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?

You say you can do your whole job in 2 days? Who will take your calls, requests and messages in the 3 days you’re not there? Will customers/colleagues just have to wait?

It won’t affect customers because it’s not that sort of job.

They 100% can reorganise work on the other days though and I went through in detail with them how that would work.

Funny that. Maybe that’s your answer. Employers don’t want people who only want to work two days a week.

And it’s a remarkable admission to say that you could do your job in two days when they’ve been paying you for five.

@Topoftheroof did you make a formal flexible working request and if so, which of the 8 reasons did they give for rejecting it?

So you just handed them the reason why your job doesn't need to exist as it is, the perfect excuse to get you to resign, and then replace you for the two days a week that is all that is needed????

Well done...

I meant that I could do the main parts of my job in 2 days and the other work could be reorganised and I explained how that could be done.

Oh yikes OP I really wouldn’t be making a big thing of saying you can do a 5 day a week job on 2 days!! It sounds like maybe you’re subconsciously wanting them to make you redundant!

My comment here explains in more detail what I meant.

Have you explained to them why you need to go down to 2 days a week? Maybe if you explained the reason they would be sympathetic and consider your request. It has to ofcourse be a valid reason.

Annoying but it’s not on your employer to facilitate your personal arrangements if it doesn’t suit the business.

Ok so can you do another flexible working request like compressed hours to 3.5 days but same total hours and pay, or working from home

I have explained yes and they knew all about it even before I made the formal flexible working request too.

Why can't you say what the commitment is?

i Was thinking similar- are you not almost doing yourself out of a job by saying your job can be done in 2 days not 5??

Reorganise the work to who? That's the issue.

To be brutally honest, I would expect someone in a leadership position to understand the implications on the business.
I come from HR in a flexible, family friendly company where many people have flexible working hours but the leadership team are there to support a whole company and simply wouldn't be allowed to work less hours.
You can ask and they will likely refuse but you should be able to understand that business needs come first.
You will go in on your first day after being off and have god knows how many people waiting to speak to you, approve things, sort shit out, approve holidays etc, you can't just do the work you planned to in your 2 days, everyone will need a piece of you.

Does this proposal involve other people picking up manager responsibilities? Who is supervising and managing the department on the three days you would be unavailable, and how have you proposed for them to do that without it adding to their net workload or giving them responsibilities above their job level?

Do your personal circumstance relate to you or a family member having a disability? Because the Equality Act gives you more power to revert back at appeal and state why you need it. Do you have children under 5 as I think that care need is also given more weight.

State if they don’t approve you will have no option but to resign (constructive dismissal). What’s the appeals process like, a judge will need you to go through the appeal process before you can take legal action. In the appeal provide examples of the others that work part time, that they could advertise for a job share to cover the other 3 days (if it really is a full time role) ask why someone can’t be promoted to co-head department. State recruitment fees for such a job share would be something they need to pay anyway if you resigned.

call ACAS for more advice once researched above.

Will do thank you. I’ll look in to an appeal too. But I’m now wondering if I should ask them for a meeting first about 3 days possibly and do my best to make 3 days work in my personal life?

I would expect a head of department to at least be there for more time than they aren’t Tbf

It is about being available when you are needed when you’re supervising, if you only work Monday Tuesday and something needs addressing on a Wednesday - should they be expected to wait five days to sort out the problem?

Did you submit an official flexible working request? If so, what readon(s) did they give for declining?

You keep saying you could do your 5 day job in 2 days. Who is going to pick up the extra work or are you saying that you have so little to do that you only need 2 days to do it. Who is going to support your direct reports if you are only there 0.4 FTE?