employment law related - flexible working

[Workytypestuff]

I am worrying that work might make it difficult to change my hours. I have a baby now, this is my reason for needing to reduce my hours. They are known for being awkward when it comes to pregnancy and childcare.

I have a meeting next week to discuss switching from 5 days to 2 days, I am on mat leave at the moment due to return early next year.

My role is a basic admin role, part time would certainly cause no issues for customers or colleagues, and the hours I have asked for would allow a job share to slot in easily. A job share would definitely be workable, nothing particularly complex in the work that could cause confusion.

I want to be as prepared as possible for this meeting. Does anybody have any tips or experiences to share to assist me in getting what I have requested?

I really need to keep my job, but cannot work more than 2 days. I would have free family childcare on those 2 days, but could not afford to use a nursery or childminder on other days. I would have to resign and look for something else if they refuse, which I really want to avoid!

I just want to ensure I do everything in my power to keep my job!

I think you're looking for something a little more than flexible working - it's a complete change in the nature of the role. YOu need to be aware that it will cost the company more to hire two people in a jobshare role than one person doing all five days. That in itself is sufficient reason for them to reject the proposals I think but Flowery could confirm.
That aside, if you're proposing job share, i'd advise you go in there with details of where it's worked elsewhere in the organisation and the benefits it could bring to the role (so two different specialisms approaching it? broader range of knowledge to the same role?) but also in very great detail how it would be managed practically - what crossover between the sharers would there be? you'd have the same email account / open desk / same phone extn etc etc - would one of you cover certain clients/ aspects of the business or would you both be doing everything - how would you ensure that if you took the "both doing everything" approach that there's no time lost between the two of you duplicating / catching up on what the other has previously done?