or is it my manager????

[PussinJimmyChoos]

So, last week DH's manager committed suicide. DH is really shocked and upset, as am I as I knew him and DH worked closely with him.

This means that DH will have to do a lot more work in the meantime until a replacement is found etc etc. This could have an impact on our childcare arrangements - i.e on one particular day that DH picks him up, it could well be that on the odd occaision, he'll ask me to pick DS up as an urgent request has come in that he has to deal with (he works in the Biomedical Science field so patient care and all that - no finishing on the dot of 5pm)

I've explained all this to manager and said I don't want to change my hours on a permanent basis, I just want a bit of flexibility should the need arise, although we are going to try our best to keep things as normal as possible. This was passed onto the senior manager whose response was basically that I need to fill in a work options form to get my hours changed....I realise there is a business need and everything but given the situation, I'm just asking for a bit of flexibility and any time taken (no more than 30mins at any one time) would be made up within the next two days

Also, I asked for time off in lieu to go to the funeral and it has been refused...I either have to take it as a holiday or make the time up in advance of the event, which I can't do because I only work part time and this has been totally unexpected - not something you could plan for!

YANBU, like you said you never planned for this to happen, have no advice to give you TBH as im no expert in this field but dont think you are BU

Yanbu about the time and flexibility, sounds like the senior manager is being a bit jobsworth about what will only be a short term thing anyway.

Not sure about the funeral, tbh, as most work places do have rules about time off for close family/friends only, in case people chance their arm and attend a different funeral every week (I know you wouldn't, your a mn-er and thus lovely )

have you spoken to the senior manager yourself. Perhaps the message has got garbled and the senior manager misunderstands your temporary childcare problems.

I don't think they're being that unreasonable about time off for the funeral. I would expect to have to take holiday for that if I didn't have flexitime already saved up.

Totally agree about the lovely part lol

I fecking hate funerals but want to support DH and a good friend of mine who is in bits over it all....

Managers!!! I should go on the apprentice and work for sr'alan....he's probably less scary!!

Gerrard - I would be making the time up from the funeral - its just that the manager asked that I make it up in advance which I can't do as work part time and won't be able to make it up before the event, only right after - iyswim

They don't allow us to bank flexi time either so we are a bit shafted there!

completely depends on the business needs. if they are doing it just to be difficult/show a bit of authoritative muscle they are being unreasonable.
if they have decided that it is not acceptable to the business and they are not happy with the arrangment then they are being reasonable and looking out for their own interests. might not be nice but thats the way it is sometimes.

YANBU. a little sensitivity and flexibility reaps rewards from staff in the end. manager is being counter productive.

Yes I agree...with my other managers I would have stayed late for them/worked through lunch if needed etc (pre DS days obviously!) because I knew the flexibility was there if I needed something, but now its getting to the stage where I will deliberately make sure I'm in just before 9am and finish on the dot because I think well, why should I give any more - and thats not how I used to be!