Flexible working

[Saraf82]

i need some advise ladies, can anyone help?? I'll try to make this as short as possible!!
I work in call centre that is open from 7.15am-9pm. i came back to work on a part-time basis in June after having my first child. i currently work 5-9 mon-thurs and i am a team leader. this shift has become a nightmare as my childcare (OH's parents) have decided to swan off to Cyprus for the forseeable future. I have asked work if I can change my shift and i am willing to step down from my position and go back on the phones to do so.
My OH works at the same place and he works on a 2 week rotational shift pattern and i've asked to work the opposite part time shift. There is another part time shift in the morning so i just wanted to do one week earlies one week lates. My employer has basically said that they can't create another shift pattern for me as they have trouble enough running the 2 that they have. i'm not sure if this counts as 'business grounds??' they have said that i can step down and go on the early shift but this would mean paying for nursery which we just cannot afford as i would have to pay for 4 weeks a month when i only need ot for 2 weeks.

any advise???

I hate to leave you unanswered, but are these other shifts actually available, or are you expecting your employers to shift other people (possibly parents, who have sorted their childcare) to suit you? As a grandmother, I take offence at your comment that your childcare which is apparently "OH's parents" have decided to swan off to Cyprus for the forseeable future". You chose to have children, why do you expect anyone else to live to your agenda?

From your post it sounds as if you've already downgraded from a f/t post to a p/t one, how much more flexible do you think an employer could/should be?

Have you actually submitted a formal Flexible Working request using the forms on the gov.uk website? That procedure is very clear about what you and the employer need to do at each stage. I'm a bit confused about your question as you say that there are two standard shift patterns and I can't see how what you're working now fits with that.

Of course its good business grounds, they have two shift plans but you want your own seperate one just to avoid paying childcare!!

Its one of those things re working and having children so you just have to swallow the childcare costs until they drop when children go to school.

The "swanning off" comment is very unfair, they are your children not you MIL's.

fair enough about the parents in law, it's just when i went back to work part time they agreed they would look after our daughter, that's the reason i went back. but fair do's they have their own life and that's why i'm trying to find an alternative with work.
I'm not AVOIDING paying for childcare, i physically cannot afford to pay for childcare. it's either the mortgage or nursery and the benefits won't help as they don't take into consideration how much you're paying out on bills/loans.
yes there is availability to do the shifts and of course i would never expect someone else even without children to move for me!!!

There are 2 shifts for full time-one week one half of the company work earlies and the other half lates, then the next week they swap. There are other part time people who work different days ie mon, tues, sun or tues, sat, sun or tues, weds 1st sunday of the month

and just to add yes i do already have part time hours but this was based on my parents in law looking after my daughter in the evenings for 2 weeks out of 4. the circumstances have obviously now changed as they are going away. even if i could afford nursery, do you know any that open between 5-9 in the evening!?

I'm still not grasping the issue. Are you saying that:

1. There is a rotational shift system for full time workers where they basically 'swap' each week
2. There is a different shift system for part time workers, one morning, one evening
3. Instead of carrying on doing either of the established part time options, you want to switch into one of the full time shifts, but do it on a part time basis?

If all the above is correct then I am sorry but you don't really have grounds for complaint - they are allowing anyone who wants to work part time to do so, with option of morning or evening. That is very reasonable.

If some of the full-time people have special arrangements whereby they cover weekends instead of weekdays, it makes no difference to your case, unless you are wanting to do exactly the same.

God some of you posters are grumpy. OP wasn't saying anything nasty about pil, she was just explaining the child care situation.

Anyway,

I know the employer you are talking about, they are a pain in the bum crack. Can you not talk to your union rep?

Otherwise, if you have management/leading experience, get another job. Just do it. Your employers are shit heads.

Did you actually make a flexible working request formally when you returned to work? If you did, you don't have the right to make another one for 12 months anyway.

Like Squiffy, I'm having a bit of problem understanding what shift patterns your work runs and what you want, but if it's as Squiffy explained it, then I'm afraid she's right. Working one week on, one off is quite a difficult pattern to accomadate, and there is already quite a bit of flexibility in the system. It just doesn't happen to perfectly suit you. I'm afraid that the need not to pay for childcare really isn't something they have to factor in - they've made part time working possible in a variety of ways. I think your choices are either to go back full time, in opposing weeks to your OH, or see if there is a way you can pay for childcare and go back normal part time.

Was Thinking that myself (bit grumpy!) Oh well maybe shouldn't have gone into so much detail!!

We don't have a union I'm afraid, wish we did tho!! Do/have u work for the same company??

Anyway thanks for your comments (I think) may have found a friend who is able to look after my dd every other week so I'll see if that comes off.