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 think this is a good idea: it sounds like Monday or Wednesday might well work better for the business.

You keep saying that the delay isn't the end of the world however it may well be that your employer won't meet the SLA they have with the client. Even though a client may be understanding it doesn't mean that tbey won't leave and go elsewhere of their targets are not being met. If you want to work part time and your employer can't offer a part time role you will need to look for a job that better suits your needs.
Your whole post is coming across as if you think it is an entitlement that you should be afforded as a parent. That really isn't the case.

I would imagine it's better in all aspects to complete a project you know and not hand over to someone who has to acquaint themselves to it. It's so difficult I know, wanting to work less hours in a job that benefits from and needs fulltime commitment. Any possibility of condensed 5 into 4 days? Probably not, meanwhile you've put forward your case. These days going to PT isn't guaranteed after having a child, which is a shame. I went PT for a while and even then childcare costs were expensive. Xx

You say 1 day but it really isn't. If it's the Friday it's the end of the working week so anything left you pass onto a colleague making the end of the week even harder for them that may have arranged their work in a way to make it easier for them on the Friday and trust me I would hate it being a Friday all the time and I would resent you messing up my Friday. Sickness and extra work just coming in isnt as much as a problem as it is a one off. If they can't get their work AND your work done then it has to wait until Monday and by your own admission can take 2-3 days so that could mean it's not done until midweek on a Wednesday. That would be almost a week if it came in on Thursday, where if you worked the Friday it wouldnt seem as long to the client at all getting it on a Tuesday granting that the weekend took up a couple of days. That is definitely grounds for refusal as it is affecting the whole business, your colleagues picking up your slack, management having to make constant apologies on your behalf and clients who expect things done in a timely manner which I'm sure they pay well for that privilege. Maybe a midweek day wouldn't be missed so much or say an afternoon one day a week. I had to go back to work when my son was 3mths old and hated leaving him. He is now 16, in college, doing very well for himself so hasn't had any detrimental effect on him in the slightest. I would seriously consider if the job is worth it for what you would prefer and if not look for a job that will cater more for what you want. What you see as a minor inconvenience and slight inefficiency, obviously isn't for the business.

Could you do 2 half days off? Say Monday and Wednesday afternoon?

You said the work was time sensitive and although you say most customers are understanding, I think they would have a strong case legally, sorry. Could you suggest a job share and they could get someone in for the other day? If that's not enough maybe you could do 3 days and the other person 2?

Have you thought of trying a half day?

They are very good reasons to decline it. If you’re having to pass work on to others to deal with or deadlines are missed that could effect the companies reputation as being reliable. Think you’re way off thinking the reason isn’t acceptable to be honest

This may work better as it may not cause more than a day's delay and should not impact on colleagues.

Coming back on this to add that I spoke with our HR people about documentation updates the other day and they mentioned the changes in flexible working rules.

They actually said "you should be aware that the new rules allow requests for flexibility from day one, but don't worry, you don't have to agree to them"!

The way she said it was very much toned as "don't worry - we'll help you come up with a reason to say no!"

Again, thus proving that HR is there to serve the employer and not the employee.

(I will add that I will be taking on board any such requests properly and appropriately for our business, not taking their approach of just saying no and coming up with a reason.)

Labour have just published a draft of the new workers rights bill which is expected to change the law to make flexible working the default for all unless employer can prove unreasonable

Being retired now it's a while since I've checked, but I believe some of the rule changes are already in place?

However if the full bill comes into being I'm only waiting for the shrieks of glee ... right up to the point when parents of young children find employers doing more than they are already to avoid employing them

Illegal of course, but show me an employer who claims never to consider this when recruiting and I'll show you a very probable liar

YOURS might be. I’m not.