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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To request compressed/flexible hours 6 weeks into a new job

31 replies

Hiraeth20 · 06/12/2022 09:28

I’ve recently started a new (full time) job, would it look really bad if I were to request compressed/flexible hours this early on? I’d ideally like to do 3 longer days and have an afternoon off to spend with my toddler as I'm really missing time with her.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/12/2022 09:29

For me I'd wait til after I'd passed probation. Does anyone else in the organisation do this? Are you suggesting 3x longer days, 1x standard day and 1x half day?

Hoppinggreen · 06/12/2022 09:30

I would give it a bit longer

HermioneWeasley · 06/12/2022 09:32

Going down from 5 days to 3?

Original poster
Hiraeth20 · 06/12/2022 09:34

Sorry I should have been clearer. I’d like to do 3 long days, 1 standard day and 1 half day

OP posts:
YellowTreeHouse · 06/12/2022 09:35

Yeah, YABU. You can’t change your contract so soon in.

redtshirt50 · 06/12/2022 09:38

Did you mention anything about wanting compressed hours before taking the job?

I would probably wait until I'd passed probation too.

Overthebow · 06/12/2022 09:38

Do you have a probation period? If so I'd wait until that i signed off then discuss it. If not, then talk to your manager about it after your next performance review (assuming it is positive!)

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 06/12/2022 09:39

Depends what you do as a job- have to say doesnt look great so soon but equally employers are a lot more flexible nowadays.
If you are turned down would you stay?

girlmom21 · 06/12/2022 09:41

Most employers won't change your terms so early on

sneezingpandamum · 06/12/2022 09:42

YABU

And just plays into the hands of employers who think women of child bearing age / mums are too much of a PITA to employ

Original poster
Hiraeth20 · 06/12/2022 09:50

Thank you everyone, I will hold off for now

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 06/12/2022 09:51

I'd wait until you have passed probation. When you ask, don't ask for Monday or Friday as the half day, and perhaps consider it being morning off not afternoon, depending on your job.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/12/2022 09:53

See if you can find a copy of their flexible working policy on the system for a read through. It may have a caveat to say that you have to have been there X months before applying.

Original poster
Hiraeth20 · 06/12/2022 09:55

@sneezingpandamum I think this is unfair. There are a few women in the team that have specific working hours because of childcare arrangements and they are still considered a valuable member of the team and not a “PITA”

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 06/12/2022 09:56

Hiraeth20 · 06/12/2022 09:55

@sneezingpandamum I think this is unfair. There are a few women in the team that have specific working hours because of childcare arrangements and they are still considered a valuable member of the team and not a “PITA”

Might be unfair but it’s reality unfortunately

MajorCarolDanvers · 06/12/2022 09:58

The law is about to change to make requesting this a right for everyone.

Go ahead and ask. They might say yes they might not.

As an employer it wouldn't bother me to ask and I'd say yes if I could.

MajorCarolDanvers · 06/12/2022 10:00

The world has changed. Recruitment is a nightmare. If you are good at your job they will not get rid of you for asking a question. Even if they say no.

waterrat · 06/12/2022 10:01

Some ridiculous comments here.. ask Op and at the least you will know the answer.

Please ignore comments about working mums being a pain in the arse. What total bollocks. Flexible working benefits all of us as a society. Full time inflexible work is hopefully going to.be seen as backward soon

Crunchymum · 06/12/2022 10:02

Hiraeth20 · 06/12/2022 09:55

@sneezingpandamum I think this is unfair. There are a few women in the team that have specific working hours because of childcare arrangements and they are still considered a valuable member of the team and not a “PITA”

I assume they have all passed their probation period though?

Frabbits · 06/12/2022 10:04

I think you need to make a judgement based on the relationship you have built up with your manager etc, whether compressed hours is standard for other people etc.

You'll have an idea of how the request might go down. Posters on here absolutely will not.

titchy · 06/12/2022 10:04

I think you should have raised this at interview to be honest. Given you haven't, 6 weeks is too early. Aim for 6 months. You'll be better placed to see how this could work with your specific employer.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/12/2022 10:05

Might be worth listening in on any chatter about the organisation moving to a 4 day week. Lots are either trialling this now or planning to trial it. I'd hold off if it was something my employer was considering, as I'd want to be full time in order to benefit from the change.

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 06/12/2022 10:05

I would ask more in a way of "sounding out" to see if it would be possible.

catmum88 · 06/12/2022 10:05

Legally you need to have worked somewhere for 26 weeks before requesting flexible working (at the moment). Your employer may have a different policy - I'd read that before doing anything if you didn't discuss this at interview.

Waxxy · 06/12/2022 10:09

I think it depends on your employer. My last employer asked before I started if I wanted compressed hours or any kind of flexible working, I said no as I didn't know how I would get on 9-5. My son then got offered a place in a local gymnastics club and it was on a weekday afternoon. I then approached them after 8 ish weeks asking if I could work half a day and make up the rest in the week. Way perfectly fine.