flexible working request refused

[decidedlydizzy]

My line manager has agreed to my reducing my contract from 0.8 to 0.6 on a fixed term for 12 months, but refused my working 0.2 of this at home. I have been provided with the business reasons and we have agreed that I can appeal in writing to each reason. I am fine with this and feel I can argue my case for home working but my line manager wants to then refer the appeal to a senior management meeting for them to consider. Can my boss do this? Do I have a right to be present at this meeting? And can I request my trade union representative to also be present?
I am currently on mat leave with baby no.3 and we just can't afford to fork out for more than 2 days childcare. If my case is refused then I will have to make a further request to reduce to 0.4

Yes your boss can refer it up the line and yes you should be present and take your union rep with you. I've just done this, I gave the rep the details and she contacted my boss first and arranged the meeting. she was brill and sorted it all out for me.
Don't tell them your reason for wanting to work from home is cos you cant afford childcare, make it all about the business!
Good luck

Er - so you were planning to spend a day working from home but with your child there as well? Do you really think that will work? TBH I can't imagine many employers consenting to that as a permanent arrangement if they were aware.

no- I suggested I spread the hours across the week and offer a more flexible client service by providing evenings and weekends response would be a new way of interacting with clients, rather than wait 2-3 weeks for an appointment which is what happens at the moment.
am going to contact union rep today. thanks for replies

To be honest I can't see them agreeing to this. There is no laws saying that you should be allowed to work from home, they've agreed to half of your request but not the other. Seems fair to me.

If I was your employer I'd have serious concerns about how much work would be getting done.

As others have said, referring up for the appeal is normal. You get to go and put your case at a meeting.

I think you'll struggle though. Effectively you are saying that you will work around your children. How will the employer be able to offer your availability to clients on a reliable basis if you won't be able to confirm your exact hours of availability (I assume you are relying on working when they are asleep or your partner is with them)? How will they know you are putting in enough hours? Is it the sort of job where out of hours cover is nice to have, but not essential - ie will they have to cover it elsewhere?

If you go to the appeal, go armed with answers to all of that!

Also bear in mind that you only get one request every 12 months. You can't just put in a new one for 0.4. You'll have to add it now as an alternative option if they turn down your appeal. if you don't mention it until after the appeal they can lawfully say you've had your turn and have to wait 12 months to put in the 0.4 request.