Demote myself or change?

[mickb]

So finally plucked up courage to ask for p/t hrs in my current role, which was promptly turned down as 'you need to be full time to be a manager' . Have though been offered a 4 day week as long as I accept a demotion and step down from managing my team. At the same time have been offered anther job in another team on 3 days a week but in a different area of work which am not sure sounds v exciting.2nd job wouldn't be as a manager but would be more of a sideways move rather than a step down. Boss in 2nd team seems much more receptive to being flexible than current boss.
WWYD ?
PS Am terrified of change and like the people I currently work with, but thought of a step down to a more junior role rankles with me (as have worked my way up in my role for last 9yrs)....

Ooh that doesn't sound too fair. Have they explained WHY being a manager and part-time are incompatible? I think they are legally obliged to consider all flexible working requests properly, and provide a decent explanation when they refuse.

Do you think it is impossible to be both? Have you tried setting out (written) how it would actually work in practice in order to counter their argument.

Peersonally, saying it isn't possible without an explanation would not be good enough for me. If there is genuine reason for it, then I would just decide whetheer manager status was more or less important than my flexible hours.

Failing that, the other job could be great! Try not to be afraid of change, sometimes it is when our hand is forced that the best things happen to us.

Btw I am a manager of a large team in a multinational company. And I work part time, so understand balancing the priorities! HTH

thanks flutey boots. agree it didn't sound fair to me either but was told that as i work for a big US bank, as a manager of the team i look after, regulators would expect someone to be working f/t. Personally think it's nonsense particularly as my immediate boss was prepared to cover me for the one day i would be off, although he now has agreed with big cheese boss that it is not possible either.
I haven't set it out in writing to ultimate big boss - was not really given the opportunity to do this as was just a flat no or take a step down. Will have a think about if I think I will get anywhere with a written submission.
Manager status isn't the be all for me and I value flexible hours more- is just the frustration of reporting up to someone (possibly one of my current team members)in the future which i don't find appealing.
So new job it might be!! (despite the fear factor......)
thanks

If I were you I'd be checking directly with the regulators what their position is, if that is the excuse the company is using.

Also, I'm sure they are supposed to give you a written and properly explained answer to your request...

Thanks mrs cmaw.
Yes agree that they should do this but the big boss is notoriously resistant to part time working, something which HR know but won't do anything about and suspect that if ask for a written answer, if I get one, will be told that it is due to "business reasons" that it can't be done.
Think have decided am going to go for the other role as is a better chance of it working with a boss who's more open to it and who reports into another boss who seems less resistant to p/t too.
fingers crossed that it works out now...eek