Flexible working request

[Janch13]

What would your flexible working request look like if this was your current setup:

• returning to work following maternity leave
• work mostly remotely, with some visits to offices
• part of a global team, reporting into someone on a California time zone (particularly relevant!)

I am thinking about the fact that my “new” manager will be logging in just as I am finishing up for the day. I will have a strict hard stop on my work day due to childcare pickup. I’m not working late (past 5pm) when 5-7pm is pretty much the only time off my day to really see my kids (and it will be chaos with dinner, bath, bed routine) but was considering maybe to request to change my working hours so that I log on for a bit say 7:30-9:30pm and took a could of hours out during the work day.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the above, has anyone done this or similar?

@BringItOnxxx I dont know.. any suggestions?

Good advice, thank you.

@VestibuleVirgin I have a lot of responsibilities, thank you. I am in a middle management position reporting directly into a Global Head. I am protective of my time 5-7pm as previously explained, this will basically be the only time of the day I see my kids. I have however said I am happy to log on once they are down for the night if necessary, which seems more than fair in my book.

@Pantherbinks Thanks for the perspective, that does sound more tough than the current 9-5 setup.

Yes it seems it!

Again this is something people are being unreasonable about
you can be an amazing manager and have lots of flexibility in time etc especially in a global role
our roles sound similar I also have some hard stops in my day and it's never once been an issue as I've also offered plenty of flexibility on my terms too and when needed working hours I don't usually or even traveling
it's got to be give and take
I can be online supporting an audit in Wuxi early hours or talking to a director late evening based in Guadalajara and sometimes on the same day
it's why we are strict in my company about no core hours etc as quite frankly it wouldn't benefit them at all

Then assuming her request was a formal FWR and agreed she can make another one at any point (2x a year infact) to adjust again to a pattern suitable at that point 🤷‍♀️

I work part time and finish at 3. For a temporary period of about 2 months I officially added 2 hours a day in the evening, which at the time benefitted both me and my employer and I was happy to do it. It wasn't that bad actually, and most days I was fine to go back to it, but it's not something I would have wanted to commit to long term. My DS was about 8 at the time so easy enough to put to bed (and my DH was around to do this anyway). But DH and I spent hardly any time together in the evening, which I think would have been an issue longer term.

Also standing in the pouring rain at DSs football training at 6pm and realising I've got to do 2 hours work when I get home wasn't great!

It’s interesting how different employers operate. As a manager myself I tell my teams they’re hired to do a job. When they get that job done doesn’t matter. Also, your company chose for your manager to be based on the other side of the world. Once in a while they could get up early to take calls with you during your working day. It’s about being adults. That said regarding your request, think about whether you want to do this every day (including Fridays!) or perhaps offer it as a Tuesday and Wednesday solution.

@JustMyView13 good point re Friday