I'm planning on submitting a request for flexible working on my post-mat leave return in March and have an informal chat with my manager this week about my ideas on how this could work. I'm wondering how to approach this chat and then how to frame/phrase my flexible working application for best results.
I would like to return full time, but work 3 days at home and 2 days in the office. My DH can't change his working pattern yet as he's up for promotion early next year and doesn't want to scupper that - he will ask for 1 day at home if he is successful and I could then do 3 days in the office, potentially from May onwards.
Before I went on leave, my manager and I discussed the possibility of my taking on more of a project-based role rather than having the very long days (early starts and/or late nights, 2 or 3 days a week) of the work we do, but not in the context of working from home.
My main issue is that I now live 2 hours away from work (was 20 minutes before) and obviously will have to leave bang on time to get home to DS and relieve the nanny (if my suggestion is accepted, I will hopefully nanny share 2 days and CM 3) on the days I'm in the office and would not really be able to commit to the early starts/late nights that the rest of the team do as DH isn't always able to leave on time.
Has anyone got any positive stories about their flexi working application being accepted and what sort of things do you think employers want to read in an application to help my chances?
TIA for your input...