Help! This is my first time posting and I'm sorry that I come straight in with a problem ( a very long one at that), but.....
I am a PA and work for the boss. Before returning from maternity leave last July, I requested to reduce my hours to 4 days per week. I was persuaded not to do this in writing, but to do it informally through the Head of HR and my request was refused saying that the role could only be undertaken full time. I know this was daft, but I had been away from work for a year at this point and had serious baby brain! I went back to work full time in July 2007 and have struggled with managing a home, a child (DD is nearly 2) and work. It came to a head at Easter and I had 2 weeks off sick through total exhaustion. My GP said I had to request reduced hours again, which I did and my boss said she would see if it could be accommodated. This time I did put it in writing. I have heard nothing since, but they did employ a temp for 2 days a week to help me out for 6 weeks (this comes to an end week after next).
This afternoon an email arrived from HR to me and my fellow PA's informing us that a colleague who has just been appointed to a new role (same grade as me, same job description) and has negotiated to work 40 weeks per year and offering us all the opportunity to apply for the job if we wish. The PA in question has been working at my place of work for 22 years and applied for this job understanding that it was a full time role. The new role is working for her existing boss who has already interviewed her for the new role and appointed her to it. We are all very cross, me especially as I was told that these roles could ONLY be done full time. I know I could apply for the job, but in reality there is no hope of anyone else being appointed.
There are lots of other things that have happened with other members of staff reducing their hours which I won't bore you with.
Where do I stand with my request for reduction in hours. Surely, having set a precedent, they have to agree? I am just so cross and feel like telling them to stick their job and walking out (I won't but I wish I could!)