I’ve been having quite a stressful time with my Flexible Working Request. I’m on maternity leave and I’m due to return to work in 6 weeks. I put in for a flexible working request on 5th May and I am still yet to receive a formal written decision on my request (8 weeks today). I’m not entirely sure what to do from here if I don’t receive a reply by the end of the day today. Please see below for the timeframe of my flexible working request:
5th May: Put in for a flexible working request. I was told that I was putting in for a flexible working request too early and that they would like to book in for a meeting to discuss on 1st June.
6th May: I responded stating that in line with both guidance of ACAS, GOVUK as well as the internal company policy, there isn’t a requirement for a request to be submitted a set number of weeks in advance. The statutory process should be that a decision is made within 8 weeks of my initial request.
8th May: They emailed stating that whilst ACAS and GOVUK don’t stipulate a time frame, the company only requires 8 weeks notice before your return to work for a flexible working request. That same day I went back to them stating there was no written company policy stating unless they can provide me with one (which they couldn’t) therefore my request will start from 5th May.
11th May: I received an email asking if I was free for a teams call to discuss in details on 18th May.
18th May: Had a teams call with HR and my manager to discuss the request in detail. He stated that he was more worried about the work phone situation and briefly mentioned that there’s not really an established temp desk there anymore. I was flexible and said that I can do a trial period should it be necessary and I can change the working from arrangements too. I sent over a follow up email to thank them for their time but I didn’t receive a response.
1st June: 2 weeks went by without hearing anything from them. They emailed me on Monday 1st June asking if I can be free on Wednesday at 3pm for a teams meeting which I accepted
2nd June: I recieved an email for a meeting cancellation as my manager was out in London and asked if they could move it to a Thursday, I accepted.
4th June: Had the meeting, they told me that they can accept my 32 hours but they want me to have Thursday as my day off (which wasn’t what I requested and didn’t help my childcare situation) my manager explained that it was difficult for me to have the days off that I wanted on a temp desk, and then told me they can offer another alternative of moving me over to a perm desk.
After the meeting I followed up with a email asking about what my salary change would be, my holiday entitlement and if there was any flexibility on the day off.
9th June: I recieved an email from HR stating that they asked if I could work on the following days at 32 hours a week, they stated that this was proposed to me on the basis that running a temp desk has a high demand on payroll, as well as clients and candidates requiring there shifts being filled. We have also proposed to you that when you come back off maternity leave, that you can move to run a perm desk, they stated that this would alleviate the demand for payroll on Monday and Tuesday and alleviate the high demand from clients and candidates on Fridays. They declined a movement on the non working day for temp but advised me that if I’m considering running a perm desk when I come back, there could be more flexibility on the non working days due to not having to meet a high customer demand.
10th June: I emailed back stating that I am keen to move over to a perm desk however my flexible working request still remains my preferred arrangement as it’s based around my childcare responsibilities and the practical arrangements that I’ve tried to put in to support my return to work. I stated that as my understanding is that those operational constraints would be reduced or removed on a perm desk, I would like my flexible working request to be considered on a perm desk. They replied that same day saying thank you for my response and she’ll let my manager know.
15th June: I didn’t have an update so I emailed asking for an update.
16th June: HR responded saying that she’s waiting on written confirmation from my managers which will be by the end of the day, if not before. And they will get the final agreement over to me asap and thanked me for my time.
17th June: I responded saying thank you etc. no response or update from them.
19th June: I emailed for an update, no response.
22nd June: I emailed again for an update, no response.
23rd June: I got an email back saying sorry for the delay, she’s been speaking with my manager and they are working out the final logistics of the request to ensure all parties are happy. She also said that she made all parties aware that the 8 week deadline is approaching and that she has to respond to me in that timeframe and said as soon as she has an update she’ll let me know.
29th June: Still hadn’t heard anything, so I emailed again and I received no response.
30th June: Today is the 8 week deadline and I’m still waiting on a response.
I haven’t had any chance to make any appeals yet either, which are stated in their company policy that any appeals will have to be made and dealt with within the 2 months of sending my request. I really don’t know where to go from here?