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Original poster

Work refusing request for flexibility

16 replies

janey1234 · 08/04/2014 14:26

I was wondering if anyone could help me with some advice?

I am due to return to work after maternity leave in July. As the major wage earner I need to go back full time, plus we are hoping to conceive number 2 ASAP and full time maternity pay would be needed.

Due to nursery hours and my long commute (didn't use to be long until my company moved to the other side of LondonAngry) I have asked to change my hours Mon-Wed (on thurs and fri DS will be with grandparents).

Currently I work 9-5.30 with an hour and a half for lunch.

I have asked for 8.30-4.30 with and hour for lunch, so still a 7 hour working day.

Their first response was to work 8.30-4 five days a week with an hour and a half for lunch, therefore reducing my hours from 35 to 30. I didn't want to be part time or to have flexibility give days?!

Now they have said 8.30-4.30 three days a week, but that I still need to take an hour and a half for lunch.

Initially they said I had to take that to be in line with the rest of the department. I pointed out that half the dept only took an hour, and that other people's hours weren't relevant to my request. Now they have said that all the other senior managers have an hour and a half and it wouldn't be fair on them to let me have less and will be reducing my pay accordingly.

Can I do anything? As far as I can tell their reasons are spurious and irrelevant, but I feel I don't have a leg to stand on? Do I just have to suck it up and take the reduction in pay?

The fact that they're being so awkward about it is totally adding to my fear about going back, am in tears as I write this... Sad

OP posts:
MrsWobble · 08/04/2014 14:40

is your workplace the sort where everyone takes their full lunchbreak or is it a work through with a sandwich type? If the latter, then I can see where your employer is coming from to be honest - what you are asking for is a (very slight) form of compressed hours and in a non-clock watching environment these are often difficult to agree.

Given you've got the start and finish time you want, how much of a loss is the 1.5 hours salary - is it enough to make you change your mind about returning? I can see that it feels unfair - but you will find the whole return much harder if you can't get past that so if at all possible you need to come to terms with what is achievable and think positively about that. Easier said than done though I know.

hotcrosshunny · 08/04/2014 14:45

90,mins for lunch?!

Can you negotiate working from home one day a week and can your adjust his hours as well?

hotcrosshunny · 08/04/2014 14:46

*your DH adjust?

Not sure why you have to pick up all the slack.

LIZS · 08/04/2014 14:47

is there a reason for such a long lunch break ?

Original poster
janey1234 · 08/04/2014 14:58

I work in media. Most people take an hour and a half at least and go to the pub. I rarely do to be honest though.

The reason it's 90 mins is because most of the dept are sales people and at least three times a week are out on boozy client lunches. I'm not a salesperson and do boring numbers and figures, but work in the same dept hence the long lunch break. However half the dept only have an hour, he's just choosing to compare me to the half that do because it suits.

DP is taking some slack. He will do drop off and me pick up. Plan was for me to start and finish early, him to start and finish late. We both have long commutes to the other side of london so both need flexibility really Hmm

OP posts:
hotcrosshunny · 08/04/2014 14:59

I mean why are they enforcing it?

And can he or you work from home at all?

Original poster
janey1234 · 08/04/2014 15:01

Oh and have already asked to work from home one day a week, have suggested on a mon. There was a dept restructure just before I went on mat leave in June last year though and my boss still hasn't decided what my role will be so said he can't agree to that. I have asked if we can review that decision a month after I go back by which point he will hopefully have decided what he wants me to do...

OP posts:
Original poster
janey1234 · 08/04/2014 15:05

Hotcross - I don't know why he's enforcing it. Because he can? He's a self obsessed twat a little awkward at times so maybe he's just demonstrating his power? I suspect it's also because he knows I'm square and often work through lunch anyway? But I've said to him that once DS is in bed I intend to do work from home in the evenings when necessary. They company absolutely wouldn't miss out as I do take things very seriously and work bloody hard, I will do above and beyond as I did before. Them being so awkward makes me less inclined to do that though, starting with requesting that they pay me for the KIT days I've done (I wasn't going to ask)

OP posts:
hotcrosshunny · 08/04/2014 17:18

You should definitely as for the kit days! They're legally obliged to pay aren't they?

It might be worth talking to other mums to see what arrangements they have as well.

Mandy21 · 08/04/2014 17:26

I also think that whilst its unfair power trip for your boss if you have the start and finish times you want I'd be inclined to agree and review once you are back and can speak to HR rather than go through your boss.

Original poster
janey1234 · 08/04/2014 18:33

Unfortunately there aren't that many other mums to speak to. Over the last ten years so many mums have been screwed over they've ended up taking us to court or just resigning! Guess maybe I should just be glad to have a job... My boss has only been our boss for a couple of years so I can't blame the past on him...

I'm reluctant to just accept things as I feel that once I'm back I will have lost my opportunity?

OP posts:
Mandy21 · 08/04/2014 18:53

Have they put it in writing? They have to give a business reason and there must be a logical reason for him comparing to the group that have 1.5hr lunches rather than the 1hr lunchers? Is it correct that all senior managers have 1.5hrs?

Picturesinthefirelight · 08/04/2014 19:03

Blo

Picturesinthefirelight · 08/04/2014 19:06

Blooming eck- I used to have an hour for lunch but now work for a company where we have half an hour.

I have had to deny requests for people to leave early/start late by skipping their lunch half hour on the grounds that it is illegal to work without a break ( plus the nature ofvthe job means you have to work in pairs & travel together etc).

It sounds like a very misogynistic environment you are working in.

Original poster
janey1234 · 10/04/2014 14:01

It is very misogynistic workplace if I'm
honest. My old boss used to "joke" that I could come into his office if I was wearing a short skirt Sad I guess I should have seen this coming.

I think I'm going to appeal. I know it seems petty bit partly it's the principle. They have no business reason for saying no, so are flouting the government guidelines, and I'm kind of sick of them treating people like this. Plus I don't want to be put of pocket.

OP posts:
Original poster
janey1234 · 10/04/2014 14:03

Oh mandy - it's correct that other managers that report into him have 90mins. However until two years ago I wasn't in his dept. I'm not a salesperson, all the other managers are. They need that long for boozy lunches. I don't. Managers in the wider company almost all have an hour for lunch.

OP posts:
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