To be annoyed that my flexible working request has been turned down

[workisanightmare]

I requested to change my hours from 9-5 to 8:15-4:15. It just suits my day better and would make my evenings more productive.

it has been turned down because I need to cover until 5, because my colleague can’t due to health issues. AIBU to be a bit annoyed about this?

I’ve always felt like this over winter. It’s a genuine struggle for me, but if it’s a possibility to get some form of flexibility then I’ll use it. I was sold a very flexible role at interview, where they said they’d accommodate my flexible working desires.

If the office needs covering until 5 pm, it should be on a rota. We had this in the office I worked at, and we all took a turn staying until 5 pm. To expect you to solely cover the office from 3.30-5 pm every day, and to have to give 3 months notice if you want annual leave is utterly ridiculous. No one else wants to stay until 5 pm, so your role has been saddled with staying until that time. I'd be looking for another job.

Nobody could walk in, it’s not that type of business. I just think that if they’re going to pay one person to sit alone in an office with electricity going, they may as well just have a voicemail system and I go through it each morning

Ah okay. Does sound very unfair in that case.

I’d definitely look for a new job OP. I’d be really fed up there

Yep, time to move on

an advantage of all that time in the office alone is that, if you have your own laptop or use your phone, and trust that they don’t have spy cameras on you (wouldn’t put that pasy these losers) you can use the time for job seeking!

If you haven't found another job by then I'd just be calling in sick on that particular day......

Look for another job
It is perfectly reasonable that they want the Office manned until 5pm .
Do not embarrass yourself by claiming you have a right to a reasonable adjustment due to SAD

I am a similar position in aa much as to take time off, I have to check with 3 different teams that none of them are off. Whereas they don't. It has become a joke among my friends as to me being denied holiday.
But the whole 3 month notice thing is ridiculous and if you want to stay at the job, I would be checking or asking for your company handbook/policies and your contract.
You're right in that each person would only have to do one "late" a month would seem the obvious solution, but the company seems illogical and unfair

@workisanightmare i fear that the ‘reasonable adjustment’ they’d probably make is maybe get you one of those daylight lamps proven to positively impact SAD sufferers.

I feel very sorry for you and find the ‘last one in’ mentality very outdated and not supportive of an inclusive working environment. From your numerous replies, it seems it’s affecting your mental health working alone an hour and a half as it’s very isolating doing that continuously. Also you mention it’s an industrial site so not on a busy high street or anything so if someone were to break in where does that leave you? Apologies if already covered but I’d look into the H&S regs of working alone with regard to that.

Personally to make myself ‘cope’, 3.30-5pm any downtime I’d be competing my CV, searching for jobs etc.

Your working conditions sound awful including the bit of not being able to socialise ever with the others during the working day/after work.

Also, the thing about the GP appt you said you had to stay later to make up the time, why are they so odious that they can’t allow you to start earlier a day or two instead to make the time back up?

You’ve made me feel almost guilty about the almost ‘perfect’ working conditions I have compared to yours!

Anyway, good luck with searching for your new job and hopefully you’ll find a more suitable employer 🤞

Yeah this
Also just to allow you more evening isnt massively a reason...
Did you put forward any other reasons?

I would turn that down myself and it sounds like they have a very valid reason to.

I support flexible working fully (my work allow me a lot of flexibility tbh) but when it impacts business (no one to cover) and the reason is just for extra evening its hard to get that signed off...

OP, don't waste your time settling in, look for a new job.
You are being used and treated very poorly.

They sound shit OP, view it as 90 minutes every day you get to job hunt seeing as they can’t see what you’re up to

I don’t know why they won’t let me in early. They just said I have to stay behind.

I was on your side about this being unfair until you started this. You obviously have gotten yourself all worked up and are saying anything to get sympathy. You have gone from wanting to leave earlier for your other interests, wanting someone to fill in once a month, unfair being a new hire to all of a sudden you are frightened to be alone and they have told you that you have to replace anything that might be stolen in the fictitious robbery? Now you are being unreasonable. I would have loved to have heard how that conversation went.

You're only 6 months in, you don't sound happy there. I'd start looking for another job. No point arguing with them.

Honestly OP your employer sounds absolutely awful. I agree that you should be looking for a different job ASAP (preferably to leave them in the lurch over Christmas)!

They effectively lied to you in your interview by "selling" you on the fact that flex working via early finishes would be a possibility for you, when it clearly isn't being offered at all.

Get out of there sharpish!

Yeah, I see your point. What do they say when you suggest this? If they've rejected the concept then you've little choice but to accept it or leave unfortunately.

Madness. A few more months and you’ll have done a year. Use your ‘isolated’ working experience to your benefit and in your future job interviews find a way to mention this as a strength as it were, the additional responsibility and work ethic you showed in being the only one working alone and so late and doing all the late night security also. So that’s the ‘silver lining’ I’d take. Stay positive and motivated!

That seems extraordinarily petty, if there is no business reason to have you alone in an isolated building after 17.00.

Does the manager have a friend/relative who wants your job?

Do you belong to any racial or national minority? If so you have most of the ingredients for constructive dismissal on discrimination grounds.

Apart from some discrimination grounds, don't you have to work for two years nowadays to acquire most employment rights? I know the government were talking of changing it back.

Sounds v annoying - can u leave and go freelance?

Yes you’re right. I sometimes watch a radio host barrister on YouTube and whenever someone calls in with a job related complaint that’s the first thing he asks them 😐.

Why can’t they just set up the phone line via Teams and allow you to finish your shift at home? I see no reason for you to be physically in the office?