Do flexible working rules apply if you want to increase hours?

[dollybird]

Currently working p/t 22.2 hours per week and have worked various versions of p/t up to that many hours over the past 4 1/2 years. I'm thinking of increasing my hours when dd starts school, but I have a feeling they will say there is not the budget to increase my hours.

if there isn't the budget then you can't increase your hours. it isn't about flexibility.

I have reduced from 5d/week to 4d/week since having DC. I was specically told at the time that ~I don't have the right to automatically increase - I will have to apply and wait for a 'vacancy' in the headcount to be made available as my boss uses my day off to allow a days overlap between 2 jobsharers that do 3d each...

Just wondered. They are looking to get a temp in to cover some long term sick, but weren't prepared to take my 5 hours a week I offered because it 'isn't enough' (more like because I needed it to be permanent not temporary because of childcare costs etc), plus they've found an extra £50-70K from somewhere to make a new manager role.

It wouldn't really be flexible working to increase your hours. You would just have to make the request and see what they say - if its in their favour they may say yes anyway.

When an agreement is made under flexible working it is a permanent change (unless specified otherwise or trial period etc) to t's & C's and you have no right in law to revert back to your original pattern/hours.

The same would work if they agreed to a change. if you wanted to reduce your hours again in the future then you would have to go through flex working again