To think work can’t reject flexible working for childcare if they have agreed it for medical reasons?

[usernamediff]

Hi, from my understanding a flexible working request can be rejected on 8 reasons that are to do with problems to the business if they agreed it. I start work at 6am and it’s impossible to get childcare at that time of day. My mum was helping out but isn’t as well as she used be. I know someone else who felt similar about childcare but was able to work it around her husband’s shifts. However, she has just had a normal day shift agree due to medical reasons. This is a long term issue they have agreed forever, not just a temporary thing. She has said to me multiple times how much easier it is to now juggle family life as baby can just go to nursery if needed. I can’t begin to imagine how much easier it is to start at 9 vs 6 with a small child. She does say how it was agreed due to medical reasons though but surely when it comes to the flexible working it can also be rejected even for medical reasons if it doesn’t work for the business? So surely the outcome would be the same regardless of reason?

I totally get your point. Theres numerous times I feel annoyed when people talk about the man "helping" the woman with housework or childcare. As if either of those are primarily her domain and he's being kind or going over and above to be nice. It needs to be the accepted norm that it's every parent's responsibility equally and normal to do 50 percent of it!!