Flexible working request after Mat leave

[KieferSutherland]

I put in a flexible working request in October 2025, before I went on maternity leave, to reduce my hours to 4 working days a week when I return in January 2027.
At the time, my manager told me verbally that it should be “99% okay”, but she couldn’t give me a definite answer as it was still quite early. I didn’t receive anything in writing from either my manager or HR confirming this.
I went on maternity leave in January 2026 and haven’t had any communication from work until today. My manager called me for a catch-up and explained that, because my role is a full-time position, I won’t be able to reduce to 4 days unless they can recruit someone to job-share the remaining 1 day per week.
She said it’s unlikely that they’ll find someone who wants to work just one day a week, but they are going to try and recruit anyway.
I’m honestly not really sure where I stand now or what my options are. I know realistically that I wouldn’t be able to cope with going back 5 days a week with two young children. I’ve also experienced postnatal depression, so I’m conscious that I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself when I return to work.
Has anyone else had a similar experience with a flexible working request, particularly where the employer is saying they can only accommodate it if they find a job-share? I’d really appreciate hearing how it worked out for you. 😊

I was thinking perhaps DH/DP may be able to take annual leave on the Fridays your colleague is off. Obviously worst case scenario, it’s promising that they’ll be advertising the role - it does sound like they want to say yes to your request.

You can find the list of possible reasons for refusing a flexible working request here: https://www.acas.org.uk/statutory-flexible-working-requests/considering-a-request

You could also request a trial period - e.g using accrued leave to have Friday as a non working day for a fixed period. Or temporarily working from home as a trial.

That it total BS but you can’t do anything about that

what about offering to work 80% across five days. So shorter hours but in every day. Might that be feasible.

From an employers point of view if one of my team requested this I would have to say no as we couldn’t fulfill the job with someone only there 4 days, it would put so much pressure on other members of the team and leave us in a vulnerable situation if anyone was on holiday or sick.

Id be open to trying to do job share but like your manager says it may be difficult to find someone for 1 day.

i have discussed the situation with my DH. We’ve decided I’ll contact my manager next week and offer to go down to 3 days if they’re able to recruit someone for the other 2 days. Hopefully that may be a better solution.

Good luck!