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Original poster

Temporary flexible working request

23 replies

Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 15:06

I work term time only in a school in an admin role.
My daughter is 14 and has recently been diagnosed with ASD and hashimotos.
I have requested that I be allowed to WFH 5 days a week for 6 weeks as my daughter has missed an awful lot of school (EBSA/ABSA and poor health) and I need to be around to either try and get her in, or make an attempt at home educating to see which route we would need to take going forward.
My line manager would like us all in the office one day per week (Wednesday) which I completely understand, my 2 colleagues both have WFH days, one has 2 per week and 1 has 3 days. None of these are contracted. 1 colleague has said she is more than happy to work in the office everyday for 6 weeks to help cover me. The other won’t so nobody has asked her.

They have offered me Tuesday and Thursday as WFH days. Given the reasons that I requested in the first place, 2 days a week really isn’t going to make much difference to either me or my daughter. I don’t want to leave my job only for my daughter to get back into school and then I’m at home with no job, but equally I’m not sure 2 days is helpful. I’m wondering if they think that if they allow it for 6 weeks I will expect it going forward but that isn’t the case. I do not enjoy WFH at all and am only doing it to support my daughter.
Apparently I am going to get a letter and can argue my case but obviously school is closed now so it won’t start at the start of term
which would have been ideal.
Do I have any case to argue this? I suppose I could take a 6 week sabbatical if they don’t want me to WFH (and if they allow it) but I don’t want to make more work for my colleagues, I’d rather do my work!

Sorry, I’ve waffled. 🤦‍♀️

Anyone able to advise?

OP posts:
Ilikewinter · 20/12/2025 15:14

Did you tell your employer that you are trying to home school, - if so then I could see why they would refuse your WFH request. Could you ask for a reduction in hours, or time shift to allow you extra time in the morning to facilitate getting her to school? Would unpaid leave be an option you could explore?

Original poster
Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 15:31

Not specifically, no. Bearing in mind I work in a school you think they’d realise that a 14 year old being at home alone all day is far from ideal! I could take unpaid leave but don’t want to make life harder for my colleagues. Seem like that might be my only option.

OP posts:
User0ne · 20/12/2025 16:22

I'd definitely get advice from your union asap.

I've been in a similar situation (teacher needing to start and finish 15 mins later than normal but still present for all time that students are on site) due to required changes in wraparound care resulting from one of my children's ASD and ADHD.

I had to push really hard and demonstrate how it would not be detrimental to the school/my colleagues. They were being so inflexible about it that it got to the stage where I (verbally) pointed out to my manager that they either had to flex or find a new maths teacher before they agreed the change.

I hope you get what you need to make it work for you and your dd

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 20/12/2025 16:28

1 colleague has said she is more than happy to work in the office everyday for 6 weeks to help cover me. The other won’t so nobody has asked her.
if ‘nobody’ has asked, how do you know she wont?
are there issues between you as colleagues? Is she being made to feel bad for not covering for you?

Macaroni46 · 20/12/2025 16:32

But you won’t be WFH. You’ll be supervising your daughter and home educating her. Better to ask for unpaid leave.

Overthebow · 20/12/2025 16:38

They're being quite fair with the 2 days. If you need full time at home then parental leave might be your best bet. It’s unpaid but something you’re entitled to.

Pineapplewaves · 20/12/2025 16:42

I would ask for six weeks unpaid leave. The problem with your colleagues covering for you is that they would have to be paid, so you not getting paid would mean your colleagues would be getting your salary instead which means there would be no or little financial impact on the school.

Coconutter24 · 20/12/2025 16:43

How would you home educate if you’re WFH?

ScaryM0nster · 20/12/2025 16:50

I mean this kindly, but it doesn’t sound like it’s WFH you need. It sounds like you need either some time off, or a short term significant reduction in hours.

Any WFH request will rightly need to demonstrate that you’re actually able to work properly from home. Your circumstances sound like that’s not realistic at the moment. So your employer would be irresponsible to say yes.

Some alternatives.

  • a temporary reduction in hours, combined with mainly home working, to provide flexibility while things settle.
  • parental leave (unpaid, but keeps your role).
  • sabbatical
  • using any annual leave to cut your hours each week.
gogomomo2 · 20/12/2025 16:54

Can you do your role from home fully, can you work properly with your dd at home? If the answer is no to either of these then you should understand why they said no. If you are home schooling you can’t be simultaneously working, is your work flexible eg make up any time during your normal work day in the evening or on weekends?

shuffleofftobuffalo · 20/12/2025 16:58

Difficult - if you’re telling them you’re effectively wanting to WFH to see if home ed works, surely their next question would be how are you going to work and do that? What would you intend to do after the 6 weeks, potentially ask for permanent wfh so you can home ed?

you are obviously in a difficult situation but I’m not sure you proposed solution is going to work for any of you.

Original poster
Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 17:18

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 20/12/2025 16:28

1 colleague has said she is more than happy to work in the office everyday for 6 weeks to help cover me. The other won’t so nobody has asked her.
if ‘nobody’ has asked, how do you know she wont?
are there issues between you as colleagues? Is she being made to feel bad for not covering for you?

She doesn’t do anything to help anyone. Even if asked to come in one day extra once she will cite not being able to afford fuel, she has no dog sitter, it increases her anxiety. There’s always an excuse and at the moment her Mum is poorly so nobody wants to push her over the edge. She’s already told me that her GP has offered to sign her off long term due to work not being willing to add her WFH days to her contract. We all get on fine but we all also know not to bother asking!

OP posts:
Original poster
Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 17:19

Pineapplewaves · 20/12/2025 16:42

I would ask for six weeks unpaid leave. The problem with your colleagues covering for you is that they would have to be paid, so you not getting paid would mean your colleagues would be getting your salary instead which means there would be no or little financial impact on the school.

They wouldn’t be paid any extra. They’d be expected to cover my work in their working hours, which is why I wanted to cause the least disruption.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 17:21

shuffleofftobuffalo · 20/12/2025 16:58

Difficult - if you’re telling them you’re effectively wanting to WFH to see if home ed works, surely their next question would be how are you going to work and do that? What would you intend to do after the 6 weeks, potentially ask for permanent wfh so you can home ed?

you are obviously in a difficult situation but I’m not sure you proposed solution is going to work for any of you.

My daughter would simply be going through all of the lessons and homework she has missed. It’s all online with explanatory videos. She’s just be next to me while I work and she catches up but I see your point.
If home education ends up being the way forward, I would leave, but don’t want to do that until I know if it will work! No point being jobless if she manages to go back to school!

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 20/12/2025 17:35

I'm surprised that they even gave you two days if you told them you were going to be home educating at the same time as working. You can't give your work the same amount of attention surely?

You say your dd can study independently so you don't really need to be there do you. If you are needed to assist her and keep her on task then that is using up time that should be spent working.

It seems they have been willing to compromise and I think it would be cheeky to push it.

ThatAquaHam · 20/12/2025 17:39

If she is just sat next to you whilst you work, will there be an issue with her seeing sensitive work stuff. Im assuming as admin you see pupil data.

PurpleThistle7 · 20/12/2025 17:56

I wouldn’t approve this either as a manager. You need to take all your leave or go unpaid or do a combination of that. If your daughter isn’t well enough to leave then you can’t just work a full day and ignore her so I’d be concerned about approving it and neglecting my duty of care to you.

Original poster
Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 19:50

Ok. All fair points and I may have to go down the route of unpaid parental leave. I can’t take my annual leave during term time because I’m obviously off all school holidays (my son is also ASD and needs much more support than my daughter). I can work my hours anytime and that was my intention, my work will get done early morning and evenings and obviously as much as I can during the day, but I understand their reasons for only offering 2 days. I will need to have a rethink. Thank you all.

OP posts:
ScaryM0nster · 20/12/2025 20:18

One idea - could you do something like three long afternoons in the office?

May not work, but it could help with the getting people to school thing. And a temp contract adjustment to 80% to cut the hours down a bit.

Pineapplewaves · 20/12/2025 20:25

If your colleague can cover your work plus their own during their normal working hours for six weeks you’ll find yourself out of a job - if your colleague can prove that one person can do the work of two people they can get rid of one person and save a salary.

PennyLaneisinmyheartandmysoul · 20/12/2025 20:32

Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 17:18

She doesn’t do anything to help anyone. Even if asked to come in one day extra once she will cite not being able to afford fuel, she has no dog sitter, it increases her anxiety. There’s always an excuse and at the moment her Mum is poorly so nobody wants to push her over the edge. She’s already told me that her GP has offered to sign her off long term due to work not being willing to add her WFH days to her contract. We all get on fine but we all also know not to bother asking!

Show quote history

That’s quite a disparaging way to talk about her, especially when you’re expecting the same re carers leave as well!

Aligirlbear · 20/12/2025 20:43

Honestly they have been more than fair. You actually won’t be WFH you will be supervising your daughter / home educating. You need to rethink whether what you actually need is a period of unpaid leave or big reduction in hours to get you through this. Your employer should be talking to you about the reality of what you are actually asking for which is more than a sabbatical or parental leave.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 20/12/2025 22:38

Trinity69 · 20/12/2025 15:31

Not specifically, no. Bearing in mind I work in a school you think they’d realise that a 14 year old being at home alone all day is far from ideal! I could take unpaid leave but don’t want to make life harder for my colleagues. Seem like that might be my only option.

Dont forget you can apply to take unpaid parental leave. Normally limited to 4 weeks per year unless your employer agrees.

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