flexible working request

[feelathome]

A while ago I asked my manager if I could change my hours. I have a child under 5, but I didn't use the official FWR route, just a general chat.
She had a think and came back and said no.
I pointed out that other staff on the same grade and job as me had various different patterns of work. Her answer was that they
all changed theirs on their return from maternity leave, and she wasn't the manager when they did that. If she was, she said, they would have been told no too.
My question is, if I now asked again, using official flexible working legislation, could she still say no? Does the fact that others do it mean I can too? My manager put various reasons as opposition to my application, but these other staff all work around them in a way that seems to work, so I could too.
Or is every case different, and just because they do it does not mean I can too? We have exactly the same jobs, same duties and responsibilities, so I can't see why I can't tackle the (slight) issues in the same way they do.
thanks

Do you have an HR department?

Sorry, I forgot I even started this post. Yes do have hr bit its one person and she hasn't even been able to send us our pay slips for the last few months, so I doubt she will have time to help!

You are legally entitled to a payslip. We were a day late once I received terse emails. That needs flagging urgently.

What is your firm's family friendly policy? Since the recession started the firm I work for has massively reigned in the number of requests approved but each case is considered against set criteria set down in law. It doesn't sound as though your employer is acting legally but the eventual outcome once they realise this may still be that you cannot change your hours.