Part time to full time hours

[ladybirdpoppy]

After some advice on how to approach this with my line manager. At same company for nearly 17 years, over 9 years ago took a reduction in hours from full time to 26 hours a week for childcare pre and post school. Now they are in year 9 and 10 they don;'t need me as much as become independent to and from school. DH is home from work around 5pm so they are only on their own for around 45 mins.
I had a different position when I applied for flexible working 9 years ago, 9 months ago I moved departments, the workload is there for full time (I usually forgo lunch and catch up from home - not paid).
The extra ££ would come in handy, plus my company has flexi-time (for FT employees only) and also would have a few extra days holiday a year.
Just wondering if there are any HR people out there for any advice, could my employers could refuse the request?
Thanks

9 months ago I moved departments, the workload is there for full time (I usually forgo lunch and catch up from home - not paid)

They have presumably kept you on pt hours because that's your preference to date?

If you put it to them that the only way you are able to keep up with your workload is to catch up at home without remuneration, and that you are willing to increase your hours from x to y (per week) because the role is actually a ft role, it's difficult to see why they would refuse..

They're probably happy you picking up the slack on pt, so haven't volunteered to increase your hours but now time to change that.

Yes they absolutely could refuse, and unlike Daisy, I think it’s easy to see why they would! Currently they are getting the job done for the cost of your part time hours, so plenty of incentive for them not to pay more than that.

Definitely worth asking though, and I’d suggest emphasising that your current unpaid overtime situation is not sustainable, and point out as many other positives for your employer as you can.

flowery

Maybe I'm being too optimistic that they will be reasonable and do the decent thing - especially if, as ladybird suggests it is actually a full time role.

They may well do, lots of employers would. I’m just pointing out that unless they are already unhappy with the status quo, there’s plenty of incentive for them to refuse. Particularly if budgets are very tight. So it’s worth the OP making sure she points out all the advantages for her employer to the change she’s requesting.

Indeed, flowery, there's nothing like a compelling business case to get them to take notice.

Just to say I wouldn't necessarily think the kids need you less now. I have recently moved to FT from working PT and I am wondering if it was the right thing to do as my ds is about to start year 11, although I can at least do some home working.

Give it some thought.