours a week!

I wasn't forced to do anything, but I was harangued and virtually bullied at times, to go full time, as because my daughter was 2, she didn't NEED me anymore. (Fuck's sake, your kids always need you!)

Massive arsehole he was. He was married with a son, and nagged his wife constantly to go back to work full time, when their son was 6-7 months old. At least I wasn't married to him!

Got on my tits so much, that I actually applied for a part-time job somewhere else when my daughter was 2.5 years old.

I hope things go well OP. I know what it's like when a manager tries to alter your work pattern. You are settled and happy, but they don't give a fuck about you; only about the business, and what is best for that business.

Then they wonder why there is so much 'sick' time taken, and why so many people have work-related stress.

I would start looking for another job OP. Good luck with your current one though!

Saw this a fair bit working for (unnamed CS Dept). Existing staff were moved onto a new contract with take it or leave it terms. Any promotion, demotion, or lateral move enforced contract shift too. Some held on, but were ultimately paid less for their inability to meet business needs in an operational capacity.
Talk to Union and HR. If dept is after an image of diverse employer, this may look bad for them. You might want to be open about role changes to one with less rigid at desk requirements (if viable)

If you apply to take PARENTAL LEAVE one day a week, like every Wednesday (do not pick Mondays), then you can schedule your child's appointments always for a Wednesday.

As you have a child with SEN, you can take single days' leave, but you can only take 4 weeks' worth per year so that's 20 single days.
It might not be possible to get all your appointments on the same day and you have to give 3 weeks' notice of parental leave plus your employer can refuse for a business reason - meaning they might start to say, no, we need her in the office 5 days a week.

Comapanies pay people to work for them. If the roles they have don't suit then you have to look elsewhere. That's business

Obviously, but my comment was referring to a poster that implied OP should give up work because it's difficult to hold a job because of the lack of flexible working. A lot of businesses do have roles that could have flexibility, they choose not to which makes it difficult for those that need it and forcing them out of work.

Sodthebloodylotofthem if the OP has an agreed (ie contracted) flexible working pattern, they can change this for business needs. But as it’s a change in terms, they would need to offer redundancy as an alternative. It happened to a colleague of mine who worked three days - said they needed a ft person because business needs had changed. She had a choice between the ft role and redundancy. She took the ft role but left within a couple of months to a pt job elsewhere.

OP, since your child has SEN there may be some protection under the disability legislation for you as a career, i.e. your circumstances must be considered by them and they can only refuse if it is really not feasible for them to let ANY equivalent employee work flexible hours.

Carer, not career

If they are changing your current working pattern then it’s not the same role or a suitable alternative so they should be offering you redundancy. Not that that is what you want either, obviously.

I can only advise - Union if you have one, Acas if you don’t

Definitely fight it though. Good luck

I saw this so much when I worked for a Government organisation.

Unfortunately there's normally someone up top that doesn't like the idea of someone 'getting away with something' as they see it. I had it happen to me.

I run a small team and as long as they get their work done I'm flexible with how they work. The whole 9-5 sat in the office is ridiculous for a lot of businesses where it's not required. In return they are all loyal and hard working.

I hope it gets sorted for you.