Returning to work question

[jojoisamum]

My job is part-time. 9-1 5 days per week and I would like to go back. My employer however has recently made redundant several members of staff.

Now, I know they have to take me back but husband will apply for flexible working and will hopefully start work at 3 pm and work until 11 pm meaning we don't need to find childcare although if his work won't accept this then yes, childcare will need to be found.

My question is - can I write to my boss and outline my plans but also say I am concerned about redundancy because there would be huge effort arranging things (plus not seeing my husband for 5 days out of 7 if his shift change goes ahead) for me to go back to work. I don't want to arrange everything only for him to make me redundant after a couple of weeks or months back.

I am not sure legally how things work though so any help would be appreciated.

Legally they should consider any request you make for flexible working hours but they don't have to if it seriously impacts the busiiness or those in the business.

I don't know if you should mention the redundancy when you tell him your plans though.

Are you planning on going back to the same hours? If you are then your boss should have no reason to deny you. He might be unable to tell you about future redundancies though.

You have the right to request flexible working, but your employer does not need to grant it.

No, I don't want to request flexible working. My husband will do that and if declined it will be childcare.

I want to keep my same hours but I am worried if we arrange everything that I will be made redundant anyway!

I suppose it is a risk I need to take in going back. I'd just rather he was honest with me from the outset!

I don't think your boss is going to be able to give you a heads-up on what's coming redundancy-wise, otherwise everyone else would be entitled to know as well. Beyond an off-the-record chat if you know him well, I think you may just have to take the risk.

I'm guessing your dh does something with a night shift if 3-11 p.m. is likely to be acceptable?

I might have an informal chat with him. I do know him well enough.

Yes, we don't think my husband changing his shifts to 3-11 will cause a problem.

You could try an informal chat to try to set your mind at rest, but tbh I think it's a risk you'll have to just take.

An employer won't generally be interested in whether you have domestic issues - how you rearrange your childcare etc will be your issue. Look at it this way: if your dh wasn't applying for flexible working, then you'd be having to book a cm or nursery, and there would still be the risk that you could be made redundant a few months down the line and would then have to change arrangements anyhow. So at least this way, it's affecting just your family rather than nurseries or whatever.

It's worth a chat, but then I think you need to just take the plunge.