requesting flexible working

[mrsjuneyjuney]

Hi, I just wanted to see if anyone could offer me any advice as I driving myself mad.

I am planning to go back to work and request a change to my working pattern, but I am scared to ask and keep putting it off!!!!

I was working full time but commute nearly 2 hours each way. I would like to work 2.5 or 3 days a week, but because the commute is so long it is really expensive (£40 a day) so add that to child care and I need to work at home for one or 2 days to make it worth going back. By working at home I would save money on the train but I would also save a bit of money by not having to pay for child care for the extra time spent travelling.

If there were meetings etc where I need to be at my work place I know I would have to be a bit flexible about working from home. Not many people work from home, but most of my job could be done from home.

How can I sell this to my work? I think I am worried because I am asking for 2 changes, the number of hours I work and being able to work from home.

I went from full time to three days 8-4.30.
I was sure I was going to get knocked back but I did a three month trial then changed permanently.
Put together a plan stating what you want to change to, how you will make it work, the impact on the rest of your team/department (both pros and cons) then think of any negative situations that could arise in the office if you changed your work pattern and work out a solution.
Request a meeting and put forward your changes and solutions and literally sell the idea to them. Also offer to do it on a trial basis first.