Flexible work form - Any examples?

[bluemango]

I'm just filling in my form to go from 3 days P/T to 4 days compressed into 3.5 (M-W 8-5, Th 8-12) but am so stuck - and I need to get it in ASAP!

I can explain my position if asked but for some reason can't get it down on paper under the two headings:

1)Impact of the new pattern:
I think this change in my working pattern will affect my team and department as follows:

2. Accommodating the new working pattern: I think the effect on my team and department can be dealt with as follows:

Does anyone know what form the answers should take (bullet points, descriptive explanation etc) or know of any example forms?

Any help would be great as I have a serious mental block!

TIA

Have a look at workingfamilies website loads of stuff including an online guide to flexible working and a good factsheet.

Focus on what the positive benefits will be for your employer (not you), and ensure that your proposal doesn't involve dumping work on colleagues. Although if you are increasing days, surely there is no negative for anyone? You will get more done, not less.

Flexible working is for those with parental responsibilities and the reason for the request must be to care for the child. Are you sure a request to increase your hours would come under that? Has your employer told you to make that request as part of flexible working?

Thanks Flowery,

My employer didn't mention that it had to be to care for a child, although I had to tick that on the official form provided. Other than the tickbox, I haven't made direct reference to it in the application - does this matter?

Instead, I've tried to explain the changes that would occur, then provide solutions on how to deal with each.

I think the fact I'm increasing my hours is what's throwing me as I don't know whether I need to justify why I want to work more, not less. The reason, btw, is financial, and the reason I want compressed hours is because I can't get childcare for the Thursday afternoon. Should I include any of this or keep it to work-related matters?

Tks again!

Flexible working has to be for the purposes of caring for a child. You don't have to address that on the form, ticking that box is enough, but your right to flexible working depends on the reason for you request being to care for a child.

Has your employer agreed to the increased hours but wants a flexible working request to cover the compressed hours bit? I would not say that increasing hours is flexible working and don't understand why a request to increase your hours would go through that procedure. The only way it would imo is if the number of hours is agreed, but it's the way it will be worked that is under question, as the reason you want to work your new hours in that way is because of childcare.

Thanks so much. I think that's the issue - the hours are ok, but I'm being asked to make a case for compressing them. I can't get regular childcare for Thursday afternoon, which means I need to be available, so based on what you said I suppose the application is appropriate.

By chance, a guy in my office under another manager got his flexible working application approved yesterday. He's the first in our team and will be working compressed hours so he can finish at 1pm twice a week. I'm hoping that precedent counts for something, do you know if that's the case? He also said he included barely any information on his form and was shocked by mine, so I'm also hoping the ideas and solutions provide a case for it.

I guess we'll see, but I'm really grateful for all your help! Thanks loads