To be annoyed that my employer won’t let me go part time?

[Topoftheroof]

I currently work full time 5 days a week. I made a flexible working request to go part time to 2 days a week because of personal circumstances (family circumstances) but it was declined. I’m annoyed though because there are other people (2 other people) working in the company only 2 days a week so it’s not unheard of. But they won’t consider it because I’m a head of department (not in a school and nothing to do with education or academics) and they also won’t give me another role in the company either which can be 2 days a week. I feel like I could cry with stress, I can’t afford to not work at all but can’t work 5 days a week at the moment either due to circumstances. I explained on my request that part time 2 days a week might not be permanent but they still declined the request. Both my boss and the managing director are always moaning that they “dread the day” I leave because “there’s no one in the business as good as” me so it’s baffling to me that they wouldn’t approve the 2 days a week knowing that I can’t work full time 5 days a week at the moment but then at the same time always say that they don’t want me to leave the company and would do anything to stop me leaving. I haven’t decided if I should appeal it yet or not, I don’t know what to do. I’m just really upset and have been crying about it because I can’t afford not to work at all and can’t do full time at the moment either. I’m also very annoyed with my employer too for rejecting the request. AIBU to be annoyed with my employer about this?

I also believe that my current job can be done in 2 days a week and I made this point to them but they still rejected my flexible working request.

Are there current vacancies 2 days a week for your role?

I think you're (understandably) looking at this from an emotional perspective. 5 days down to 2 days is a big change. From your employers point of view, how will they cover the 3 days each week? There will be costs associated with hiring someone else, perhaps difficulty finding someone else at a senior level who only wants something part time, working hours may need to overlap to ensure handover each week, again at an additional cost, reporting line issues if you manage staff, and realistically if they hire someone else for 3 days a week they're going to be doing more than you. It's easy to say it might not have to be permanent but they won't want the time and expense of onboarding and training someone and for you to expect them to be let go or moved when/if you're able to go back full time.

Job shares at senior levels can be tricky, there's usually no clear division of ownership or responsibility. I can see plenty of places allowing someone to go from 5 to 4 days but I don't think anywhere I've worked would approve a drop to only 2 days a week.

No not for my current role. But I can absolutely do my role in 2 days a week, it is possible.

I’d start applying for jobs elsewhere and asking them for references, even if you aren’t serious about them. Maybe if they think you would actually leave it might shake them up.

It’s one thing 5 to 4, another thing to 2. Are the people who do 4 responsible for teams? I presume you have one, who trouble shoots for them when you’re off.

This is a very precarious position to put yourself in. They're paying you for 5 days a week but you're telling them 3/5ths of that aren't needed?

Going from 5 days a week to 2 is a huge change though. Could you do more days?

They may be willing to negotiate if they really want you to stay.

Really? So you have nothing to do a lot of the time?

You can’t honestly believe that you can do the same job in two days that currently takes you five.

They won’t consider a job share either.

If they had approved my request they wouldn’t have needed to hire someone else though because I could have absolutely done my job in 2 days a week, it is possible to do my job in 2 days a week in my opinion.

"My full time job can be done in 2 days a week part time, But i may want to go back to full time in the future"

Why would they want you back full time if your job can be done part time?

Its fair enough to refuse it- 2 days you’re barely even there!

I can’t find any jobs elsewhere for 2 days a week though.

YABU. You’re a head of department, so it’s not the same as staff in other roles who can be covered more easily on 2 days a week. The business is entitled to refuse a flexible working request if they think it would negatively affect operations, and it sounds like they’ve decided that a HoD just can’t be done in 2 days.

I get that your personal circumstances are tough, but ultimately they have to balance your needs with the needs of the business. They’ve said they don’t want you to leave, but that doesn’t mean they can bend the role into something that won’t work for them. If you can’t do full time, you may need to consider whether a different job elsewhere would fit better.

The other people who do 2 days a week are not head of departments no.

Could you work from home for a couple of days a week?

That's not the flex you think it is, though. You're admitting to your employer that you're being overpaid, underworked and twiddling your thumbs. The fact youve not broached your minimal workload previously would suggest to me as a manager that you're either lying now and it can't be done in 2 days or you've been taking the piss for a long time doing nothing 3 days a week.

I would have been able to do my job in 2 days a week though.

They also could have offered me another role (even with less responsibility) in the company but they refused that too.

Employers don’t have to agree to reduced hours. You’ll need to find something else.

There are other people who work 2 days a week though.

Unfortunately not. It’s a complex situation/set of circumstances.

But you just said they are in a different role to you. So they are irrelevant.

Could you ask if there is a reduction in hours that they might consider? My employer will not do 2 days a week, but they will do other reductions and working arrangements?

my arrangement is working multiple short days so that i am still present and available throughout the week, but I have time for my personal life every day as well.

perhaps they would be more amenable to 4-5 hour shifts instead of 2 days.

It doesn’t mean that my role can’t be done in 2 days though or that they couldn’t have offered me another role.