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Original poster

Help - think employer is going to reject my flexible working request

15 replies

OfficeBird · 31/08/2004 13:14

My DD starts school in 2 weeks. I work full-time. DH is self employed so we cannot rely on his income alone at the moment.
We plan to cover DD's after school care with a combination of 2 days with DH and 2 days in afterschool club. I am desperate to also do at least one of the school runs each week and have one afternoon with her when we can do those normal after school things - friends/park/swimming etc.
So... I asked my employer (who has a very clearly laid out flexible working policy) if I could work from home on a Fri between 8 -3 pm (instead of our usual office hours of 9-4 on a Friday).
My reason for the at home bit was to reduce my commuting time to allow me to both do the hours, yet also do the school run (5 mins away).

I had to submit the form and my boss and I had a chat last week. Altho he couldn't make a decision at that time (needed HR advice etc) he seemed really negative, kept saying that since I was a manager, my team (of 3) needed me in the office . I do think this is rubbish - I'm in a senior mgt role and we are all always in and out of the office anyway. Also I have said I could be in the office if absolutely necessary - perhaps once every 5 or 6 weeks?
I think I'll be devastated if they come back and say no.... now I'm really panicking, as this was my only hope of spending some time with DD.

OP posts:

lavender1 · 31/08/2004 13:17

OfficeBird is there anyway you could give him a rind and explain that you'd like to have an informal chat with him about your working schedule, at a convenient time to him?

Original poster

OfficeBird · 31/08/2004 13:21

Lav - he's in the office across the orridor from me. He says he'll get back to me next week, after he's had a chat to HR. TO be honest, altho there's a policy etc, there aren't many precendents about people working felxibly, although I have managed to find one or two..

OP posts:

OldieMum · 31/08/2004 14:02

I went through this last year. My boss agreed to my moving from a full-time to a part-time contract, but we disagreed profoundly over what this would actually mean for my working pattern and also over whether I could return to full-time work after 5 years. In the end, I had to go to the union. The rep found that my boss's attitude was out of line with the organisation's policy on flexible working and he had to back down. One implication for you is to find out how supportive the HR department is about requests for flexible working. If your organisation is more than a very small one, your request is unlikely to be the first they have received, while your boss may be having to reorganise his ideas about work patterns for the first time. If I were you, I would play the whole thing very carefully, perhaps trying to get them to see that they just need to think creatively about how to make sure that YOU, a valued employee, can reconcile the conflicting demands of home and work. I tried this line all the way through. It got me some of what I wanted, but, in the end, I had to play hardball and go to the union.

The procedure is that you have to make a request in writing and if they want to turn it down, they have to explain, in writing, why they cannot accommodate your request. About 80% of requests made for flexible working since the legal changes of 2003 have been agreed to. You might like to point this out in a non-threatening way, as it suggests that employers who refuse are not thinking creatively. Good luck!

Original poster

OfficeBird · 31/08/2004 14:36

Thanks OldieMum - what's a bit weird is that the policy says you can only make one request for flexible working in any 12 month period, so I'm keen to get soemthing sorted this time. He did ask if I would be willing to consider alternatives, and I said yes, although I couldn't easily see what they would be, and that I was concerned that if I juast reduced my hours then I'd simply end up working the same hours for less, since I already do e-mails etc in the evenigns/ weekends sometimes to keep on top of things.

OP posts:

OldieMum · 31/08/2004 14:40

It would be politic to agree to consider alternatives, but I would do just that - consider them. How about turning it back at them and stating the hours you need to work in order to make it possible to do what you need to do with your dd? The school hours are something you can't change, after all.

sis · 31/08/2004 20:20

I know I sound like a scratched record on this but please make sure you confirn things in writing - including informal chats etc. You may need some evidence to show that you had explained why it isn't necessary for you to be in the office five days a week in order to manage your staff and the fact that you have agreed to consider alternatives.

Many employers believe that failure to properly consider a request for flexible working only exposes them to two weeks pay to the employee concernedbut they forget the possible claimfor sex discrimination(with unlimited award against the employer if the employee wins) - so maybe get a bit more info on this and hint at itto make sure they know the full consequences of their decision.

Lisa78 · 31/08/2004 20:25

I work 34 hours over 4 days instead of 37 over 5 and I have 13 staff who manage very well without me on that one day, thanks very much (hmmm, wonder what they are doing when I am not there!)
I agreed up front that they could call me at home or on mobile if they needed a decision from me, and that I would cover that day on occasion if we were esp busy or short staffed, and it works great.
The onus is on the employer to say why your chosen set up wouldn't work anyway - speak to your HR dept or union for some more advice

Mo2 · 31/08/2004 21:54

I'd thought about this sort of approach since my DS starts school this Sept too, but haven't actually done anything about it yet.

I would be interested to hear what 'other options' people think are possible, or indeed have negotiated for themselves?

34 hours over 4 days sounds interesting, but I bet my employer wouldn't agree to that I probably do 34 hours every 4 days anyway but just get paid for 28!

No one in my co. seems to have managed to negotiate 4 day working - the excuse is always "it would set a precedent, or would open the floodgates" which , of course, are NOT valid reasons for refusal actually!
Good luck!

Tanzie · 01/09/2004 22:04

Good luck. I have been dithering about whether to put in a request for flexible working but Head Honcho is not known for flexibility or tolerance and I am not feeling brave. I would just like to start work at 0930-0945 so that I can drop DDs at school as I can't drop DD2 before 0850 and work is 30 mins drive away. Let us know how you get on.

Lisa78 · 02/09/2004 20:15

any news office bird?

Original poster

OfficeBird · 24/09/2004 11:33

Quick update for those who offered words of wisdom here....

My manager came back to me this week with the following:

company is not happy for me to work at home regularly every Friday, since they feel it is part of my role to be available for my team - to support/ coach etc.
however they do acknowledge my request to be able to pick DD up from school, so they ahve proposed the following:
I am required to be in the office on Fridays, but can leave at 2.45pm (which just gives me enough time to get to school for 3.05!)
I do not need to come in earlier that day, but they assume that I will (as part of my job generally) have made up the extra hours during the course of the week).

Not sure how I feel -
Glad that I can be with DD after school and do the 'Mum' thing with other kids etc
Not sure that the working at home bit was really that important - especially if I can 'cover' the hours in a flexible way.

So... am inclined to just feel grateful, say thanks, and go for it.

What do you all think??

OP posts:

crunchie · 24/09/2004 11:35

Well you have got what you wanted, time to pick your daughter up, and they aren't asking for extra hours. Go for it! PS I would leave 5 mins earlier though to be on safe side!

sis · 24/09/2004 15:40

If you are happy with it then go for it. Only suggestion I have is that if the timing is going to be a bit tight, try and negotiate to leave a bit earlier or ask for a trial to see if the timing is okay, if not, then try to re-negotiate.

I'm glad they are being flexible about it!

ZolaPola · 27/09/2004 09:31

hi - yes, if you think you can make it in 20 mins for pick up, go for it - if it's a bit tight though why don't you agree on 2.30? maybe they're expecting a bit of to-ing & fro-ing on exact times and much easier to negotiate now than after it's all in place. so many organisations seem to do this cos they have to - i work for a large public sector organisation and also requested flexible working - they didn't dare turn me down as would look bad re the'yre faily freindly policies, instead I was told maybe should be a jobshare in longterm but made no immediate effort to recruit. result? I'm leaving and they now a vacant post - so shortsighted

Sallie · 29/09/2004 13:14

I had similar issues with my employers and although I haven't reached a perfect solution, I have managed to get a four day week (for a three month trial period) which is a major acheievement in my line of work (law, city). I took advice from www.time4balance.com - can't recommend it enough....had my application and appeal letters drafted for me and some advice on follow-up correspondence.

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