Requesting to go part-time

[HmmmCat]

I want to go from full -time to 4 days. I need to put the request in writing, but I'm really not sure how to argue my case. After all, I want this for personal reasons, and the only benefits I can see for my employer are that I would have more energy and that they would pay me less.

And although I have colleagues who work part-time, they were originally employed on that basis. I don't know that anyone has ever reduced their hours.

Maybe I'm overthinking it, but I'm worried that explaining my personal reasons will backfire on me.

Any suggestions how I should word my letter ?

Given you’re client facing, are there days that are more difficult to cover because of existing staff patterns, and could you request your non-working day to fit around that? I find that if you can either solve a problem, or not exacerbate an existing problem your request is more likely to be accepted. So look for gaps where more flexible working might help, or where having a reliable resource is needed and build that into your request. Think about the likely sticking points and try to address them in your request.

I didn’t say that. (I don’t work in my software business and have worked across many sectors during my career).

Anyway, with OP’s updates it still doesn’t sound likely to me on the basis that the existing part time cohort is creating issues, the role is client facing and they appear not to have a client lined up yet for whom this arrangement might work.

Appreciate OP is front running the request but didn’t seem very aware of how to ask for this or how to consider the business’ likely response (not knowing this was covered by a FWR).

OP, you should probably also think about what options you have if your request isn’t approved. (Several of the 8 legally permitted reasons could apply here.)

I did this op.

I made a flexible working request to go from 5 to 4 days.

I did it because i had a 1 year old who didn’t sleep and who had developmental concerns and I was still suffering mentally from birth trauma during lockdown I think.

I spoke to my manager who was fine about it, put the honest reasons in the FWR and it was approved without issue.

I have since made a further FWR to keep the same hours but change my schedule again so i can do school pick up.

I have to say though that people did warn me against going to 4 days as you often end up still doing a full time workload for less money. To which i’ve found to be true. But i have a high capacity to work.

I have to say though that people did warn me against going to 4 days as you often end up still doing a full time workload for less money. To which i’ve found to be true.

This was partly the point of my first reply………

I’m sorry, I don’t understand your last two paragraphs.

This is a completely novel situation for me. I have never asked for a change in hours in any employment.

Okay, but you have access to your employee handbook or company policies, presumably.

Employees request changes to their terms and conditions through Flexible Working Requests. Every employee has a legal entitlement to make requests (but not to have them approved) and there are legal rules around how employers handle them. There are 8 legally compliant reasons to refuse, which are quite broad and include being unable to distribute work to others or impact on service delivery, both of which you have indicated could be potential concerns for the employer.

It’s all broken down here:

www.gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working

My last but one paragraph points out that you didn’t realise that a reduction in hours is requested this way, that you are asking further in advance than is usual (front running) and do not appear to have considered how you can mitigate the concerns your manager might have about the impact of approving this.

It’s not going to be hard to find a reason to reject the request based on the info you have given, so my final paragraph advises you to think about what you can do in that scenario (are there other things you can change to alleviate whatever personal issues you are trying to improve, or is part time work the only option and you would have to find another job with better suited hours.

I do think a lot of companies are open to 4 days a week. I've had it approved in two separate jobs now. There's benefit for a company, they save 20% of your salary and are still getting 100% of your expertise (if not your time).

I'd think about any issues that might arise due to not having someone in a full time post, and think of ways to counteract these. For instance I suggested Friday as my non working day as very few meetings happen on a Friday and therefore it has minimal impact on the rest of the team.

My company would be very open to this. I have a flexible working pattern, and would approve it for one of my team.

One poster in particular (!) might not like the idea, but don’t that let you put you off.

I’d talk it through informally with your boss first. As PPs say, think about how you can solve potential problems. In addition to what’s already been suggested - could you offer to work FT during particularly busy periods (for extra pay!). Can you train up someone else in tasks you are currently the expert in, so they’re not missed on days you are not in? What about having two half days off instead? Those are just ideas, you’ll know what would work for your role.

Good luck!