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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be disappointed that I've my request to work 3.5 days returning from mat leave has been rejected.

68 replies

CassandrasCastle · 20/02/2021 09:40

I know it's not a big deal in the scheme of things, but my manager had been leading me to believe this was a perfectly acceptable request to make when I return in the Spring. DD will be in nursery 3 days a week, and DP will be looking after her other half/now full day. It's fine, sure she'll be happy at nursery - I just really wanted an extra afternoon with her while she's still pretty small and cute (They can have her when she turns full raging toddler 😏).
It just seems slightly petty, this extra 3.5 hours. I'm planning to work longer hours on my 3 full days to try to hang onto that half day... am I overreacting?

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 20/02/2021 09:46

It might be the half day that is the problem. I agree that half day working can be pretty useless from an employer's point of view. Why not do three days for the time being.

happytoday73 · 20/02/2021 09:47

Sorry OP I'm confused.. So you asked for 3.5 days but didn't get it? But your post then reads as if only doing 4 days anyway? Not 5?
If already have a extra day off I'd be thankful for that. Yes it would have been nice etc and your boss probably hoped it'd work.. But the economy has changed during the pandemic and therefore jobs seem to be too. Just dont do the extra you were going to and you've gained the time back.

peak2021 · 20/02/2021 09:50

The issue to me is what appears to be a change of mind (or a lie beforehand). Have you tried to find out why and sought to find a solution?

LIZS · 20/02/2021 09:50

They presumably need a regular presence on the fourth day. Won't you still have a whole day with your dd?

GemmaFoster · 20/02/2021 09:53

I think you’re fine to be disappointed, they have a legal obligation to be flexible. And obviously flexibility works both ways, which you are demonstrating. Perhaps ask again for their reasons and how you can both make it work. Good luck.

FFSAllTheGoodOnesArereadyTaken · 20/02/2021 09:55

My workplace have a 4 day minimum now as so many more people are asking to go part time.
She will be with your hauband the other half day though which is better than being in nursery surely.
I'd say depending on what your job is, 4 days is better for your career. Most people don't get a proportionate reduction in workload and it's hard enough trying to fit it into 4 days. But I'd try it and then when you've been doing it a while, see if you can find another solution eg condensed hours doing an extra hour or so a day so you can have a half day off, if you still want to

Original poster
CassandrasCastle · 20/02/2021 10:05

Sorry to be confusing - I initially mentioned 3 days to my manager, and she said that wasn't realistic but 3.5 should be fine - so I merrily filled in my flexi working request and sent it off. Then got a call yesterday saying that on reflection they actually need me to do 28 hours. There is an option to spread those hours, so they don't seem too bothered about the half day aspect - just need me to do those extra 3.5 hours... 😶

OP posts:
Original poster
CassandrasCastle · 20/02/2021 10:06

A lot of people coming back from mat leave in my company (it's large, and female dominated) seemsl to do half days, reduced hours etc. But I guess that's other department, other managers.

OP posts:
Original poster
CassandrasCastle · 20/02/2021 10:08

I'd definitely like to do 4 in future, I just really wanted that extra half day with DD, until she's a little bit bigger. We've got local friends also with babies whom we can swan around with, drinking coffee outside 🥳

OP posts:
LaBellySausage · 20/02/2021 10:10

I don't understand- 3.5 days at 8 hours per day is 28hours??

MiaowMiaow99 · 20/02/2021 10:14

So you asked for 24.5 hours over 3.5 days and they've offered 28 over 4.

What is the job role, would the .5 day leave them short for cover?

At my place, managers cant commit to any PT requests until the official request comes in, so can understand if your manager didn't decline. We're told to allow any request to be put forward and not allowed to explain any reasons we might think it wouldn't work prior to the application.

MRex · 20/02/2021 10:17

28 hours; and you said this can be flexible. So they've actually agreed to your part-time work.
Do 10 hours, 9 hours, 9 hours. Fit it in 3 days, never mind 3.5.
Or do 8, 8, 8, 4; that's 3.5 days.
I've worked jobs with delivery rather than hours in a shift, so maybe I'm misunderstanding something. What exactly is it you think you're being prevented from doing?

Ponoka7 · 20/02/2021 10:19

In my DD's work, female dominated, the contracts can be 16/20/24/28 hours, you are expected to pick up overtime occasionally on the lower hours. Is it simar? They reluctantly give less hours because so many people were turning down overtime and they were short staffed at times.

Aprilx · 20/02/2021 10:21

I honestly don’t understand what you mean as sometimes you mention days and sometimes hours. What were you doing initially and what have you requested and what has been agreed?

Ponoka7 · 20/02/2021 10:21

They've also lost flexibility because of the isolating situations. They need people rota'd in.

Aprilx · 20/02/2021 10:21

*offered not agreed I mean.

mrsmalcolmreynolds · 20/02/2021 10:33

PP is incorrect - they are not "required to be flexible". They are required to consider requests for changed working hours/patterns but can turn them down on the basis of business need.

Whether that was justified in your case is very difficult to say without knowing what you do. It's often not as simple as saying "but it's only 3.5 hours". And if it was really important to you it would have been a good idea to take more soundings rather than pinning your hopes on what sounds like a pretty casual comment from your manager.

I've worked part-time for the past 10 years BTW since having first DC. I also have to consider flexible working requests from others.

NoSquirrels · 20/02/2021 10:39

@CassandrasCastle

Sorry to be confusing - I initially mentioned 3 days to my manager, and she said that wasn't realistic but 3.5 should be fine - so I merrily filled in my flexi working request and sent it off. Then got a call yesterday saying that on reflection they actually need me to do 28 hours. There is an option to spread those hours, so they don't seem too bothered about the half day aspect - just need me to do those extra 3.5 hours... 😶
So they want 28 hours - which is 9-5 over 4 days. They’re OK with flexi hours /spreading hours. So can’t you do 8-5.30 x3 days and 9-12.30 on the fourth day? Which is what you wanted?
anniegun · 20/02/2021 10:41

Its impossible to judge how reasonable this is without hearing from the company. They may have very valid reasons , they may not.

peachypetite · 20/02/2021 10:42

Can’t you do those hours in 3.5 days?

sunflowersandbuttercups · 20/02/2021 10:43

@LaBellySausage

I don't understand- 3.5 days at 8 hours per day is 28hours??
OP will have a lunch break too, so if that's unpaid, 3 days = 21 working hours.

Which also means 4 days = 28 hours, which would add up.

LIZS · 20/02/2021 10:44

I guess it depends on the employer and function. If it is a customer/client "facing" role then there may be specific hours required for availability and beyond that no requirement ie. if reception opens 9-5 there is no benefit to the employer of a receptionist being there at 8. What hours did you do before maternity?

swinglowsweetchariot12 · 20/02/2021 10:45

Half days are no good, you need to do three days or four days or work longer on the three days

Appeal with a decent counter offer

Jojoanna · 20/02/2021 10:59

It is disappointing, I fully understand, babies are only little for a short time. 4 days do seem to be more the norm for returning from mat leave

Gerberageri · 20/02/2021 11:01

I'd normally say YANBU but the fact that you can do 28 hours instead of full time which is 37 where I am isn't bad - many employers would give that. Mine didn't and I had to leave my job. If you can spread over 3 long days and one short or have some homeworking then I think it's not too bad. @gemmafoster they don't have a legal obligation to be flexible. Employees have a legal right to ask but this isn't usually taken very seriously despite the law. Where I worked my legal right to ask was even taken away - I was told not to bother by a senior manager and my case isn't uncommon. I think you're more likely to have a request declined or renegotiated than accepted although there is no requirement for any company to look at these stats let alone record them.