Flexible working question - not obliged to answer?

[Difficile]

I'm looking to apply for flexible working. I know my request will get refused before I've even asked because I've been told it will, but I'd like to put the request in anyway just in case.

One of the questions on the form asks about how my request will impact my work and colleagues. According to ACAS (and the law) it is no longer required to answer this question, so AIBU to write just that in the section?

Something like "I am not obligated to answer this by law", just short and to the point?

Remember - you'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar

God, you sound difficult. Be careful you don't find yourself being performance-managed out the door with that sort of attitude.

No I wouldn’t write that, it is quite important to consider the impact on the business / team and it only takes a few minutes to list any impact. For example reducing my hours obviously has an impact on my team however showing I considered what days other people in my team worked to lessen the impact on the business helped in my case (for example person A has a Monday off so I’d work a Monday and have a Tuesday off so there would always be someone to cover the work).
If you go in looking like you don’t really care about the business at all isn’t really favourable.

😂😂 Love the character judgments on these threads. I've literally worked in the same place since 2008 and have glowing feedback from supervisors, colleagues and other people I work with, not that I need to justify my behaviour or work ethic to anyone here. I just find it funny. I know I'm bloody good at my job, I just don't want to fill out part of a form when legally the onus is now on the company to look at mitigating factors and not me.

I suspect she already is and is trying to build a case for tribunal.

You sound like your approaching it from a petulant child attitude.

if your leaving anyway why bother?

if that question wasn’t on the form I’d be adding it back in because I’d want to convince them it would work!!

are you using this process to make a point or something?

@Difficile what flexibility do you want

Honestly, just put "N/A" and leave it be. If they ask why you put it in there, you explain that you assume the form hasn't yet been updated following the change in law. Let them work that one out.

She won't answer the question about why she's (semi-)bothering, I've already asked.

I would ask for this question to be removed from the form and fill it out then. A quick call with HR to ask for the most updated form following the change in law should alert them to the fact they need to update it.

Nope, not at all. If it's rejected, fine, and I'll leave. It's no problem for me and I have no desire to go to tribunal or anything else for that matter. I just don't want to work unless it fits our family, and we're fortunate that I don't need to.

No one who describes themselves as "bloody good" at their job is even remotely good at it.

I hire people all the time and the best ones never think they're as good as they are, and the worst ones always think they're amazing or deserve a promotion.

I’d just leave it blank or write n/a

Why are you asking the question if you just want to argue against any answer that is not in line with your opinion?

I didn't see you ask.

I have actually answered before - I enjoy my work and I enjoy my team, however, our circumstances have changed and we no longer need my wage, so, if work doesn't work for me any longer, I'll simply resign and do some volunteer work to occupy myself.

That's your opinion. I'm well aware of my skills and my abilities. 👍🏻 I don't need to be modest about it.

But OP if you want to stay, why would you not help yourself? The approach you plan to take is just cutting off your nose to spite your face.

The company can only reject your application for one of a number of specific reasons (previously given on this thread). This box is your opportunity to explain why none of those reasons apply upfront and make it harder for them.

They can't reject your application because you didn't fill in this box, but equally they're not doing anything wrong by suggesting you do fill it in because it's in your interests.

It might not work, but if you can't be bothered to even try, then don't waste the time filling in the form and just quit!

I wondered if people had other ways of putting it, such as writing N/A or leaving it blank as others have suggested.

And simply for other opinions.

I don't know why you're bothering with this form if you have no interest in actually persuading them it could work.

Just resign.

But surely I cannot be treated any differently whether I fill it in or not. It's not a legal requirement, so it shouldn't make any difference.

It doesn’t sound congruent with how your employers view holding on to you

perhaps you could volunteer back there to help your colleagues out (sorry couldn’t resist)

you've been there 17 years…I’d be sore about the non flexibility

Buy why won’t you ask for the form to be updated before filling it out?

Surely there is an updated form for the new, legal requirements? Can't you just ask HR for that and say this one appears to be out of date?

As someone who works flexibly and was granted the maximum amount of flexibility at work:

Does the request impact your work or colleagues? If you genuinely believe it doesn't, then you should say that, and support your request with this. I would think it would be more likely to be approved, if so.

If you are honest with yourself that it does impact your work and colleagues, you could put NA and it may well not be approved but that's fair enough in this instance. Flexible working should not come at a cost to the quality of your work, or your colleagues.

OP it seems like there's more to this. For whatever reason you are pissed off at your employer and it seems don't want to work there anymore, but aren't prepared to just hand your notice in. It seems like your employer refusing your flexible working request is exactly what you want.
Did you ask informally expecting a yes, but got a no? Is that why you're being a bit arsey about the form and defeatist?

Do you want to give up work but your partner doesn't agree? Remember just because you can afford it on their wage doesn't mean all the burden should be on them.

It's a good idea to keep in mind that you've changed your life by having a child. You presumably still have the job you did before. Your employer is not obligated to adapt to your life choices. The right to request flexible working is not an entitlement to have flexible working. Too many people (mainly women) make that mistake.