Filling in the form to apply for PT work after a year off - Any tips?

[MummyLoveIsBest]

Hi, I am trying to get my employer to agree to letting me go back to work 3 days a week after taking a year off on Maternity.

HR have sent me the forms to fill in to make an official request for this, its only 4 questions long but I am concered that if I do it wrong I will end my chances.

I am a National Account Manager in Sales so I know I can't do my old job 3 days a week as the customers would never accept that, however I don't really care what job I do as long as its only 3 days, is challening, and is pro rata on my old salary

I would really appreciate any tips on filling out the form to make it diificult for them to say no to me.

Thanks

Hmmm - tbh the legislation surrounding flexible working requests is stuffed with 'get out clauses' for employers. They have a list of about 7 or 8 reasons why they can legitimately turn down your request. I have a list somewhere, I'll see if I can dig it out.

Is there any way you could job share in your old role? That might be an easier option. Also avoid saying 'I'll have anything'. If you give them an idea of the type of role you would be interested in it gives them something to go on.

mummyloveisbest, if you yourself do not believe that you can do your sales job in 3 days, it seems like it would not be difficult for your employer to find a legitimate business reason under the flexible working regulations to turn down your application. I know my company's form required me to set out a business case how I could do my job pt rather than fulltime. It is difficult to sounds convincing if it cannot be done!

Disslocated's suggestion of a jobshare is one possibility. Can your sales role be realistically split in this way and if so, do you know a colleague who wants to job share?

If not, it could be that your employer can (legitimately) refuse your application under the flexible working regulations - crap I know, the regs have no teeth. But ... apart from the flexible working regulations, your employer is under a separate legal obligation not to sexually discriminate against you. If you need to change your role to work pt, the company is not legally obliged to offer you a suitable one. But because at the back of their minds, HR wants to avoid any hint of sexual discrimination, they should still tread carefully. This is where you could help them to help you - find out what internal jobs are being advertised and whether they can be done pt. Volunteer your interest. I would not be fussy. Don't even be surprised if you have to take a paycut. That is the reality of pt jobs. You can rant about it, but unless you are going to go to an employment tribunal, well... it sucks.

Another thing to research is what your company has offered other women who have made a flexible working application esp in your sales role. If they allowed it in the past, that could set a precedent which would amount to discrimination if they do not have a legitimate reason to not offer the same to you.

All the best. BTW, in filling the form, you should still sound like you passionately believe you can do your job in 3 days. I don't know enough about your job and what the questions are to be able to offer any concrete advice ... but don't let out to anyone in the form or in the company that you are sceptical.

When you apply you need to use specific wording. Advice about applying for flexible working is available on the dti website:

\link{http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/flexible.htm}

You need to use the correct wording in case you end up in a tribunal. There is also information on the website about how long they have to reply etc.

When I applied to my work I submitted these forms, HR forms and a 2 page proposal on how I would manage my job in 3 days (previously 5 days). Luckily it was accepted.

Are there other options to consider, e.g. working from home 1 day a week, working slightly longer hours on the 3 days, do you want to do 3 days indefinitely or for a year or two?

Good luck

\link{http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/flexible}

Sorry website address didn't appear first time.

Could you pair up with someone else and do a job share?