Job advertised as 37hrs but states 'flexible work considered'- how?

[Charliealphatangorara]

A job I have seen advertised is listed as being 37hrs a week, but at the end of the description it says flexible working or job share considered.

I like the sound of the job but currently work 4 days a week and would not want to increase this. Not sure if I can /should apply for this position or if 4 days when advertised as 37 hours is unlikely?

The job advert states it is a WFH job so that can't be what they mean by flexible working considered, and it also separately states a job share is possible, so again, I don't think this is what they are implying when they say flexible working as they already made specific reference to that.

I currently do 30 hours but could potentially do 34 over 4 days. Employers / HR people - would you interview or hire someone for a 37 hour advertised post if they wanted 4 days? Would you say that stating 'flexible working considered' within the description is inviting people like me to apply?

Thank you.

Flexible working means exactly that. You can choose your hours according to your commitments. So you might do 8 til 4 or 10 til 6. What you are proposing is not flexible working, it's less hours. Could you condense your hours so you do 37 over 4 days. That's only less than an hour more a day

An hour more a day based on 34 hours. Or just call and ask beforehand so you don't waste time applying

I'd go for it regardless of their intention when writing that phrase. You might be such a wonderful candidate that you would get more work done in 30 hours than the next-best candidate could get done in 37 hours. [Sounds unlikely but that has actually happened where I work.] You have nothing to lose from applying and interviewing.

I have someone on my team who does FT (I guess 37 hours) over 4 long days. Could also mean working 6-3 11-7 etc

I’ve often included that in job descriptions; I’m honestly open to proposals. Depending on the role and how good you were as a candidate I’d probably consider 30h and jump at 34h.

I work 37 over 4 days currently. I usually do 7-5pm with 45 minute lunch.

In my organisation this means we have funding for a full time post and would consider
-fewer hours (28-37)

• flexible patterns (eg compressed hours, or early start early finish, or all kinds of other patterns)

Or a combination of those.

I work 9.30-2.30 and do the rest of my hours when the kids are in bed /at hobbies, for instance

For me, in my organisation, the hours would not be flexible, but the work pattern may be, in line with suggestions from PP.

Our full time hours are 37 hours which can be worked at any time between the flexi bandwidth of 7am to 7pm. So people can choose to work e.g. 7-3, or 10-6 or whatever combination works. Others work compressed hours so they do 37 hours over 4 days. That’s what I’d expect is meant, but no harm asking the question if they’d consider reduced hours.

Just apply. I’d take that phrase - especially the ‘job share possible’ as an open invitation to discussing work patterns and part-time.
Unless it’s a front-desk or presenteeism sort of role, for the right candidate things are often flexible.

Lots of MNetters disagree, but I’d apply for the role and if offered it suggest 5 shorter days. Or take the role full time, do well, then request reduced hours in six months time.

There is still a lot of direct discrimination for people working part time, in recruitment. IME if you mention PT working before selection you often won’t be selected.

‘Flexible’ often means some homeworking and/or flexibility around when you do the hours, around specified ‘core’ hours. In this case they’re saying ALL homeworking. Some employers have policies to put this on every ad, when managers really want someone full time.

Job share is essentially full time equivalent (or more) for the employer.

Probably condensed hours considered- for instance if you currently work out of the home it might mean you have an hour less commute a day so can work an extra hour or maybe they don't mind if you get up at 6 and do an hour then as long as the work is done.

I've got a colleague who works 37 hours over 4 long days. She tends to drop her child at nursery at 7.30, starts work at 8 then her husband picks their child up at 5, does tea etc and colleague finishes work around 6.30/7. She has one day a week off and looks after her son on that day. It tends to work, she's very clear that she doesn't work on that day and her days of work are stated in her email signature.

As a manager I am very open to discussions about flexible working. Lots of people in my team do 9 day fortnights, as do I.

Absolutely apply. I have done similar when flexible working wasn’t advertised and negotiated a 4 day week when it was advertised as full time.

We've been discussing this very phrase in the women's network at work recently!

My view is we should remove it and be clearer about what is acceptable as many women will be put off applying, as this thread shows.

100% apply and if asked during interview / when asked if offered the job, open negotiations then.

34 hours would be a no brainer for any company with any sense whatsoever - they'll get just as much work out of you for less money!

Both I and a friend applied for jobs with exactly this wording in the last year and we both asked for 30 hours when offered the job and got it signed off with no issues. Go for it - I'm sure if they want you that 30-34 hours won't be a blocker unless the role involve eg reception where a set visible attendance is essential

My current job was advertised as full time but I asked for 30 hours and was still offered the job. I wasn't intending to mention it in the interview but they asked so...

Go for it. I’ve applied for 35 hour posts and at the end of interview they ask me if my current post is flexible working/4 days. My corrupt view is that they’ll prefer you if you work less as it will be cheaper for them and still expect things done. That sounds so negative now I’ve typed it but I actually mean it to be positive 🤣

Thanks so much everyone for all of your replies. Great to hear from a mixture of you with different experience.

I meet all of the essential criteria and most of the desirable, and in my current job I've been told by the business manager that my productivity far outstrips everyone else at my level across the whole region, so I don't think a few hours less than full time would be detrimental (I realise I would have to convince the employer of that at the interview though!)

Thanks again.

Flexible working tends to have 'core hours', around which hours csn be worked.

So say the core hours are 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm.

You have to work those hours.

However if you want a late start, you can start at 10am and work until 6pm, with a half hour for lunch.

If you like an early start, you can start at 8am and carry on until 4pm

If you need a long lunch one day, you can start a little earlier one morning and do say, 8am to 5pm, to make up the time.

Unless you’re in a ‘presence required’ sort of job flexible working means that you can agree working patterns with your manager.
Hours specified are a guide as to the amount of work they expect a full timer to get done. And as pp mentioned be available for core hours.

In my job it’s blindingly obvious when work isn’t done. As long as the required output is produced nobody cares.
My job is very technical and requires lots of deep concentration so when I’m in the middle of something I don’t reply to messages/emails anyway. Sometimes I find it easier to Come back to an issue after a break so I log off early, have a nice walk , dinner and come back refreshed.

We are used to scheduling meetings around limited calendars anyway as we have staff scattered across time zones..

@Charliealphatangorara

Thanks so much everyone for all of your replies. Great to hear from a mixture of you with different experience.

I meet all of the essential criteria and most of the desirable, and in my current job I've been told by the business manager that my productivity far outstrips everyone else at my level across the whole region, so I don't think a few hours less than full time would be detrimental (I realise I would have to convince the employer of that at the interview though!)

Thanks again.

Good luck!