Flex work request

[treeteips]

I was working four days a week since I went back to work after my 16 year old was born. I was given the job of team leader and after 18 months of a demanding job I want to work a 9 day fortnight. Same hours just one rest day.

It's been refused due to business needs and Because all management above work 9 days and my team keep on leaving/not passing probation.

Aibu in thinking it's wrong

Really? So working conditions have nothing to do with whether staff want to work somewhere or not? That's absurd.

You can appeal but you need to set out how you can make this work. Look at the business reasons they gave for refusing and set out how you can mitigate them.

So why has head of department got one

Says every shitty manager/team leader…

As much as you can apply for different hours etc, I’m under the impression that they don’t have to give it you. I can’t really follow what you’re asking for so I’m not commenting on that, just the point that your company is within their right to decline it.

After Covid, as a key worker, I tried to reduce my hours and my company just wouldn’t let me do it. Unfairly (in my mind) there was already a job share and they said that one didn’t really work so they wouldn’t support another, it didn’t work for the business. That said I didn’t get on very well with one of the bosses and she was never going to help me out. She probably knew I’d leave if I didn’t get it (which I did) and that suited her. My opinion of this is supported by the fact that I hear that they didn’t replace my job for a couple of years and now they have a job share doing it!!

So you want the same money and have a day off every two weeks. Not surprised your employer isn't keen.

Thanks 😳

Yes they can but from a management point of view there have to cover for you on a fortnight basis
which then increases there workload and also things like when they want a day off they have to arrange cover for 2 post instead of one

your just looking from your point of view not the business
the fact you want a day off isn’t really going to incentivise them to pick your work up

The fact you have repeated this twice says everything OP.
Along with this I am reading a lot of “I want…”

Your posts are very confusing and confused too, eg you are the team leader not the manger, then in the next post you say you are on the same pay and hours as the manager.

I’ve read everything carefully and do strongly feel you need to seriously consider your work, leadership and attitude.

You are against all those women working less

So why do they let anyone have reduced days?

You’re being very unkind and rude OP.

Try asking them? I don't think asking about what other people are allowed is likely to be productive though.

Your responses sound rather petulant to me. If you've been refused on the grounds of business need perhaps you need to explore how that decision has been made with reference to your role.

Because in some roles it will work, in others it won't.

Please clarify and articulate what it is I have misunderstood. Thanks

I am still struggling to understand how 9/10 is a reduction from 4/5 but perhaps a PP was correct that OP has been working full 5/5 for a short while after years of working 4/5 and now wants to change to 9/10.

If the other 9/10 posts don't require the same level of hands on supervision that your role provides then it seems fair for the employer to accept one and reject yours. Your suggestion that your manager can provide the hands on supervision on your non work day works for you, but not for the business - the manager has their own work to do on that day and will struggle to do that in addition to the supervision.

Can you make some other suggestions for how the team in your absence can continue to be productive on your NWD? Can you produce written or video reference materials, train someone up to act as a senior team member etc. Are there any advantages to the business in you working the extra hour or so on the other days that may offset the inconvenience (to them) of you not being there 1 day a fortnight? Can you point them to studies or examples of how you having that additional rest day will be beneficial to your efficiency?

If the team is not performing/passing probation then it's not entirely surprising that they will have concerns about you reducing your presence and leaving them unsupervised. How do you feel about focussing on improving the team's performance and then asking again about a change in hours?

I am trying to work out your timeline from what you have said.

You worked many years doing 4 days a week then you moved into a new role about 18 months ago and became full time, do I have that bit right?

Now you want to drop to 9 days a fortnight, is that still full time (so 9 longer days) or a cut in hours from full time?

In terms of your request, have you said you are happy for them to decide what day you are off or have you specified? Are you willing to change your day off to meet business needs if they asked it?

If people aren't getting through probation does that mean there is a gap that needs you around to cover at the moment, and if so, if you get someone who stays could that then mean there is capacity for you to reduce your days? If so then maybe you could ask if they could review your request once staffing is stable?

Op how many days a week do you work now.

i understand you say it’s your teams fault they keep leaving, but if you explain things and behave as you do on here, very few people could tolerate that I a working environment.

The granting of flexible working to someone who asked a while ago and then not a second can be argued I think to be a business need. Much as it grates, and could be for reasons outside of your control.

Given everyone has to have holidays by law, I don't agree with their reasons for refusal though, as surely you have to be covered when on leave.

I don't know where you work but in my company quite a few more senior staff work the 9 days out of 10 compressed hours pattern.

However, they none of them stick to standard hours days - they work as many hours as required, including early morning and late nights and they regularly log in (and sometimes work full days) on their "day off". As OP makes a point of saying she wants a rest day, I guess this is not what she is intending to do.

If you are saying that your managers all have jobs that are identical to yours in terms of requiring actual presence at work, and none of them work a second more than their allocated hours, then you are correct that this is unfair, and feel free to question it. But that sound unlikely.

WTF is that reply?
Just because you are a woman doesn't mean that the OP was against what they were saying is you are completely deluded if you think you can do less and keep the same pay... its not a gender thing ffs!
And actually you are really rather rude.

I'm working the same hours they will just have to do without me for 20 extra days

Every single case is individual the fact other people haven’t isn’t relevant or leverage