Flexible working request

[Rays221974]

Hey yall,

Im in the UK. Im returning back to my job come january. I've put in a flexible work request for early shifts 4 days a week (36 hours 5-3).

Another manager currently works the earlies. It says nowhere in my contract im required to work 1 late shift. But they are staying in have too. Two managers at a sister branch came back worked earlies monday through to thursday. No evenings.

Looking for some advice as they've requested a meeting to discuss.

Unfortunately you can't compare what others get - or you can but it won't help at all. You are asking for a variation of whatever is in your contract, so what your contract says or doesn't say has no bearing on it. So you need to start from the fact that this is an entirely seperate discussion from either of those things. Each application is looked at on its own merits and the grounds for refudal are:

• extra costs that will damage the business
• the work cannot be reorganised among other staff
• people cannot be recruited to do the work
• flexible working will affect quality
• flexible working will affect performance
• the business will not be able to meet customer demand
• there’s a lack of work to do during the proposed working times
• the business is planning changes to the workforce

So if they are saying that any one of these apply and there is therefore a necessity to work 1 late shift, you need to (a) understand why they are saying that and (b) look at if you can dispute their reason or offer something that works better / as a compromise.

In general it is easier to get an agreement if you can "fix" whatever the employers problem is for them.

First reply is spot on