Flexible working trial - is this usual?

[tiggersreturn]

I've asked for flexible working and have received the response of we'll trial it for a month and then see if it works or if it doesn't suit the business. My questions are:

1. Is it better to do a trial over 1 or 3 months in case of sudden work flux in one month and then quiet in other 2?
2. I know the last person who got a rather more substantial work change granted in my section under a different manager didn't have to do anything like this. Does that affect it at all?
3. My child care will have to be altered if they refuse to grant my request but obviously I need it in place for the first month. How am I meant to handle that? It won't be a huge change as I'll be working nearly full time on my new arrangement but I will need some more cover.

Any advice gratefully received.

I would suggest:

1. it depends - is workload in the post something that is objectively quantifiable (eg number of widgets processed) or something more subjective? How variable is it?

2. Not relevant: every request is independent of any others.

3. your childcare isn't your employers concern. And without detail, it's hard to suggest options to help you - I'd suggest you try to set it up for full time, with option to reduce it later.

I hope it goes well.

1. Not really but sometimes we just have a lot more on than other times. One of my colleagues is saying we're swamped but the other is saying she's going through patches which suggests a sharing issue...

1. I will set it up for full time (my request is 4 1/2 days over 5) anyway but if I have to work full time (5/5) then I need more than that and I'm not quite sure how to cover it with 3. I'm already planning on a nanny and an au pair.