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Original poster

HELP- what can i do when a flexible working request is INFLEXIBLE???? sorry long one.

23 replies

browncat · 25/04/2007 14:29

Ok i need help. I've got one DS aged 11 months and have been lucky enough to take the extended ML. I'm returning to work in a few weeks and I've asked (under the request of flexible working) to go back part time 3 days a week monday to wednesday. They have said I can do 3 days but i need to flexible on a week by week basis- eg one week it could be tues, thurs, friday, the next it could be monday, wed, fri etc, you get the idea. I understand why they are saying this (its IT project management so its lots of meetings, reviews etc) but I'm concerned the effect this will have on DS and whether I can get childcare to cover.
So questions- can a nursery be this flexible or do they need fixed days, and what effect will this sporadic working have on baby??? any ideas?? thanks in advance xx

OP posts:
NKF · 25/04/2007 14:38

I doubt a nursery will be able to be that flexible. If they give you three days, they are usually dividing up a five day week. Someone else will have the other two. And you'd be hard pushed to find a nanny/childminder who could accomodate. You could ask but, to be honest, it has fishy written all over it. It's as if your company has said yes but in such a way that it's basically impossible.

NKF · 25/04/2007 14:40

You could have five day care and only use the days you want. Bit expensive though I would have thought. Good luck.

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 14:41

thanks NFK thats what my DH thinks too. I'm gutted as was really looking forward to going back (not that I don't love being at home with DS ) but it seemed like it would be the perfect balance

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IdrisTheDragon · 25/04/2007 14:43

When I went back to work after DS was born, he was in a nursery and I worked 7 days a fortnight - Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri one week and Mon, Tue, Wed the next. The nursery was able to do that, but only on the basis that there were no other changes (and the nursery wasn't full).

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 14:47

thats not a bad idea- i will check with the nursery to see if that's something they do- thank you.

OP posts:
NKF · 25/04/2007 14:47

It's the changing week by week that's the problem surely. It's effectively saying "you must be available five days a week and we'll tell you which three we actually need you." Most people wouldn't consider that a three day a week job.

There might be away to challenge their offer but you need an employment lawyer I'd say.

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 14:49

that is the nature of the job- on a friday we could be told we need to have a meeting in Peterborough or Manchester on Monday to sort out System issues etc. Where would i find an employment lawyer (i'm new to this- can you tell!?)

OP posts:
NKF · 25/04/2007 14:53

There's probably one on here! Good luck. Maybe the nursery can help.

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 14:54

thanks NKF x

OP posts:
NKF · 25/04/2007 14:55

I don't mean help with the lawyer of course.

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 14:56

you never know- stranger things have happened!!

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Paddlechick666 · 25/04/2007 15:09

hi, I work in IT as a consultant and i do 4 days per week.

It's never really been a problem wrt to fixed days. I arrange my diary accordingly and everyone knows which day I don't work.

I know things can come up last minute and it's good if you can be flexible but I do think your employers are giving with one hand and taking away with the other.

D'you have an HR dept you could speak to wrt to flexible working?

Another alternative might be a nanny-share with another family? That way you could be quite flexible especially if the nanny worked full time for the other family.

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 15:14

Thanks PC! I know, that is the nature of IT - all fine one minute, all systems down the next. I could try and find a nanny share- that may work, did you have your DC's in a nursery and where they ok with your changing your days?

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MissGolightly · 25/04/2007 15:17

Could you change your application to do a jobshare? That way there would be someone available 5 days a week, ok not the same person but you can make sure you do a v comprehensive handover.

I work in a similar situation (totally different field but same idea that although I could have cut down my caseload to 3/5 I might still have been needed on any working day) and this was the solution for me. I maintain a full caseload but I work on it 3 days a week and a colleague works on it the other 2 days. It is our responsibility to handover comprehensively and iron out any wrinkles.

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 15:23

thanks missgolightly i'll discuss it with my boss and see what they say. i love mumsnet, you get some great advice

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Paddlechick666 · 25/04/2007 16:14

browncat, i started off with a nanny share for 2 days per week and my mum does the other 2 days.

i then switched to a CM for various reasons. partly due to things really evening out once I was back to 4 full days per week and it became apparent that I could generally always ensure my day off remained the same day each week.

it's a bit trickier if you're only doing 3 days tho so can see why it might not work for you.

jobshare sounds like a great proposal too.

Eleusis · 25/04/2007 16:33

Could you compromise with 4 fixed days per week, and one of those from home? So, say, you always work Mon-Thursday and depending on the week the one from home would vary?

Original poster
browncat · 25/04/2007 16:39

i've just spoken to my boss about it- he said they would give me as much notice as possible with the option of working from home if required. I'm going in to the Nursery on friday to talk it through (settling in period as well- how long is this usually?) thanks for all your help

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MissGolightly · 26/04/2007 10:32

the settling in period at my nursery is a few sessions spread over 2 weeks, they start with you there and build up to a few hours when you leave the baby.

Working from home sounds good but maybe check what their childcare policy is...? My work is quite rigid and won't let you work from home if your child is present as they (probably correctly!) assume that you will automatically prioritise your child's needs over your work.

chocolatekimmy · 26/04/2007 14:40

Have they got a good business case for their response, could the meetings etc not be done on certain days that you are at work. Fair point from them if they can justify it.

Nurseries do fixed days usually but I see one suggestion was to book it full time. Usually the weekly rate works out cheaper so it might not be too bad.

Original poster
browncat · 26/04/2007 14:45

thanks chocolatekimmy, they have a strong business case so i understand why- eg system crash on a wednesday, need everyone in on thursday to fix. not sure we can afford the full time nursery route tho

OP posts:
chocolatekimmy · 26/04/2007 14:46

How about child minders?

Original poster
browncat · 26/04/2007 14:54

possibly- someone said they will probably need fixed days but its worth looking into if the nursery can't be as flexible as work needs- oh its a tough one as i really want to go back part time

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