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?

And what is too often forgotten is that the employment relationship is underpinned by the employment contract which states the employee will pay x money for y services rendered. No employee, whether a mither or not, can expect to receive x for less than y, or y delivered in a way that doesn't support the business.

It is incredibly easy, in many businesses, to come up with a watertight, valid business reason why flexibility should not be granted.

Look @Difficile you clearly don’t care anymore, whatever you say. You say you aren’t obligated to think about how your request will impact your collègues, fine, but if you can make a case how any impact can be mitigated you have a better chance of succeeding. Alternatively just be cynical, miserable nd difficult and waste everyone’s time… you do you!

There's no legal right to appeal.

How did your request go Op?

And yet they aren’t bothered about remotely accommodating your requests.

That is quite telling

If somone wants me to consider something they need to tell me in detail why, it is not hard and males the person asking spund like a mature adult and not a 2 year old

Exactly

I suspect the lack of an update simply meant that it was indeed unsuccessful

and too right!

No don't do that OP. I've had to do this. Take a different approach which is a bit more diplomatic.. explain. Just say that you feel you working this pattern will work well as many prefer nights or weekends ect!

I always encourage my team to use that section to show how their flexible working request would benefit their colleagues, eg compressed hours would mean their function is covered beyond the 9-5 and remove the need for colleagues working standard work pattern to accrue toil when dealing with late in the day xyz ( specific emergency protocols), or being in early every morning will allow me to prep abc before this meeting or get ahead on a task that is daily and time bound, relieving pressure on colleagues and ensuring SLMs/KPIs are met more easily, or I can pull and check performance data so we can prioritise tasks as soon as the rest of the team arrive etc etc. Workforce planning boards seem to appreciate people coming from a team approach rather than this is what I want and if I don't get it I'm leaving because my husband is wealthy enough for me not to need this place.

Why not try and work with them rather than against? If it’s in everyone’s best interest the changes will work but being confrontational isn’t going to help you.