what is the law on flexible working around

Deals_2

children. thanks

msmicawber

Have a look here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029491

pinkshoes

I would say as well as reading that, play it by ear, and be flexible yourself, and make sure you don't come across as taking the p*ss with working hours, otherwise other work colleages (without kids) will resent it.

SomeBozo

An employee has the right to ask for flexible working.

The employer has to consider it.

If there are reasons (operational, good business reasons) then they can deny it.

You have the right to ask for it, but not the right to have it.

Bozo

msmicawber

pinkshoes wrote: »

I would say as well as reading that, play it by ear, and be flexible yourself, and make sure you don't come across as taking the p*ss with working hours, otherwise other work colleages (without kids) will resent it.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'taking the p*ss' as it's the employer's decision whether to change your contract and you'd be expected to do the same work during your hours at work. If working fewer hours, you'd be paid less than full-time staff to reflect that.

Deals_2

nearly all women with children. i asked if once or twice a week itwould be possible to leave earlier - and so start earlier but it was a no though all of them were mums - and they wanted to be with their children (and mine was younger than theirs!!!)

msmicawber wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean by 'taking the p*ss' as it's the employer's decision whether to change your contract and you'd be expected to do the same work during your hours at work. If working fewer hours, you'd be paid less than full-time staff to reflect that.

pinkshoes

msmicawber wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean by 'taking the p*ss' as it's the employer's decision whether to change your contract and you'd be expected to do the same work during your hours at work. If working fewer hours, you'd be paid less than full-time staff to reflect that.

Are you referring to flexi time or working part time?

Working part time is having set hours, doing the same work during those hours, and having your salary changed accordingly.

Flexi time is working X hours per week-ish, with more on some days, less on others, having to disappear because the child is sick so making it up later etc...

One of my previous colleagues (male) did flexi time, and although he couldn't help having a sickly child who often had to go home from nursary hence him having to leave early, he never made up all the hours that he didn't work, and was really resented by a lot of people. He would work through his lunch break, but he still checked his email, surfed the net etc... at his desk. He just didn't go to the canteen.

I'm just saying you sometimes have to be careful if you work flexi time, so that your colleagues know you're pulling your weight.

msmicawber

I was referring to both. It's a shame your colleague didn't pull his weight, but I suspect that he'd have been the same if not on flexi-time, and his Manager should have sorted it out and ensured he made up his hours properly.

I've seen plenty of ligging about at work from non-parents. When I worked part-time, I found plenty of my colleagues thought it was OK for them to stand around chatting or take long lunch breaks because they were full-time, whereas the part-time staff worked from when we got in until when we left and did much the same amount of work each day as the full-time staff.

Deals_2

i was actually speaking about.

msmicawber wrote: »

I was referring to both. It's a shame your colleague didn't pull his weight, but I suspect that he'd have been the same if not on flexi-time, and his Manager should have sorted it out and ensured he made up his hours properly.

I've seen plenty of ligging about at work from non-parents. When I worked part-time, I found plenty of my colleagues thought it was OK for them to stand around chatting or take long lunch breaks because they were full-time, whereas the part-time staff worked from when we got in until when we left and did much the same amount of work each day as the full-time staff.

3plus1

As Bozo says, you have the right to ask for flexible working, but your employer has the right to say no if this would not meet the needs of the business. To give you an example, if you were a receptionist and you wanted to work from 7 to 3 instead of 9 to 5, an employer could turn down your request on the grounds that people would be ringing the office between 3 and 5 and no one would be able to field their calls!

Some of my colleagues will work through lunch to get home early, work from home, work part time, come in at the weekends instead and do all manners of funny things to get their job to fit in with their lifestyle. That doesn't bother me.

What does irritate me though are the people who constantly leave on the dot when we're busy. In my line of work, we need to do unpaid overtime at busy times of the year to cope with client demand. It doesn't seem fair that childless folk like me are the ones who end up working late to keep our clients happy and those with kids feel free to go whenever they need to. I might not have children, but that doesn't mean I don't have a home life!

If you want a job with flexible hours, it might be worthwhile applying for one at a company that already has a good reputation for implementing this. I used to work for my local council and they had a swipe card system, where you touched in when you were working and touched out when you were having breaks. The computer would calculate when you'd done your hours for the week and if you worked late from Monday to Thurday, you could potentially have a half day on Friday. Also, you would be able to come in early/late and work accordingly.

Deals_2

used to come in for free at the weekends!!! never got anythign extra for it and never had a social life etc. i think a lot of companies take advantage too. sorry but i have nearly always had bad bosses and i have been employer myself and would never expect from people if i did not give something back to people in return for any good they've done for a business!!!
the point i was trying to make about this company i had come accross was the fact that everyone of them were women with kids (older) and not even offer any options at all of sometimes helping each other out which is what i would do!!!!

3plus1 wrote: »

As Bozo says, you have the right to ask for flexible working, but your employer has the right to say no if this would not meet the needs of the business. To give you an example, if you were a receptionist and you wanted to work from 7 to 3 instead of 9 to 5, an employer could turn down your request on the grounds that people would be ringing the office between 3 and 5 and no one would be able to field their calls!

Some of my colleagues will work through lunch to get home early, work from home, work part time, come in at the weekends instead and do all manners of funny things to get their job to fit in with their lifestyle. That doesn't bother me.

What does irritate me though are the people who constantly leave on the dot when we're busy. In my line of work, we need to do unpaid overtime at busy times of the year to cope with client demand. It doesn't seem fair that childless folk like me are the ones who end up working late to keep our clients happy and those with kids feel free to go whenever they need to. I might not have children, but that doesn't mean I don't have a home life!

If you want a job with flexible hours, it might be worthwhile applying for one at a company that already has a good reputation for implementing this. I used to work for my local council and they had a swipe card system, where you touched in when you were working and touched out when you were having breaks. The computer would calculate when you'd done your hours for the week and if you worked late from Monday to Thurday, you could potentially have a half day on Friday. Also, you would be able to come in early/late and work accordingly.