Does anyone know what "rights" a father has to flexible working?

[opinionsrus]

I have looked into this and this is what I think is correct. Am not really too sure on all the ins and outs so please anyone, any advice, or personal experience would be very much appreciated.

From what I gather the father can request for flexible hours, but the company does not have to actually do anything about it, they can consider it and then reject it if so required. They can also "change" your department etc so that you can do different hours, to a less suitable role as they say it does not fit in with the needs of the business.

same rights as a woman as far as i recall. can't discriminate because of sex of person making request.

and yes, the employer doesn't have to agree to the request, they can turn it down for various reasons but it does have to be considered.

does he have an employee handbook? it should all be in there.

same as mothers:

see here

it is easier to make the request if someone is already doing the hours he is requesting, either male or female. then there are less grounds for it to be refused.

The way i personally see it is that women more often than not get the hours they are wanting ( a good thing obviously), but when it comes to men it is more difficult and has to be "fought".

My OH refuses point blank to do it as says that they will change his role and label him a "trouble maker" which he is not. There are men in the company that I work for with flexible hours, but they are far out numbered by women with flexible hours.

He works one weekend in 3 which means 7 days with no break, then Mon and Tues off which is useless, then one week in 3 he works from 1pm till 9pm which again is useless when tying in with the family.

so what's he asking to change to?

does every other employee do those hours?

Dizzy - he works on a small team who do I suppose you caould call "specialised" work, so they rely on each member to do their allocated hours.

The other two who have been able to change their hours are two women, just had babies who work 2 full days a week, 9-5. He would be asking for no weekends, ie mon-fri only and no late shifts. Would this just be rejected??

Weaselmum - thanks for the link..

it depends on the nature of the job. the company are well within their rights to refuse it if it would put extra pressure on other staff, if it would cause the business to be at risk, lose money etc etc.

if he does request it he has a right to a proper meeting with either HR or his boss to discuss it and they have to put their final response in writing with explanation for turning it down.

have the women come out of all weekends and all late nights too?

hope you can persuade him to at least ask - good luck

yes.

if the women have stopped doing late nights and weekends but they would say to your dh for the exact same request for the exact same reasons ie childcare/ family life etc, then he could appeal and potentialy go to a tribunal about it.

however, are those women part time and you dh is full time?

Yes they are p/t he is f/t.

I just think overall women get to change their hours much more than men, to fit in with the family.

I have just spoken to direct.gov and they said that it would go to an appeal then tribunal if it was rejected, but it all sounds so.. I don't know what the word is, but it doesn't sound good on your record.

Bump.Any more suggestions??

Men have the same rights as women to apply for flexible working.

I personally have approved an application for flexible working for a a man - he wanted a change to his working pattern for 18 months - so the change doesn't have to be a permanent change to employment.

I'm currently on maternity leave myself but go back to work in Jan.

A temporary change thats a good idea....