Being Treated Unfairly For Being A Mum (and pg too)

[Metrobaby]

I really don't know if I am being paranoid here so I would really appreciate some input.

When I changed managers this year my new manager had a big problem with me working from home. After posting about that dilemma here, I ended up pointing her towards the flexible working legislation. I had also asked our HR dept about it and they confirmed that they did uphold it and also said that in cases that didn't involve a change in contract (ie reduction of hours or pay), they encouraged agreements to be sorted out informally between line managers.

In September my manager and I came to an agreement that I would work approx 3 days a month. I stated that on these days at home I would aim to arrange any appointments for myself and my dd then so to minimise time taken off work for this. I then proceeded to set the wheels in motion - with my manager fully aware of this - to arrange the technology to work from home. This finally was sorted out last week.

Last week after I told my manager I was pg, and that towards the end of the pg I might have to increase my days working from home slightly, she suddenly announced that she would have to check my working from home arrangements with HR. Then on Friday, she told me that I was to stop arrangements for working from home until I had completed a formal application. In the same application I have to request a change in hours that I have in place for a year now. (8.30am - 4.30pm instead of 9-5).

When I pointed out however that as I had to take time off this week for my scan appt and an appt for dd and that consequently I may not be able to meet a deadline if I couldn't work from home, she actually agreed to that which I found very hypocritical and unfair.

Further, I am fuming as I wanted my application to be backdated to September when I made the original request - which she refused. This is an important issue as I want to be able to apply again under the Flexible working legislation when I come back from my mat leave to reduce my hours. This will mean that I will have no choice but to wait 1 year before I can apply again.

I really really don't know if I am being paranoid too as there are several people both within my IT dept and team who work from home, or have adjusted their hours under informal agreements and they don't even have any children. All in all I feel that I have been treated very unfairly. Any advice???

No advice, but it does sound as if she's got it in for you.

I think it does sound like she is treating you unfairly. It sounds really similar to situations colleagues of mine have had workin for a major bank. If HR are being reasonable then it sounds like the company policy is fair and reasonable.

If I were you I would ask to have a meeting with someone from your HR department and go through the whole situation with them. Explain how the timing is important to you as you don't want to have to wait a year from now before reapplying. Many companies actually allow more flexibility than the framework of the law imposes and will understand your situation.

About the hours thing she is definitely being unreasonable as I cannot imagine a situation where working 8:30 to 4:30 causes a problem instead of 9-5 - especially in IT (unless it means no cover between 4:30 and 5?). Ask the HR person to attend a formal meeting between you and your manager.

3 days working at home per month is hardly anything. And you should not really feel under obligation to arrange appointments in that time. You are entitled tp paid time off for antenatal and reasonable time off for dependants. Most companies also do not kick up a fuss if the occasional dentist appointment is in work time if there is no alternative.

I believe ACAS have a free phone-line and also try the maternity alliance as they will give you some assistance.

IME this flexible working thing seems to run into difficulties when managers are not given guidance on how to manage this. I know of a department where they were required to give on-site cover from 8am to 6pm Mon to Fri. The manager refused all requests for flexible working (different hours, compressed week, part-time) as he couldn't be bothered to manage it despite the fact that with a little extra flexibility the staff were willing to accept it would have made his department loads more efficient (they'd all put in applications in confidence and all requested Friday's off - but all would have changed to other days had they known!)

Thanks FreddieCat. My manager is known for being a stickler for the rules so I think she is going by the book. I could see my previous boss (who is also her boss), as he is very reasonable and I know he wouldn't have a problem in the slightest with my request. But I do feel uncomfortable about going over her head as I think it would cause bad feeling. Should I try and resolve it with her first ?

Metrobaby, be careful in your written application as, if it is refused, you are barred from making another application for a year. I think it is best to leave it as flexible as possible eg work from home on an occassional basis rather than ask to work from home a fixed number of days per month.

On the change in hours, I think that if you already work those hours by agreement with the company (it does not have to be written agreement, an oral agreement with your previous manager will do) then it is already a part of your contractual terms and conditions of employment and you should not need to apply for this retrospectively.

You may want to ask, in writing, why other staff are not required to put in formal appilcations for working from home.

My previous manager was just such a b, he refused to discuss changing to a 4-day week. With the quote "Why should you be treated as special just because you're pregnant" I could have got him for discrimination on that one.

This was before the new flexible working rules, but loads of other women had/were working 3 or 4 days already.

So I replied that I wasn't happy with that decision and that I would like to talk to his boss about it. He said that he had already discussed it with his boss and that neither of them liked the idea. I said that I would like the chance to put forward my point of view.

Anyway I spoke to the boss's boss. This was the first he had heard about my request!!! He had no problem with it, just asked me to put something in writing listing benefits to the company as well as to me.

So go over your boss's head on this one, just tell your boss that you are going to. Though do make sure that you have some benefits to the company e.g. retain experience etc