Flexible working request denied - worth an appeal?

[cfmtb]

I submitted a flexible working request 4 months ago to my work and today they have come back to me and denied it.
I requested 10 days condensed into 9 - one day every fortnight off.
Been there for a few years, considered a high performer.

At my meeting they hadn't read my email properly and thought I was asking for 5 into 4.
They have now rejected me with a letter saying they can't condense 5 into 4...not what I asked for. So obviously had the letter written before my meeting.
When I queried it they have said 'oh oops we did discuss the right thing, here's a new letter'....that's still wrong.

They have also said 'people work more hours than 37pw anyway so we can't just condense 37 hours into less days'...sorry, what? Surely that can't be a reason. The other reasons were they'd need to reallocate work or pay an extra person for a day....when I'm doing the full hours still anyway.

I'm thinking to appeal and include my union, however for people that have done it...it is worth it? Do I risk pissing them off and damaging work relationships - they have in general been good to me overall. Does an appeal ever actually work?
Apologies it's long, wanted to add all detail.

there are statutory reasons for refusing,the question is do they have a valid statutory reason
Having said that as a professional service business condensed hours are not great for us ,as most people work over their hours
So you could end up with everyone working 8 to 6, but some people getting aFriday off
Would not refuse it on that ground as I don’t think that is a valid reason
The other reasons cited are potentially valid
Depends on the job,some roles require a presence (not necessarily in person) during core hours
We had 1 person who wanted to work 4 to 8 am and 7 to 10 pm so she look after baby and toddler during the day !

IME if employers don’t want to allow flex they will be able to find a valid reason

Maybe an informal chat to see what if any flex arrangement they would agree to

I think if you are in a role that generally has fixed hours and you are asking to squeeze your sane number of fixed hours into 9/10, then yes maybe on the basis they misread, you could ask them to look at it again.

But if, and it sounds like you do, work in a role that doesn’t have fixed hours and you are expected to work what is required (eg most professional jobs) then your request really doesn’t make sense and I am sure they will find one of the valid grounds to refuse it. I think if you want a day off a fortnight you should expect to take a 10% pay cut.

What are your contracted hours at the moment, what times do you typically work and what times would you propose to work under a 9 day fortnight?

In my experience, with one notable exception who worked very long days, I see no difference between the working days of those doing their full time hours over 10, 9 or 8 days and some supposedly working condensed hours then put in school runs too.

Is there a benefit for your colleagues or firm in this, e.g. if some urgent work comes in will you be willing to be the one to stay late so those working their hours over five days can go home?

Are there others in the firm that have this arrangement?

Requests must be based on business need and assessment of the individual request against those. What others have is irrelevant.

Well, it sounds like they haven’t considered the request properly, they were out of time for giving you a decision and “people work more than their contracted hours” isn’t a legitimate business reason for refusal.
so yes definitely appeal. Sounds like they have completely ballsed up the process.