MSE Parents Club Part 16

Courgette

I think it's also up to them to demonstrate that you working non-FT would directly damage the business and that there aren't reasonable adjustments they can make. You are allowed to appeal too although I've decided that our (my) energy would be better used on looking for an employer who isn't such a pr!ck

CL

Info on requesting flexible working:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Flexibleworking/DG_10029491

http://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1076&p=0

On what grounds can applicants be refused?
Applications for flexible working arrangements can be refused only for the
following reasons:

• the burden of additional costs

• detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand
• inability to reorganise work among existing staff
• inability to recruit additional staff
• detrimental impact on quality
• detrimental impact on performance

• insufficiency of work during the periods the employee proposes to work

• planned structural changes.

If you can demonstrate how your requested working change would not cause the above, your employer has no grounds to refuse.

gizmodo_2

@pigpen - thanks for that advice - unfortunately a little too late but will remember it for the future (hopefully won't need it though). I took DD to the docs today as I couldn't bear seeing her in pain anymore. Got a suppository. I'm a bit of an expert on constipation and don't like laxatives and the like, but I used it on her. We had her on the changing mat - nappy free. And then I asked OH to google to see how long it might take to work. He finds out 15-30 minutes so I very quickly put her nappy on and within seconds she starts f*rting away Biggest poop I've seen yet!

Hopefully she'll go back to normal.

CL - thanks for that info regarding flexi working. Very useful.

sir_monster

Courgette not sure if I remember right or not but are you a teacher? I only ask as most mums who I go to groups with who are teachers have asked for flexible working and have been refused. CL is useful info just in case.

Giz good to hear she has pooed I bet she needed a bath after that!

Becles

Morning

Lovely to see all the baby pictures :cool: I love the strawberry hat as well. When I was a child my Mam knitted me a white jumper with two big strawberries on the front, and it was my favourite jumper for ages

Sorry to hear of all the work problems, but do look into other work. It might be a sign that it is time for a change. I fell into my job sort of by accident when my ex left me, and I love it now.

I just fed mine whatever we were having and didn't bother with proper baby food or following baby menus etc. Josh had no teeth until he was well over a year old, but could still gum crusty bread to death :rotfl:

Busy day yesterday with loads of work to do, then boot camp last night. I downloaded an app for my phone that tracks how many calories you burn and I burned 643 calories in an hour :eek::D

It was so funny last night. She had us all in a line and we all had to go down into a high plank position and hold it. Then the first lady had to crawl under everyone else's body and take her position up and the end, and so on down the line until everyone had a go. It was so funny, especially battling my way through all the boobies :rotfl:

Off to work again this morning but not as busy today.

Hope everyone has a good day xx

Metranil_Vavin

Hey courgette! Lovely to 'see' you! How are you and the little 'un's doing?

You are SO right, and I am seriously considering resigning too as even if it did make some financial sense to go back there, the whole constant battling with my boss I have had over the past 18 months on various issues has left a really nasty taste in my mouth, and I can forsee myself being really unhappy.

OH and I are considering moving out of London anyway, and this may also bring that decision forward too. It may end up being a catalyst for us finding a better way of life

I may try it for a bit, just so I can say to myself I gave it a go, but I'm not going to beat myself up if I decide nearer the time that I just can't face it.

Metranil_Vavin

Here is the email from my boss outlining why they can't accommodate my request, and their reasons:

Thanks for your email of 10th May 2011 covering flexible working proposals for your return to work after maternity leave. It is good to hear you would like to return in January.

We have reviewed this proposal but unfortunately have decided that we are unable to accommodate your plan for the business reasons set out below.

As you know the roles of our Export Account Managers are office based with a requirement to travel to visit our overseas customers on a regular basis. For example, over the last three months, your temporary maternity cover has travelled to Greece, Estonia and Slovenia. The full sales team need to interact on a continual basis within our UK office environment to move the business forward with optimum efficiency. With such a slender team we could not operate with one team member only working 4 days per week and we would need to maintain regular overseas client visits.

Our account managers need to be physically present to be able to report to management on a daily basis and liaise internally with all of our teams. The needs of the business are frequently reactive and have to be changed there and then. It is therefore not possible to accommodate your proposal on the following statutory grounds:

• Detrimental effect on ability to meet client’s demands
• Detrimental impact on quality, performance and information flow
• Detrimental impact on other employees/increase burden on existing staff

However, in order to demonstrate some creativity and flexibility in facilitating your return to work we would like to suggest the following flexible working plan on a trial basis, so that we can see if it suits both parties. This would be reviewed after a period of 3 months and if we can see it suits both parties to continue we would implement for a further 9 months and review at the end of that period.

1. To work from home for one full day (7hrs) and you will be available by phone and email at all times during these working hours. This day would be determined as Tuesday each week.
2. To work from the office 9.30am to 4.30pm with a 1 hour lunch break for the remaining 4 days (total 24 hours).

Your salary and benefits would be reduced on a pro-ration basis.

If you are happy to agree with this proposal, the trial period would commence on your return date.

We are happy to arrange a meeting to discuss these proposals further.

Kind regards

delain

I can't really help MV sorry I thought your request was reasonable but I suppose their main concern was always going to be for their good not yours.

I have got loads of housework to do whilst Squeak is asleep, ended up getting dragged into the school to fill in forms and didn't get out till 9.15 so missed my friend I was meant to go see today and couldn't let her know

We have two lots of shopping coming tonight, so I've got to have the cupboards out as it's the big shop for the month and has lots of tins. Also empty the fridge. Meh. I just want to sleep

CL

We're all very quiet today! LO is in her bouncer with a piece of apple in each hand watching Baby TV. She is bouncing away and happy as larry.

I got a travel cot for her yesterday. It's so easy to open and close and so colourful! It's this one:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3768057/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CNursery%7C14417537/c_2/2%7C14417537%7CCots%2C+nursery+furniture+and+bedding%7C14417580/c_3/3%7Ccat_14417580%7CTravel+cots%7C14417593.htm

For those who are peeved at their work, you'll love this. My employer only pays SMP, which I knew when I took the job, so is fair enough. I've just found out that another member of staff (who is very, very friendly with the owner) is having a baby, but has said she will not be taking maternity leave, she will be working from home for 6 months on full pay. Her job requires a lot of foriegn travel (usually a week away every month) and she is planning to breastfeed. How is that doable?

pigpen

CL wrote: »

For those who are peeved at their work, you'll love this. My employer only pays SMP, which I knew when I took the job, so is fair enough. I've just found out that another member of staff (who is very, very friendly with the owner) is having a baby, but has said she will not be taking maternity leave, she will be working from home for 6 months on full pay. Her job requires a lot of foriegn travel (usually a week away every month) and she is planning to breastfeed. How is that doable?

Maybe in the fantasy land it is doable.. especially if she has no other children so hasn't actually got a clue!