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.

Could a different day off be considered? Eg Wednesday? I understand wanting a longer weekend but I know a few people who took weds off and it worked well. At least things aren't left over the weekend and you're back to pick it up on Thursday if no one else has had a chance?

You’re coworkers want to spend time with their children to. What makes your situation unique?

You have the right legally to request. Your work has the right to legally decline but they must have a solid reason. They have a pretty strong one to be fair.

What they should be open to is having a conversation about alternative solutions - such as suggested - having a Wednesday off. Or 2 afternoons or 2 mornings. A job share. Or changing your role.

Having a day off during the week is quite nice, it breaks the week up. I love being off on a Wednesday, I always looked forward to seeing my son as I barely saw him Monday and Tuesday.

Start taking Mondays off instead so you can finish up stuff yourself on Friday. No Sunday dread!
find a better system and then put your request in. New rules came in this April I think.
get a lawyer or union person to help you write it.

unless you are in life or death situation is a big deal if you delay an action. Why does colleague have to pick up slack. Just tell customer it will take longer.

I've been on four days a week for several years. Monday is a non-working day for me, has been widely accepted and respected. Did so mainly as easier to travel back from family on a Monday, and as noted, no Sunday evening dread.

The law is changing soon OP making flexible working ‘the default’ hence I assume harder to deny. It might be worth speaking to someone from organisations such as pregnant then screwed to find out what is classed as a good enough reason.

I do find many employers for some reason still expect full time work to be completed by part time employees. Handing work over can often be because it should never have been given to you. What happens if your colleagues can’t finish something on a Friday I imagine it rolls over to Monday? Only you/your workplace can know how big of an impact that is if from Thursday the work is not completed. How have they managed since you have returned? I agree maybe request an alternative day?

I do find it sad how often even on Mumsnet we seem so anti flexible working. A lot of these comments are very tough s*. It is very hard to find part time work that works around childcare that actually pays well. Most people in these situations manage it from flexible working agreements in companies they have previously worked in before children. Full time work with children is very hard and for many not financially worth while. To quote ‘we are not having it all we are doing it all.’

I full support women and men for whatever reason trying to find a work life balance.

Could you request compressed hours? 36 hours over 4 days? Pretty much still FTE just not physically online for three days of the week.

They have to look at your request but don't have to go ahead with it if it's not in the interests of the business. I always wonder though, why an employer would rather say no, knowing that employee could just go to another company so now instead of juggling things around they have to find a whole new employee which can take time and be more disruptive than just allowing the request. I will have this issue aftery mat leave and am already considering retraining for a different career.

I don't think yabu to ask, but I also think the business has enough reasons to decline the request. Maybe as a compromise you could ask if they're open to allowing you to go PT with a different day off? Or work 5 over 4 or 10 over 9?

I wonder if you asked for a Wednesday as a day off instead of a Friday it may be easier to manage the work so it doesn't drag over the weekend.

Firstly... flexible working requests aren't worth the paper they are written on if they dont want to do it as they'll always be a reason. However its interesting that they stated its an issue at the moment as thats holiday accrued so means they arnt sufficiently staffed. Holiday hours shouldn't be causing addittional stress if they are accounted for. Also if you are the only one in the team that can do the tasks then they havent organised the team correctly. I suspect you wont get anywhere but you can ask.

And don’t assume your colleagues picking up your work is okay with them because over time they will resent it, talking from experience here

No, its really not a right for a request to be granted. Thats enough of a business reason for them to refuse.

There is no such ‘legal entitlement’ to flexible working. Your company has a duty to consider a request but are under no obligation to agree it, particularly (as in this case) it would have a detrimental effect on the business.

I have worked for a client and we would not accept flexible working as an acceptable reason for delays to a project.

Sorry but their reasoning seems totally sound to me. If it doesn't work for you, you'll need to find a company/job that will accommodate.

EDIT TO ADD: I say this as someone who changed job to go from 5 days to 4. Would never have worked in my previous role.

Unfortunately the business case reason doesn’t have to be really strong, I’ve seen flexible working requests be denied for much less than this, and this one seems fairly reasonable tbh. Is it a possibility to work the full time hours over 4 days? I know a few mums where I work essentially start and finish a bit early to make up the time, which isn’t too bad as we mainly WFH, this might be something they’d consider.

Can you afford to work less and do a proper job share. That way there is always someone to cover. Just a thought

I'd say not been able to meet a deadline is a very good reason why a company SHOULD deny flexible working. Having to pass a half finished task to a colleague and making the company late for a deadline is not acceptable.

I would need more information about the work you do and the organisation of your workplace to really make a decision on the best way to proceed but as a union rep, I would fight for this as a formal request.

Could they not advertise your job as a job share? How did they manage during your maternity leave; did they employ a temp?

They can refuse it legally on a number of grounds, yes your request is unreasonable, your colleagues are being put under pressure because you're not there or the teams KPIs are not being met 🤷‍♀️

Most people take holiday in chunks though which is easier to manage than a day a week for months.

New rules for flexible working came into force last April.

If they don’t feel it works for the business they have no obligation to approve it. You are contracted to work full time hours and they expect you to fulfill that. They’ve been generous letting you have every Friday off for a very long period, they could have handled that differently or paid you the TOIL.

They have told you it doesn’t work for the business.
You yourself have given a pretty good example of having to hand your work over to other people because you aren’t getting it done in time and also how it is sometimes late.
Whilst working 80% may suit you better it clearly doesn’t work for the business. Their reasons are valid.

Your own example also sounds particularly entitled:

“…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.”

If it doesn’t work for you explain this to them honestly. They then have the option of trying to make it work to keep you or your get another job.

You wanting a day off is great but it’s not an entitlement.