Offered promotion; should I ask for flexible working before accepting it?

[Suzihaha]

I started a new FT job last year after a couple of years out. I took it in the hope that I'd be able to apply to reduce my hours once I'd been there 6 months.

Surprisingly, I have been offered a promotion as they are making the head of my department redundant.

Now, do I tell the big boss that I am planning on applying to reduce my hours before I take the promotion, or take the promotion, wait 3 months and then apply?

Does the new job allow flexible or part time working?

In some companies jobs at a certain level are deemed not suitable.

Ooo. I have no idea. Not exactly sure how I can find out without making it obvious what my plans are?

Depends how important the flexible working is, and how certain you are that your request would be granted in your current job.

If not getting reduced hours in the new job would be a dealbreaker, and you know you will get them in your current job, then that's important.

To be honest, I don't know for certain that I would get them in my current job anyway.

There are a lot of part-timers in the firm, at my level and higher, so I presume the policy is there to consider it at least.

I guess I just have to put forward a strong application they can't refuse.

But, if you were a manager, would you be irritated an employee you promoted turns around and asks to reduce their hours 3 months later?

How much from FT to PT would you be hoping to drop?

Why is the current head of department being made redundant?

I only want to drop to 4 days a week, so not too drastic a change.

I don't know the exact reason behind the redundancy. We're told it's because the role as it was isn't working and the department needs to be restructured to be more productive, but I suspect it's because the head couldn't really run the department properly.

As a manager, I wouldn't be annoyed that someone I promoted wanted to reduce hours. The promotion and the hours request are completely unrelated (I wouldn't request the in the first week though, leave a month or so )

To be honest, I'd rather not know of the PT plans before the promotion interviews, because however much I know one shouldn't affect the other, it is hard to know you've treated candidates fairly if you have this other, possibly negative, information about them.

What would a man do? Take the promotion first. You deserve it.

Thanks for all your input.

I think I've decided to accept the promotion, spend 3 months in my new role and then apply to reduce my hours.