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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset that my manager wont allow me to come into work 15 mins later

86 replies

Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:06

than usual and stay 15 mins at the end of the day to enable me to drop my son off at summer school for three weeks.

Unlike school where I can drop my 5 year old son off at 8.30am the summer school wont take the children before 9.00am. I asked my manager if for three weeks I could come in 15 mins later and he said he would 'think' about it - this was on Wednesday, I heard nothing so today jsut before I was due to leave work I asked him if he had thought about (thinking that of course he would accommodate my request) he said yes he given it some thought and no I could not. I then said that I would have to take emergency leave then as my priority has to be my children, he said I can do it on Monday but after that I would have to make alternative arrangements I dont have family that I can call upon thats why I have to use paid childcare.

Am I asking too much here?

OP posts:
Jojay · 20/07/2007 22:08

Seems a bit harsh, especially as it's only for 3 weeks. Is there a valid business reason why they would find it hard to accommodate?

fannyannie · 20/07/2007 22:09

I have to say the first thing that sprung to mind is that you seem to have left it quite late to ask......other than that I don't know really.

LazyLineLegilimens · 20/07/2007 22:09

What is your job?

Dumbledior · 20/07/2007 22:10

It does seem a little mean.

Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:10

Its not fair on the other managers who don't have children (they have a commitments too) although it does not impact on them at all, only that I perceived to have special arrangements.

OP posts:
edam · 20/07/2007 22:10

I think you should have given your manager a lot more notice. Maybe your manager could have been more flexible, but you probably got his back up by giving such short notice.

Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:11

Team Manager.

I only found out this week that the earliest I could drop him off was 9.00am

OP posts:
Miaou · 20/07/2007 22:12

Are you in a customer serving role, ie somewhere that "opens" at 9.00 am?

He is within his rights to refuse but it sounds a bit arsey to me

edam · 20/07/2007 22:12

If that was his answer, then he's talking rubbish. Flexible working regs. were designed to deal with individual requirements, there's no 'everyone has to do the same' about it. Unfortunately the legal right to flexible working only applies to under-fives IIRC but the principle still applies - he's just being lazy.

Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:13

I got his back up by asking if I could return to work four days a week and was told No, without going through the correct procedure of completing a work options form and having the meeting to discuss accommodating my request. Then I asked if I could work from 9.15 - 5.15 as I have a baby to drop off at nursery after I drop my ds to school. This request was accommodated though.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:15

It is customer services but there are 80 plus staff and other team managers that are in at 8.00 and more in at 9.00. It makes no odds at all for me to start at 9.30 or 9.15.

OP posts:
ZZMum · 20/07/2007 22:15

He is not talking rubbish flexible working is not a right the only right is to request it and there is no commitment for the company other than to consider it...

FrayedKnot · 20/07/2007 22:15

Are you asking to work for 15 mins less, or are you making up the time?

If so I think it yanbu at all

I work in a pretty flexible environment.

My boss comes in 15 minutes later than most people so he can drop his son at school, so he could hardly refuse me the same privelege, if I requested it.

T*sser. It's on;y for 3 weeks.

Why are people so afriad of flexible working?

GColdtimer · 20/07/2007 22:16

fgs, any reasonable manager would accommodate this request. Its only 15mins for crying out loud and you have offered to make up the time. And really, how much notice do you need to give for 15 mins? YANBU

Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:16

he said to me "what do you think this is? flexible hours" I was intending to work over the 15 at the end of the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:17

Whats YANBU ?

OP posts:
GColdtimer · 20/07/2007 22:18

You Are Not Being Unresonable

Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:19

I just know that on Monday morning I am going to be puled into the office to discus this - its really upset my weekend.

OP posts:
kslatts · 20/07/2007 22:28

I think flexible working applies to anyone with children under 6 and the latest you can apply is 2 weeks before you youngest dc turns 6. But, you do have to put in a formal request and the company has 28 days to meet with you to discuss the request, so in your case it's obviously going to be too late.

zzmum - I agree that flexible working is not a right, but the company has to give you a justified business reason why they are refusing your request, saying it's not fair on other managers who do not have children is not a justified business reason and the right to request flexible working doesn't apply to them.

YANBU.

PeachesMcLean · 20/07/2007 22:30

ZZMum said "there is no commitment for the company other than to consider it... "

Don't they still have to give a legitimate reason though? They can't just consider it, and then say, no they don't feel like it?

nightowl · 20/07/2007 22:32

i was just on a thread trix about getting single mothers (lone parents) back to work and people have very little sympathy for the ones who find it difficult.

this is a prime example of how unreasonable some employers can be, and unfortunately, within their rights.

my boss can be frightening at times, has a bit of a short fuse..but i have to say he has always been more than reasonable with regard to my hours, fitting around my kids. im grateful for that.

i honestly cant see where 15 mins would matter, i dont think you are being unreasonable at all.

LowFatPumpkinJuice · 20/07/2007 22:36

as you have a child under 6 you can quote 'primary childcare responsibility' at them and they have to be flexible with you!

It's not like you are'nt offering to make time up!

ZZMum · 20/07/2007 22:36

this does not come under the flexible working initiative as that results in a permanent change to the working contract.. so the manager does not need to give a reason.

Original poster
Trix11 · 20/07/2007 22:41

I know I can apply for up to four weeks paternal leave each year to be taken as unpaid leave until the child is 5, I have to give three weeks notice. This request can be turned down.

OP posts:
PeachesMcLean · 20/07/2007 22:41

Still a bit of a git though isn't he?

Trix, I hope you find some way of sorting it out. Common sense seems to suggest you should.