To turn down a job because they refused flexible working even though it was higher paid.

[SummerFlops]

I have been offered a job which is more money. Not massively loads. It's in my home town so no travel costs. So taking into account that and the slightly higher pay, I would be better off by £190 per month.

I asked if I could work flexibly in the mornings and afternoons to do a school run for one academic year so till July 2023. I would make the time up by working earlier from home and later in the evening. School run takes 20 mins max there and back so 40 mins of the day total.

The reason why I asked was so that I could help out my partner who has to do 2 school runs at different schools so pretty hectic. No after school club possible. This is just for this academic year and then she will be fine as eldest will be in secondary and can make own way.

The manager refused saying that that isn't what they do and there's an expectation that everyone needs to be in the office and available at any time if anything comes up. Like what i have no idea - I am not an ER doctor or anything. She also insinuated that I wasn't committed to the job by asking this.

Looks like they don't have a flexible working culture and I feel like turning the offer down but at the same time the extra money would be nice too!

YABU - of course they don't have to accept your request and you're being silly for expecting it.

YANBU - they don't seem like a forward thinking organisation and they'll be other stuff stuck in the dark ages. Run for the hills.

I’m in the public sector and so many of my colleagues do the twice daily school run, saying they’re logged on for an hour from 8am and then again after 5pm. In reality they’re never contactable at these times and you can only get an answer from them on anything between 10-12 and 1-2.30. They’re never at meetings outside of these times either.

They all maintain that “as long as the work is done it’s fine” but the bulk of the work is being done by others, not by them. If I were an employer, having seen this widespread behaviour, I’d never approve what you’ve requested because I’d suspect you’d be faffing with the kids getting ready 8-9 and then doing childcare 3.30-5 and then maybe doing a bit of work 5-6 if there was anything left for you to do by then.

Lots of people are allowed to do this kind of thing at my workplace but it is public sector so different kind of culture. Maybe look for a job in the public sector?

So what job in the public sector gets no meetings, phone calls, urgent information requests during 8:30 and 9:30 and 2:30 and 3:30?

Doesn't sound like an efficient service to me!

There are many types of jobs and sectors within the public sector, not just those that deal with the public on a day to day basis.

Lots of public sector roles are not dealing with members of the public - so finance, IT, HR , governance services etc it would not be an issue to work flexibly - any desk based job where you are mainly working alone not with other people

Same.

To be fair, we wouldn't allow you to make it a formal arrangement, and there would days (when on training or on duty) where it simply wouldn't be possible but I do the morning drop off most days and pick up twice a week. I'm available on the phone and catch up before and after.

I'm a social worker. As I said above, it's not possible every day. But certainly several days a week. I do more than my hours every week and we are the highest performing team in the city, I attribute that to being flexible and valuing staff for what they do.

It's not always an hour, it's not always school runs to be accommodated.

For example I'm working on a large project (public sector, very complex) with 20+ on the project team. Some work 3 or 4 days, some do school runs, some have other caring responsibilities, a couple have so many meetings they have no availability for days or weeks at a time, most of us at some point have appointments. We work around it, because everyone is flexible and respectful and it works really well. Meetings can be anything between 8-6 and on the rare occasion something urgent comes up we all have work phones.

If the culture and technology is there it's not an issue.

If the culture and technology is there it's not an issue.

But it is an issue in some jobs, no matter how much technology you have or how flexible the culture is. My job is also public sector and computer-based and we just couldn’t manage people popping in and out as and when, because there is a constant unpredictable stream of things you really do need to be at your desk or close to it to be able to sort out. Doesn’t mean we are not flexible but it does mean that this particular kind of flexibility isn’t one that works everywhere.

I entirely accept that there are some jobs where it would be fine, and that yours is one of them and the job the OP applied for might have been one of them too, and I’d be a bit myself that their reason for refusing OP’s request was apparently “you don’t sound committed” rather than “that wouldn’t fit the requirements of this job.” But I am baffled by the number of people in these discussions who just won’t accept that it wouldn’t work everywhere and that isn’t just about old-fashioned presenteeism.

They're being completely unreasonable. I work from home and although kids are in wrap around care, it's not unusual for me to have to do a school run - that's an hour out my day but I make it up/don't take lunch etc. It's a culture thing - it's almost expected at my workplace that people do some form of flexing in their day. I'd steer clear as they won't come through and be supportive if you had some kind of home emergency

Absolutely this. Their culture is crap, don't work there. They have no understanding that juggling priorities does not represent a lack of commitment to any of them. I can't imagine a workplace in this day and age that doesn't get that. Dinosaurs.

She sounds horrid so it looks like you dodged a bullet. I would never be rude to someone declining a role you never know when you might meet them again in the industry and they could be your boss!

I think not allowing flexibility is blithering here nor there tbh. Some do, some don't. For different reasons. But this comment.

She also insinuated that I wasn't committed to the job by asking this.

Is the red flag. Its a perfectly acceptable request it doesn't show anything about your commitment to your work other than that you are more committed to your family. She sees that as a bad thing. A company that sees your family coming over your work as a bad thing is a bad employer. No doubt they'll be expecting you to work free overtime otherwise you're not committed and work during your holidays, otherwise you're not committed.

It won't be worth it.

Blithering=neither

It's central finance in a university so not public facing. Most meetings still on Teams and booked well in advance so can be flexible. Most of the job can be done anywhere and involves independent working. Granted it would be more difficult in a more public facing role.