To think my flexible working request will not unreasonable?

[NameChangedOct]

Hello! I returned from maternity leave 3 months ago. I’m full time, but had accrued a LOT of annual leave so have been using this to take every Friday off for the rest of the year, essentially working a 4 day week. From January I was hoping to request a permanent change, 4 days for 80% pay.

However, my manager is saying it’s really difficult for the team/business under my current working arrangement and may not be sustainable permanently. I do appreciate that the work I do comes in (with little notice) as tasks/mini-projects that take 2-3 days and are quite time sensitive. So usually I will start something on a Thursday and unable to finish it, I have to hand it over to a colleague (which I think is fine, only slightly less efficient, or if the colleague can’t get to it then it waits until Monday which delays the output beyond our usual times, but it’s hardly life or death). Everyone else on my team works full time, even those with young kids.

I’ve not put a formal request in but AIBU thinking the above is not a good enough reason for them to refuse this as a legal right as a parent.

i really love my job, colleagues and flexibility (I can WFH), but I also need a day off to spend with my little one.

I'd imagine that it is a justifiable reason to deny tbh

Those reasons seem to fit the criteria of why a request would be denied.

Can you look for another job instead?

If it is putting work onto others, affecting their output too, and delaying the outcome for clients that is a business reason to refuse.

The reason they have given are justifiable, it does not meet the business needs, you don’t have a legal right to flexible working.

I’m a working parent and have a “flexible” working rota (it really isn’t, that’s another story) so I know how tough it is

I was denied 4 days just because they don’t want part- timers, it in no way affects our business.

But from your description I’d fully expect it to be refused, sorry.

All staff have the right to request flexible working, not only parents. However, employers can refuse if they have good business reasons for doing so. What you have described in your post sounds like a perfectly legitimate business reason for them to say no - they have effectively tried it, and it has had a negative impact on clients and colleagues.

They seem exactly the criteria that can be refused for. Sorry.

But would a Wednesday off work better for the business?

It is your legal right to request flexi working. It's not your legal right to be granted it. They can reasonably deny it based on their assessment as it will impact their business operations (which they can clearly demonstrate if deadlines are being missed due to this).

Sorry, but I think they can refuse on the reasons they've given. Would you be able to work compressed hours instead, full-time across 4 days?

Hmmmm okay, thanks for the replies. I was under the impression that the business reason had to be really strong. A one day delay on the tasks I pick up isn’t the end of the world. It wouldn’t be the same client each time and most are understanding. Delays happen for other reasons too - sickness, too much work at once, it’s not a new thing…

requesting a different day off (Mondays?) might be more favourable to them.

But those other reasons (sickness etc) will still happen, but on top of your absence so even more problematic.

I will start something on a Thursday and unable to finish it, I have to hand it over to a colleague (which I think is fine, only slightly less efficient, or if the colleague can’t get to it then it waits until Monday which delays the output beyond our usual times, but it’s hardly life or death)
So colleague has to pick up your work on top of their own, and if they can't do the work you couldn't that causes delays?
Perfect example of how it wouldn't work.
In fact is this a reverse with the blasé attitude of giving colleagues a heavier workload and detrimental affect on the business?

I've gone back to work part time after mat leave but in my role there are no key meetings on a Monday so that's my day off. Since I've returned I've realised that often people are trying to get things finished for the end of the week but if things come in on a Monday they can often wait until Tues with no business impact and you've got flexibility in the week to 'catch up'. Could a Monday off be a better option? I wouldn't have realised this until I've been back to work and experienced it. I thought I'd prefer to have Fridays off but it's actually nice not to have that end of weekend feeling on a Sunday!

Compressed hours wouldn’t really work due to childcare. I do drop off so can’t start until 9am. DH does pickup most days but I do occasionally need to be around for both when he is travelling so just cannot work until 7pm every day consistently.

A one day delay on the tasks I pick up isn’t the end of the world. It wouldn’t be the same client each time and most are understanding.

You may think they are understanding, but it won’t take much for them to move their business elsewhere if it is an ongoing issue. Your request would affect the ‘needs of the business’ too much from what you say, so I imagine it would be refused.

You don’t have a legal right as a parent to work a four day week.

You can make your case but so can they, and if they’ve already found it difficult for you to be off one day every week, then they have good evidence as to why it wouldn’t work for them long term.

I also wondered initially if it was a reverse, given that the OP actually set out very reasonable business reasons for refusing the request.

YANBU to want a day with your DC, but it does sound quite impractical in your current role. I’d suggest request job share and dropping to 3 days PW or finding a new role

They sound like justifiable reasons to me.

Sounds like a completely legitimate business reason to decline your request.

Rearrange these words
Cake, eat, to, have, and, want, your, you, it

You really think holding up time-sensitive work for a few days is no big deal? Ridiculous
Get a job that doesn't rely on your 'legal right' (it isn't, btw,msee below) to work or not

Applying for flexible working
Employees can apply for flexible working from their first day in a job. This is known as ‘making a statutory application.’
The basic steps are:
The employee writes to the employer.

The employer discusses the employee’s request with them and makes a decision on it within 2 months - or longer if agreed with the employee.

If the employer agrees to the request, they must change the terms and conditions in the employee’s contract.

If the employer disagrees, they must tell the employee giving the business reasons for the refusal. The employee may be able to complain to an employment tribunal.

You have no more “legal right” as a parent than anyone else requesting flexible working. It sounds like a reasonable business reason for saying no. Is there another day off which would work better? Or could you do compressed hours working 9 days a fortnight instead, and your partner do the same but alternate the weeks so one of you is off the same day each week. I’d also be cautious about reducing your hours because everyone I know who’s done that, they end up working the same amount for less pay.

You can always ask- you have no legal right as a parent to have a day off with your child. It's not juts a day delay, possibly- if you hand off on a Thursday, it's not done on a Friday, then you re pick it up on Monday, then the task may not actually be completed until late Monday, or Tuesday. The business has told you the delays are unacceptable and unworkable. You don't see an issue with the delays, but they do for their clients, so in that basis sounds like they'd refuse. As others have said, you may need to look for other roles, whilst still obviously making the request as you are entitled to- as is any employees, children or not.