Flex working

[Gintoxicated]

Hello, just about a bit of advice please! My boss has indicated he will decline my flex working request as he doesn’t feel it meets business needs. How specific does he need to be? I’ve obviously outlined how I think it will work but he isn’t giving any detail other than it won’t work. Would this be sufficient a reason to decline? Thanks

He needs to specify at least one of the eight allowable reasons and explain why that reason applies in your case. See here under 'Handling requests to work flexibly'.

Did you put your request in writing formally?

Thank you! Yes I put the request in writing following our policy and have a meeting soon to discuss, but they’ve told me verbally that it will be a no...before any discussion about it.

There's so much scope with the 8 allowable reasons that, unfortunately if your employer doesn't broadly support things like working from home, working compressed hours etc, they'll create a reason to fit a category. Then justify it. It's frustrating. The critical success factor in my experience is precedent being set, ie other employees being approved, it's the snowball effect.

Some employers are still very much bums on seats 9-5 mentality.

I work in HR and wouldn't even ask for it! I hear management conversations and I fear for the world my daughter is growing up in
They can always find a way to say no
But my advice is if they are ask if there is anything you can do eg compromise on to make it a yes. Those that are open to that discussion in my experience get something

That’s my fear, the reasons are so broad that I’m sure they can make something fit. Happy to compromise and be as flexible as I can, but we shall see I guess!

Good that you can be flexible. Also ask yourself if what you're requesting is actually reasonable for the size and staff levels of the organisation. You may need to compromise but 80% of something is better than 100% of nothing