Response to flexible working request

[GardenElf]

Hello, am looking for some advice/experiences about my situation.

A couple of months ago I put in a statutory flexible working request (to work a 9 day fortnight - so 70 hours over 9 days rather than 10). (I work for a local authority so unpaid overtime is fairly routine anyway but that's probably not relevant). I have previously worked this pattern for 4 months as a non-statutory arrangement and there were no issues, but my senior management are not keen on flexible working arrangements generally and it isn't common within the service.

The response has been that the request is not declined but they have proposed a 12 month trial period (the trial period works as a non-statutory arrangement and as such there is no change to my contract etc and the arrangement can be ended with 28 days notice on either side). To me this feels like they are side stepping their statutory obligations as they don't want to agree a statutory request but don't have a good business reason to decline it.

Has anyone else had something similar/how did you deal with it? Do I have a leg to stand on here since they are offering a year trial of the hours I want to do?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I would push back and say 12 months is far too long as a trial period. Which it is.

A year seems far too long, plus you've already worked it for four months. If there were no issues, why not go ahead? The cynical side of me suspects their reluctance could be that old chestnut of 'setting a precedent' situation for other staff members. Do you know about the Flex Appeal campaign? Worth reading up some of the case studies there. What you're asking for seems a fairly minor change really, it's not like you're asking to drop hours completely. Good luck!

I think the unpaid over time is relevant here. Ie probably most staff do 70 hours over 9 days and then work another day (the tenth one) on top of that, whereas you will get that day off for the same pay.
Not saying that's fair or right - but it is often why compressed hours is not allowed where there is an expectation of a certain amount of unpaid overtime.

Thank you for the replies, this has been really helpful. I have responded and proposed a shorter trial instead (I don't think any is really needed after the non-statutory trial already done but trying to meet them halfway!).

I think that both @rubybambini and @whensmynexthol1day are right about why the reluctance - setting a precedent and losing some unpaid overtime. But since my employer is supposedly supportive of flexible working arrangements, I would be likely to usually work over my contracted hours even with the new arrangement and I am always flexible with helping out to cover when colleagues are off sick etc - I just don't think I'm asking for that much!