To ask to work term time only

[Dinoswearunderpants]

I work in finance, currently 2 days WFH and 2 days in office. I've asked to work 5 days a week but term time only.

My Manager didn't seem impressed. I'll effectively be working the same amount of days (if I've done the maths right) so I can't really see the issue.

Yes 6 weeks in total might be a stretch but it's definitely manageable.

It's been left that he will speak with his boss (not ideal both are male). However, my Bosses Boss recently gave a speech at an International Women's day event saying how he fully supports flexible working etc so I'm hoping that might work in my favour.

I'm curious if anyone else has successfully requested to work term time only?

From a business perspective it would a nightmare for me if one if my team members was off for every school holiday as everyone else would need to pick up the slack and keep all of our jobs ticking over at a time when they also want to be taking time off themselves. I'm generally all for flexible working as much as possible, but I think the practicality of term time working would be an issue for a lot of workplaces.

It's a completely different ask from more regular flexible working and spreading hours out over a year/having flexibility in when you work hours across a week etc. As a starting point you need to think about what will happen to your work- can it just be put on hold and set aside for 13 weeks of the year, and 6 weeks in one block over summer? If not I'd probably brace yourself for a "no", though to be fair it's always worth asking.

I disagree that it won’t impact your colleagues @Dinoswearunderpants

They will need to provide cover for the additional leave you take, they might be limited as to when they can take holidays, they will have to pick up your slack every time you go off on a holiday (every 8 weeks or so).

Shocked how many people think you're being unreasonable! Maybe it's because it's not something they themselves can have at their own workplace which is a shame. You are absolutely right to request and hopefully it's approved. However you might want to look into an annualised hours contract, I think that fits better with what you are looking for to book 11 weeks when you want. And covers the HR aspect of how do we make this work and fit into a contract. However it's advisable to highlight the pros to your employer and that it won't cause absolute chaos. Plan ahead as much as you can. I've seen this done lots in my place of work over the years but ofc this all depends on the employer.

100% this, whether they have young kids is irrelevant, it still impacts them.

Your role might be shared amongst the team but you only need to read various threads on here from unhappy people picking up the slack when there are long absences. TTO and wanting holidays any time probably isn’t going to work for the business.

I'm under no illusion that there will be an impact but hopefully it shouldn't be too significant.

I think it'll be interesting to see what's discussed and I'll keep you posted.

there is cover for the things I do

currently the only one in my team with young children so at the moment it won't impact others

of course it will impact others 😌

You have a very blinkered view.

People without child care also like Christmas Easter and summer off they have lives too
it very entitled to think it wouldn’t affect them

the role is shared so they need a level of cover so having 11 weeks off will impact them

you need to look at the whole picture not just what suits you

There's an assumption that no one else is allowed off whilst one person is off. It's not the case at all. In fact, so long as at least one of us is around then that's fine.

How many of you are there?

If you want term time off, become a teacher.

4

Every office/role will be different. I manage one person who works term time only and it has an impact on the rest of the team as it limits how many others can take leave. It’s like one member said dibs to school holidays and everyone else has to suffer. Is currently manageable as the other person who does her role doesn’t take school holidays as her dc is little but that will change in 18 months when her dc starts school.

other jobs are easily done in term time so my experience may be totally different and irrelevant.

We have recently turned down a request for this due to the effect on the business.

There needs to be a balance, who will pick up your work say for 6 weeks over the school holiday.

Parental leave can also be rejected if it causes disruption to the business.

It has to be fair across all teams and it’s unfair if the business have to pay more to recruit someone just to cover the time your away. They would end up employing and paying for a FT person.

Also 6 weeks minimum at the business is disruptive you could miss things and would need a couple of weeks to catch back up.

I think you need to look at how work will be covered when off and be prepared to counter this. Will other colleagues still be able to take annual leave.
Not just colleagues with children want school hols off. Lots of people like to tag leave onto bank hols and some may be married to teaching staff, volunteer with children etc.

I'm under no illusion that there will be an impact but hopefully it shouldn't be too significant.

I would be very careful about this sort of comment , unless you are aiming for them to realise that they don't really need you at all and just make you redundant.

I made a similar request when I worked in finance but the 6 weeks off (and having alm the school holidays when others need them) was always going to be an issue, so what I actually did was full time in term time and 2 days pw in holidays, when things tended to be quieter anyway, but people were comforted by the role not being completely uncovered for the whole period.

By the time I'd booked my leave on top, I often ended up with most of the holidays off anyway.

As others have said, it really does depend entirely on your workplace. I've had jobs where it would be fine and jobs where it wouldn't work at all. Currently, mine wouldn't work at all term time only. You've asked the question, so you'll soon find out! If not, jobs do come up for term time only.

Yes.
buts its not fair on everyone else if you're always off, and everyone else has to take turns
People without young children also have lives you know...

If you work in finance do you not have regular finance duties….month end, weekly or daily tasks….most finance roles do?
who is expected to pick these up whilst you’re swanning around having got your own way. Really don’t see how you expect it to work on those terms, plus it sets a precedent, if you get it, then why not everyone else.

Why don’t you request term time plus an additional 4/5 weeks? Then you can work in Easter/October half term/ Summer holidays too

So in other words the at peak premium holiday times with you out of the equation the rest of the staff on have odds odd of 1 in3 on having to work instead of 1 in 4

A couple of my colleagues work term time only so it'sdoable.. It's always were asking HR

It makes me a bit sad that you’re putting all of the onus on yourself when by your own account you have a husband that can take time off in holidays. If your request gets approved you’re giving your husband a get out of jail card. Ideally we need to hold our partners accountable because until they start taking more of the school holiday responsibilities as a norm the gender pay gap and inequality isn’t going to close.

Maybe the business you are employed by doesn't revolve around you?
doesn't want a couple of months in the summer with no financial reporting/suppliers being paid - and potentially have other employees who'd like to take their annual leave in the summer.