flexible working - making a case

[DuelingFanjo]

Hi there.

My intention was to return to work ful time, it still is. However lately I have been thinking about the possibility (or impossibility) of asking for part time hours.

Trouble is that my job is very mon-fri and 9.30 - 5.30. It's basically an office job, largely providing stuff to people from a library of said stuff. There is no chance of home working as we issue materials and offer research from within the office. I work with one other person and I am the senior member of staff (in name if not in reality).

So I am not sure how I can present any kind of case for part time hours. Me doing, say, 3 days a week would leave the other person on their own for 2 days a week and there is already a huge problem with cover in our part of the department.

So what do I do? Should I just put in a flexible working request and see what they say at the risl of just having it turned down or sould I try to find a way to make it work in an effort to get them take the request seriously?

Can I ask to be given a different job for the same hourly rate but for fewer hours?

I'm not sure it'll help in your circumstances but I did compromise on the days I asked to work (Mon, Wed & Fri) because it suited my role better not to be off for lots of days in a row, even if I would have loved to have every Mon & Friday off :) I also made it clear in my application that I intended to increase my hours again to 4 days a week after about 6-9 months. I also stated that I would be prepared to work flexibly subject to childcare (but DH has his own business so can cover if I work late). It meant that work knew I wouldn't be in at 9am on the dot and out the door at 5pm if I was busy.

The other option is maybe to ask if you did 3 days a week, could the company advertise for a job sharer. This would have the added benefit of the company having a bit more cover when someone is on leave as the sharer (or yourself) might be available to work the extra days you don't currently work.