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Original poster

Good case for going part time?

42 replies

NCparttime · 29/03/2023 12:39

I am desperate to drop a day in work and go down to a 4 day week.

Does anyone know the best foolproof case for my request?

I am in menopause so was wondering if I could use that as a reason to drop a day. (It doesn't affect my work but thought I could use the excuse, blame it on fatigue?)

After 35 years of full time employment I feel like I want a better work/life balance.

The issue is that there is only one of me in my role, so don't want to give a crappy reason were they could knock me back.

Has anybody been in this situation and been successful?

OP posts:
ChessieFL · 29/03/2023 12:40

There is no foolproof case because it will depend whether your organisation can support you dropping a day a week. You need to explain to them how you dropping a day a week isn’t going to affect them - so who is going to do your work on that day? Go to them with a solution to that and they’re more likely to agree.

Villssev · 29/03/2023 12:43

How long have you been there?

I am guessing relations between you and management aren’t particularly healthy?

is your menopause the reason why you want to go to 4 days?

Believeitornot · 29/03/2023 12:45

You don’t necessarily need to give a reason - more demonstrate that it will not be detrimental to the company and how to manage it.

I’ve said for Craig reasons and then focussed on how it won’t be bad for the company.

Tomkirkman · 29/03/2023 12:46

Are you doing this as part of a flexible working request?

You don’t need a reason. Good or otherwise.

The reason you want to do means nothing. They can’t refuse it on the basis that your reason isn’t good enough. They can only do so based on business reasons.

Whatthediddlyfeck · 29/03/2023 12:47

you don’t need to give a reason, but what you do need is a cast iron reasoning for how it would benefit your employer

swanling · 29/03/2023 12:50

You don't need a reason, you just need to make the business case.

Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 12:51

ChessieFL · 29/03/2023 12:40

There is no foolproof case because it will depend whether your organisation can support you dropping a day a week. You need to explain to them how you dropping a day a week isn’t going to affect them - so who is going to do your work on that day? Go to them with a solution to that and they’re more likely to agree.

I currently WFH on a Monday so don't necessarily need to be on site.

I want to drop Monday's completely. As it stands when I take a holiday the work is waiting for me to come back to.

If there was anything really urgent then another site could actually jump in and carry out the task.

But I'm sure 99.9% of tasks could be done on the Tuesday.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 12:55

Villssev · 29/03/2023 12:43

How long have you been there?

I am guessing relations between you and management aren’t particularly healthy?

is your menopause the reason why you want to go to 4 days?

I have been there for 17 years.

Get on great with management, however I think because I've been there longer than anyone I have a lot more knowledge of the site.

Menopause is not the reason for part time, I am just trying to think of a reason that they can't discriminate against, might have given me a better chance.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 12:56

So as long as I give a good business case and all bases are covered then they should go for it?

OP posts:
Villssev · 29/03/2023 12:59

17 years
Core subject matter expert
Good relations with management
No spring chicken

Just have a conversation and I would be speechless if they say no.

GCWorkNightmare · 29/03/2023 13:00

There are, I think, 8 legal reasons they can refuse. Someone else having to pick up your work is one of them.

How will you cover Monday’s work on Tuesday
every week?

Menopause can count as a disability - it’s not clear how having twice as much work to do on Tuesday is going to help you?

Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 13:01

Villssev · 29/03/2023 12:59

17 years
Core subject matter expert
Good relations with management
No spring chicken

Just have a conversation and I would be speechless if they say no.

In a nutshell 😂😂

OP posts:
Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 13:05

GCWorkNightmare · 29/03/2023 13:00

There are, I think, 8 legal reasons they can refuse. Someone else having to pick up your work is one of them.

How will you cover Monday’s work on Tuesday
every week?

Menopause can count as a disability - it’s not clear how having twice as much work to do on Tuesday is going to help you?

I'll scrap the menopause excuse, it was just an idea.

I can easily fit my work in the rest of the week.

OP posts:
UsingChangeofName · 29/03/2023 13:11

I want to drop Monday's completely. As it stands when I take a holiday the work is waiting for me to come back to.

If there was anything really urgent then another site could actually jump in and carry out the task.

But I'm sure 99.9% of tasks could be done on the Tuesday.

But surely what you are suggesting there is doing the same amount of work for 80% of the pay.
What you need to be suggesting - for it to benefit you - is how the 20% of your work that you want to drop, can be done by someone else, or some other people. Whether that is a job shore, or if there are parts of your work that could be taken off you / done by someone less qualified or experienced than yourself.

CeliaNorth · 29/03/2023 13:19

.....Whether that is a job share, or if there are parts of your work that could be taken off you / done by someone less qualified or experienced than yourself....

....someone who doesn't already have a full workload and who has spare capacity to take on the extra work.

Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 13:23

There is nobody else. I currently do 100% of the work.
We are a site office with the budget for only one 'me'.

I'm lucky that all of my tasks can be picked up and put down if anything urgent comes up.

I think my main concern is that due to my knowledge they feel secure knowing I'm the 'go to' person.

However that shouldn't be a good enough reason to refuse me, I'll retire one day and they'll have to start again with someone new.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 13:26

I think I'll contact HR and ask when's the best time to put my request in, if I want a start date of January.

OP posts:
GCWorkNightmare · 29/03/2023 13:34

They have to consider and respond within a fortnight now. If you’re not wanting it till January, don’t be panicking about it now!

Original poster
NCparttime · 29/03/2023 13:36

GCWorkNightmare · 29/03/2023 13:34

They have to consider and respond within a fortnight now. If you’re not wanting it till January, don’t be panicking about it now!

That's good to know, thanks!

OP posts:
purplemunkey · 29/03/2023 13:38

I think even suggesting you’d use menopause as an ‘excuse’ is really off. Lots of women genuinely need support due to menopause, please don’t abuse that.

For a successful flexible work request you need a supportive employer and a solid case that it won’t impact the business negatively. If you feel you can do your role in 4 days without impacting other teams or business output then that’s your case.

PlainSkyr · 29/03/2023 13:42

I work 4 days/week. The best way to convince them and not give them a reason to refuse is to prove it before you apply.
Take Annual leave for 4 Mondays in a row - prove that the organisation and you won't suffer because of it and demonstrate how the business copes in your absence.
They can't really deny you given everything you've said - and the proof above.

PlainSkyr · 29/03/2023 13:43

Also - in my company you can change hours/days on a temporary (trial) basis. So if anyone challenges your request you could ask for a trial period to prove that it can be done!

Changeforachange · 29/03/2023 13:51

It's a bit of a shit business model to only have 1 person with your knowledge & skills!
Someone else needs to take it very Mondays to start learning those tasks.

If they're wary, would you be willing to suggest a trial period so they can see it working?

Villssev · 29/03/2023 13:52

NCparttime · 29/03/2023 13:01

In a nutshell 😂😂

Show quote history

So why are you considering lying?

gogohmm · 29/03/2023 14:10

A good business case or how it could work is the best starting point eg tge ob could be done in 4 days. Getting a new member of staff for just one day would be fairly difficult - at a previous job I had they would only allow full time 3 days or 2 days for obvious reasons

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