Request for flexible working hours. What are my legal rights anyone know?

[FrancescaPingy]

Hi guys

So I am trying to find out what my rights are as a part time working mother of 2 young children. I took on the role 2 years ago working 10am - 2pm Monday to Friday purely as it allows me to care for my children, I also childmind before and after school along side caring for my kids. I am a project coordinator wfh 2 days a week 3 days in the office. The company is relocating adding 1 hour to my current 40 minutes commute meaning I can’t go into the office in the new location on office days to be home in time for the kids. Does anyone know my legal rights if I submit a flexible working request to be wfh every day ( term time only) as a result of the office move and the fact the added commute time would mean I can’t care for my kids or childminding in office days? I’d be commuting 1h 45 min to work 4 hours day on office days. Thanks in advance

Yes there is :) x

That’s great feedback thank you. So she simply said it would effect her well-being, maybe I need to take the same approach xxx

Not yet, I hope they do :)

This may be true for the business when considering flexible working requests.

However IF your contract states you are employed at x location, they must take your personal circumstances into account when deciding whether relocation means redundancy should be offered.

I am a Programme Manager, managing multiple projects and £millions. I am VERY good at what I do. VERY good. I am also VERY disabled and work from home almost exclusively, going in to work maybe twice a month. Some roles might require a manager to be very "hands on", but it is naive and suggests a lack of experience to suggest that is true of all such roles. Project or programme managers don't make assumptions. Not good ones anyway.

You could also read "hands on" as "micro-managing" - people are employed to deliver the activity or work, and managers shouldn't need to be doing their work for them or closely watching them do it. If they are, they are either poor managers, have recruited the wrong people that they can't trust, or both.

Please make sure you address anything that could possibly be seen as detrimental to the business too, and set out why it isn't. You need to have thought about the business reasons they might use as an excuse to say no and demonstrate that working from home won't be a problem. I think you probably have a lot of evidence if things are working well at the moment, and as I said earlier you could possibly offer to come in on a six weekly-ish basis if that would work for you.

I didn't get the impression that the OP was looking to be made redundant though.

You can ask... I think it is a good idea. Based on what you have said, I would suggest a conversation with your boss, before submitting paperwork.

A commute of almost 2 hours is a stretch for anyone. On top of your other commitments, it is quite a lot of expect of yourself.

I presume you would like to retain your employment, skills and experience, if so, I would also consider redefining your role as it sounds like you are working above your original job description and maybe due a pay rise!! But I guess first, you have to find a way to continue to do your job.

Good luck!!

Thank you all. So lovely and helpful I really appreciate all your support xxx

Thank you sound advise 😊

Op you need to click 'quote' when you reply to people otherwise we don't know who you're replying to and you don't make sense.

You need to start with the end in mind - are you happy to be made redundant on stat minimum terms? If you are then you can start the flex working request process and if they turn you down, say it’s a major change to your contract and its effectively redundancy.

if you’re not and want to keep your job, you need a plan B for how you can be in the office at least a day or two a week

Rubbish, I work on a team of remote project managers, we don't seem to have any issues delivering projects.