How would you play it?

[flowerpot77]

Can someone in the know advise me? Im considering reducing my hours over the summer holiday so i work just 3 days. Would it be better to take unpaid leave or request a complete change in working hours? (whats the difference? are there benefits of doing it one way as opposed to the other?)
Thanks

I would suggest you need to know your companies policy - ours is that unpaid parental leave can be taken but it has to be taken in week blocks, is it just by local discression or do you have to apply for it?
The risk with a complete change in working hours is that they find someone else to fill in and they don't have the hours to give you back if you want to increase again - I guess it depends what your job is and how it could work ie are you working in an area that is under resourced? or tricky with working hours?
Bottom line is do (or at least request) what is right for your family

A complete change on working hours is exactly that - a complete change. You do not have the right to go back to full time.

What do you want long term?

And do remember that, although you have the right to request flexible working and any such request must be taken seriously, it can be turned down. Make your case as persuasive as possible.

Also, consider the option of taking a block of parental leave over the part of the holidays then working FT the rest. What sort of arrangement would be easier for your employers to accommodate, and how can you best put it across to them?