wanting to ask for flexiable working.

[redderthanred]

I work part time. 20 hours a week over 4 days.
So 5 hours.

Ive a 30 min lunch break in that time. Noone in the office takes it, and i have been writing it down as time off in leiu. AFter a few months boss has decided im having too much time off in leiu and i must take my break.

Ive got a super vision on monday. My daughter stats school in jan. What i really want to ask is if i could possibly use my lunch hour time, and come in 15 mins later.

My bosses daughter has just started school and she is coming in later, so i feel that it might be possible.

What is the best way or asking for this?

OR

i could ask to come in later for 2 days, and 2 days i could use the breakfast club. Is it better to ask for this first, or to ask for all, and then use this to negociate?

never done this kind of thing before, so dont really know best way to go about it.

I expect one of the MN experts will be along soon to advise, but as a general rule, a flexible working request needs to be framed in terms of how it will work for the employer.

If you are basically just saying that you want to start later and work through lunch times to fit in with dropping your dd at school, then you're talking only about what you want, rather than meeting the employer's needs IYSWIM.

ah - i see.

So thats not likely to sound good.

How about if i said i would be in later 2 x a week - by 15 mins.

But would be willig to be in early by 15 mins the other 2x a week.

There fore being in the office first, picking up the early morning calls and not at all inpacting on my working hours for the eek, nor using up my lunch break that i do not take.

You're still going to be doing your job, for the same hours - I think you should talk to your employer and explain about what time you want to drop of your DC.

That sounds like a good plan. If by being in earlier for the other 2 days, you are actually making life easier for the other employees, by easing the burden a bit, and dealing with all those early calls, then that's a really good example of how your flexible working is providing a benefit to the employer as well as to you.

ah - i shall go with that then.

Check it out with your HR dept first. Where I work, if you work less than 5 hours a day you can work straight through, without lunch break, but still eat lunch at desk whilst working.
If you work 6 hours or more in a day you have to take a 20 minute break for lunch. However, most people end up working through this 20 min lunch break so the employers end up gaining.
Remind your employer that it wont be forever and that a flexible approach from them will result in a flexible approach from you in the future when they are in need!

I'm confused. You say you work 20hrs pw as in 4 x 5hr days but then you say you have a 30 min lunch break in that time.

Do you mean you have a paid lunch break within those 5 hrs?

Or would the lunch break be in addition to the 5 hrs i.e you would have to take a break and then work an extra 30 mins?

Like Onessa I don't think you have to take a break if you only work 5 hrs.

i work 5 hours and have a unpaid 30 min lunch break which i have to take.

I know legally i dont have to have it.

My felixiable working reguest was turned down. They said i needed to be there to answer the phone.

i always work through my lunch break. Since ive been told i have to take it, ive stopped doing that. But then the phone rang and i had to get it.

Hmmm that sounds like a separate issue.

If it's an unpaid lunch break then you shouldn't be expected to answer the phone IMO.

Can you not take your half hour break away from your desk? If they want you to be there to answer the phone then they should pay you for it!