Partial change of working hours. Still need to appeal help

[Workrequest]

I am looking to return to work after a long career break.

I made a term time request some time ago.

I have now finally just as I'm due to return had a partial offer. This offer is minimal and still leaves me in the situation of needing to find about 14 wks childcare between my partner and I. Our annual leave doesn't cover it in full and even using our leave fully will leave us without any leave together as a family.

The letter says the number of staff already working part time/term time, impact of impact this time and impact of new work coming into the site is whats been used to reach decision.

However. I want to appeal. The department has been on a long recruitment freeze. The hours I'm offering are in addition to what the workforce already has. I've been away for years so surely that's in my favour? They have a look so recently been given the go ahead to recruit a number of staff. Therefore is this also now in my favour.

If so. How can I word this in my Appeal?

Im also aware other staff members in building have been given pattern after my request. Can I highlight that and ask if other sections can accomadate me?

Sorry of being vague. I just don't want to out myself.

So your argument is basically that the company is managing now, so with any extra hours you can do plus the new person/people they are recruiting they should easily be able to manage to cover the work?

Firstly, I would imagine the extra people are to cover the new work that is mentioned in your letter and therefore immaterial. Secondly, during your break the company will have put in whatever measures they deemed necessary - it's likely these will have been viewed as temporary, so they may for example have employed a temp who can now be let go, or moved colleagues about (who may now expect to go back to their original job). Or it may be that your absence just meant that everyone had to work over the odds and you coming back will just allow the status quo to revert.

I would be a little bit wary of using a "well you're managing ok now" argument as they company might well decide that actually they can manage without you. I'm not sure an employee who has been "away for years" is likely to be a huge asset to them either - presumably you will be hopelessly out of touch and/or need retraining - you won't be hitting the ground running?

The sort of argument that might work is (for example) that you used to spend 2 days a week on writing reports, but due to process efficiencies, this can now be done in half a day. If the company is recruiting you may be able to come up with a valid way that a job share could work and they might be able/prepared to advertise for a job sharer. Or do you know an existing employee that will do that?

You can certainly ask to move to another section, but just because other employees have been offered part time, does not mean that you will be.

Your childcare arrangements are immaterial for the purposes of the appeal - your company will expect you to make arrangements with a nursery/childminder as appropriate.

Your childcare arrangements are immaterial for the purposes of the appeal - your company will expect you to make arrangements with a nursery/childminder as appropriate.

I have to agree. Don't mention this. Your appeal IMO should be how it will benefit the company, not you.

... just reread your post and am a bit confused about the needing 14 weeks of childcare even with a partial part time offer? State school holidays are only 12.5 weeks (my DC's are anyway) and presumably if you had a partial offer some of that would be covered?

I really don't want to go too much into it but we have additional non term time to find childcare for. It's actually 12weeks to find. It's miscounted.

Im not that out of touch with the workforce. It's a bit like riding a bike and to be honest even when I return I'll still be more experienced than some work there.

The time off was beneficial for the employer. They were having to reduce staffing.

I'm going to ask MNHQ to delete. Thanks for the replies but I think resigning is the best thing for the family.