Flexible Working Requests

[mum2noah]

Hi,

I am new to mumsnet but am looking for some advice/support.

I made a claim for flexible working whie on maternity last year. I requested to reduce my 5 day week to 4. I was offered a jobshare of 3 days but at the time I declined as it did not suit my circumstances.

I have waited a year and have now put in another request. I am requesting 4 days again but I am willing to explore the jobshare option. I have seen some of the corrospondance re my request and due to lack of funding in the budget it would appear my request will be denied again. Is that enough of a business reason to refuse my request? It also would seem that they are going to go outside the 28 days they are given to reply, do I have anything on them this way? If it is refused how to I appeal?

Any help is very much appreciated.

Many Thanks.

Yes it is enough of a business
reason.

Yes burden of additional costs is one of the acceptable reasons.

Not strictly following the time limits to the letter does't mean they therefore have to grant your request I'm afraid, so it won't help you really.

You should be informed how to appeal it, in terms of who you should write to. If they don't specify, just ask who you should address an appeal to.

Can I just clarify, you asked for four days a year ago, didn't get it, and are now making the same request again?

Does that mean that you didn't agree with their reasons for refusal last time, or that you think something has changed in the last year?

As others have said, cost is a reason to turn down job shares. The need for overlap (in many cases) and the extra sunk costs of an additional employee often do mean that employers can refuse job shares. I think it's important to focus on the request itself. You've put the request is in now, so see what they say, but in preparation for any possible appeal, I'd be thinking about how your job could be done on four days.