FLEXI TIME REQUEST ADVICE NEEDED

[shorty3]

I have applied for part time hours in a supervisory role but have been refused due to business needs and importance of a full time supervisor.

But I have been offered a part time role which would be a new position supporting a full time supervisor. So in essence they would have an extra member of staff in the team but I would have to take a pay cut.

Can they do this, i think that they could have a part time supervisor if they got a full time senior clerk. I have 6 years experience with company and they would bring in someone who has none or just a year.

Also my manager works part time and other areas have part time managers.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Yes they can do this if they have gone through the proper process and demonstrated that due to the needs of the business your post needs to be full time. Sounds like they're actually offering you quite a nice deal if they're creating a new P/T position too - they arent under any obligation to do this. The experience thing isnt really an issue - you may have 6 years with the company, but if they want a F/T time post, then they may well appoint someone less experienced, but that's not in itself a bad thing - I mean, we all start from a position of no experience!!
The P/T management roles I cant comment on - presumably the company must feel that these posts are viable as P/T or they wouldnt allow it.

They can do this, but I think the issue really is are they justified refusing your request in the first place? If they're not that's what you need to focus on.

Was it a proper flexible working request and have you appealed it?

I haven't appealed as yet. It was a proper request.
The problem is the team as a whole before I went on maternity was snowed umder and not coping with the workload. So when I asked for part time I mentioned that most of my time was spent doing not supervisory work as such but working on the more difficult ledger work. The supervisory reporting etc i think could be managed on a part time basis and I stated I was willing to work extra tome etc if needed.
But I also suggested about bringing in an extra ledger clerk or a full time junior which would be less/ no extra cost to them.

Your next stage is obviously to appeal it then. Make sure you address every concern they have with a viable solution, offer a trial period if you haven't already, with a review date and measures of how well you are doing, offer a compromise if you can, and make sure you mention any part of the process where they didn't follow the correct procedure as well.

If we make the assumption for a minute that they were justified, their offer isn't a bad one - as alfiesbabe says, they could have just said no. If they are trying to find something they obviously want to keep you which does lead to the assumption that perhaps they would agree to your request if they could.

Hmm tricky one. From what you say, the management should be aware that the team was snowed under and should put measures in place to use people's time more effectively. Trouble is, although you've thought of a nice neat solution which creates the job you want, they may have other ideas. Maybe their suggestion of the new P/T post they're creating is a response to the workload?
TBH, as long as they are going through the proper process, there's not a lot you can do. The company will be doing what they feel is in the interests of the company as a whole, whereas you are inevitably going to look at your situation and what you would ideally like. (I dont mean that as a criticicm btw, it's just the way it is.) As a manager, I've seen some flexi working requests which on the face of it seem reasonable, but actually dont take into account some of the wider issues. And to be fair, why should they - I wouldnt expect everyone in my team to know the intricacies of what goes on from the whole company (or school in my case) perspective.

I don't really know what there concerns are, except for how it would effect the team morale.

Now to me it seems they want to keep me in a position where i process the inputting, because (not meaning to blow my own trumpet) I am very fast and can solve queries / issues with individual invoices speedily which obviously makes a massive impact on the workload issue.

There's more issues in my head clouding the problem because since looking into going part time i have been looking at other jobs and am finding them paying upto 4 grand more than my current position.

Then I'm thinking if I accepted the new role in my eyes I would be doing the same work ( although I won't be completing all supervisory taks) but with a pay cut, because in essence I foresee the major part of being a senior ledger clerk will be to help the ledger clerks.

By help I mean training and supervising the ledger clerks as well as processing through the workload with them.

If you don't know what their concerns are then they haven't given the response they are required to.

There is a list of acceptable business reasons. They are required to state which one/ones of that list apply, and give you a proper explanation as to why/how those reasons apply in your case. Without doing that they are not fulfilling their legal obligations and are denying you the opportunity to put in a properly structured appeal document.

Hang on

Read this very carefully, it states in full the required procedure.

Write to your boss stating that you wish to appeal the decision but are unable to do so properly because they have not fulfilled their obligations and given you proper reasons. Request that they do so immediately, at which point you will provide them with a proper appeal document addressing their concerns.

All they have written is ' I am writing to advise you that due to the business needs and the importance of a full time supervisor we will be unable to offer you flexible working hours for your current position.'

thanks will have to read it later when kids are settled. my other problem is i am due back 10th march, so not long to sort it out

When you say you don't know what their concerns are, do you mean that they haven't given you clear reasons, or that they have but a) you don't really understand them b) you understand but don't like them!
It's a really important point, because they are obliged to give specific reasons according to clear criteria.
On the other hand, I know a few people who've had flexi requests turned down who have then moaned about it and said stuff to colleagues like 'I really can't see why' and 'they havent given me a good reason' when in fact they had been given VERY clear reasons, they just didnt happen to like them.

oops crossed posts with flowery!

As stated above that is the only reference to why it was turned down in the letter.
During the meeting I had with them the issues that they asked / talked to me about were

-how I thought it would affect team morale
-the cost involved in recruiting a full time position
-The fact they do not think they would be able to employ a part time ledger clerk
-the workload

We also talked about my personal reasons for requesting part time.

I can't remember anything else, I was very nervous.

Talking about some of the issues in the meeting isn't good enough - they must put it in writing. Read the link when you get a chance - it's long but tells you exactly what they have to do.

Ok - have had a quick browse, thanks it is very informative.

I will write a letter requesting them to fulfil their obligations.

Going on what we discussed during the intial meeting (as above), I think they have no reason to decline my request, especially seeing as it is costing more for staff with the offer that thwey have made already.

Just another question - if they agreed to a trial period, by law would they have to bring an extra member of staff in as per the offer they have already made?

No, not necessarily, the details of a trial period of an arrangement would be discussed between all parties concerned, there is no legal obligation for it to exactly mirror either their or your requirements. Although if they are prepared to spend more money that will obviously help your appeal in general, and they could bring in a temp or something for a trial period, that would be a reasonable request to make.

ok thanks for all your help. I will probably be back at a later date once I find out some mopre info from them.