Request for Flexible Working Hours - Help

[MrsFruitcake]

I want to place a request for flexible working hours with my employer. I think it's pretty straightforward but can anyone tell me the reasons the company could possibly refuse this?

A bit about me - I work p/t 20 hours a week 9am-1pm, my DH works shifts (7-7 days and nights) and there are 4-6 days a month where I need to come into work 20 minutes late in order to drop my DS at nursery before work. This has been tolerated on a week-to-week basis by my Manager so far but in an informal, minuted discussion this week, she informed me that this now has to stop as I have been 'taking liberties'. This hasn't been mentioned before and now she tells me that my childcare will have to change to incorporate this demand. It can't change as he's in nursery 3 days a week, and my Mum helps out when needed. He starts school in September so any change is only likely to needed until then anyway, so I think my manager is being a bit unreasonable.

Any advice/help from those in the know, or those who have sucessfully managed this would be helpful.

It's only unreasonable if you're making up the time and this is being ignored.

What flexible arrangement are you looking for and is it something which your employer could reasonably accommodate?

I always make up the time - if I get in at 9.17, I stay until 1.17 and so on. Actually, I've made up 4 hours this week that I had to take off at the beginning of the week to attend an appointment with my Consultant at the hospital.

I am looking to come in at 9.30am and leave at 1.30pm.

It would not seem unreasonable to come in at 9.30 and leave at 1.30, but as an employer I would want you to do this every day, not on as 'as and when basis'.

I actually think your manager is not being unreasonable. You are supposed to work 9-1 and you are frequently not doing those hours. I understand that you make up the time, but that isnt the point. If I were a manager I'd put up with it on the odd occasion, but for a part timer 4-6 times a month late to work is actually significant.

You could make a request to change your hours, of course you can. All that could happen is a refusal. But be realistic - your manager already suggested you change your childcare arrangements to suit your hours, rather than suggesting you make your modified hours permanetn.