Applying for 'Term Time Working'

zippybungle

Hi,

I am not sure if this is the right place for this or if anyone can give me any advice, but here goes!...

I have been empoyed by the same company (Royal Mail) for over 11 years.

I have 3 young Children (3, 5 & 8) and have been on a 'career break' for the last 2 years (unpaid leave) to spend time bringing my children up.

From next month I really need to return to work and I had assumed that I would be able to work 'term time'. The reason I assumed that I would be able to do this was because I know lots of other people who have worked in the same department as myself also work term time (people with older Children and also people with only 1 or 2 Children)

However, when I have spoken to my new Line Manager they have basically told me that I will be wasting my time in applying for term time due to the fact that the company now has less staff due to redundancies (voluntary).

If I don't get the go ahead for term time, I really don't know how I'm going to be able to afford childcare in the School Holidays (cheapest seems to be $60 per day :eek: (pound sign not working).

I haven't applied in writing yet, but am planning on doing this at the weekend.

Do I have a leg to stand on?

Zippy x

kingfisherblue

I believe that you can apply once a year for flexible working, but the business can refuse for business reasons. In your case, you have assumed that you will be able to work term time only, because others are doing the same already. However, you haven't yet applied formally. Also, the needs of the business might mean that you will be needed during school holidays as well as term time. This would be a valid reason to decline your application. The fact that others are doing term time working might be a reason for appeal, but if the company granted their request at the time it was made (because there was no business reason for refusing), I don't think there is much you can do.

Depending on the level of your household income, you might be able to claim tax credits to help you pay for holiday care, but I think this is spread out over a twelve month period, not just paid at holiday times, so you would need to budget accordingly.

ultrarunner

you have children under the age of 5, therefore you have the right to take 13 weeks of unpaid parental leave each year, providing you have a years continuous service.

Googlewhacker

ultrarunner wrote: »

you have children under the age of 5, therefore you have the right to take 13 weeks of unpaid parental leave each year, providing you have a years continuous service.

I think this is wrong, you have a right to 13 weeks TOTAL upto the age of 5, not per year.

ultrarunner

sorry you are right, it's 13 weeks for each child, not 13 weeks per year

NickyBat

I work term time and had a few problems getting it initially. Like you i was told unofficially that my chances of getting it were nil and slim but i put it in writing it went before the board and was refused, i then consulted my union who helped me appeal putting down all the reasons why i needed term time including the fact that neither my husband or i have parents who can help out and as i already worked school hours to put my child into childcare in the school holidays would cost almost as much as i earned!!
Eventually i did get it on appeal and i am so glad i did because it it great i love it an would not want to lose it now. i can understand how when people do get it they dont ever want to give it up, which does make it harder for those of us with younger children to get it.

SandC

I wish people would consider their working options a bit more before having children.

How on earth can a business work properly if everyone with young children wanted to work term time only? What happens in the hols when it's not a school related business? Does everyone else just cover or do they rely on students wanting the work during their holidays? I can't see people on benefits rushing to do holiday work as each time they are laid off again in September, after Easter, after Christmas etc.

Sorry, this is of no help but it astounds me what people expect these days in terms of flexibility! The fact that someone has been able to appeal successfully against a company when their reasons have nothing to do with anything but childcare arrangements is beyond me!

Googlewhacker

NickyBat wrote: »

I work term time and had a few problems getting it initially. Like you i was told unofficially that my chances of getting it were nil and slim but i put it in writing it went before the board and was refused, i then consulted my union who helped me appeal putting down all the reasons why i needed term time including the fact that neither my husband or i have parents who can help out and as i already worked school hours to put my child into childcare in the school holidays would cost almost as much as i earned!!
Eventually i did get it on appeal and i am so glad i did because it it great i love it an would not want to lose it now. i can understand how when people do get it they dont ever want to give it up, which does make it harder for those of us with younger children to get it.

At the end of the day I would say if you didn't show how you working term time wasn't going to affect the running of the business you got very lucky because at the end of the day your company has no interest in your childcare situations.

The OP needs to provide solutions to the employer in how them working term time will not affect the running of the business but they have been more than flexible in allowing her 2 years career break and in the current situation they probably suspect that if she is not willing to work full time it is another person they can class as being made redundant and not on the books.

paulrn_2

Remember for every term time worker a section or department has thats one less opportunity for the others to take their holiday at that time and be with their family and possibly more unhappy team members for management to deal with.

dreavi

SandC wrote: »

I wish people would consider their working options a bit more before having children.

How on earth can a business work properly if everyone with young children wanted to work term time only? What happens in the hols when it's not a school related business? Does everyone else just cover or do they rely on students wanting the work during their holidays? I can't see people on benefits rushing to do holiday work as each time they are laid off again in September, after Easter, after Christmas etc.

Sorry, this is of no help but it astounds me what people expect these days in terms of flexibility! The fact that someone has been able to appeal successfully against a company when their reasons have nothing to do with anything but childcare arrangements is beyond me!

Heh its usually people like me that get stuck doing their shifts during the school holidays.

You get flexible working I get to pick up your slack when your not there. You get to go off work when your kid gets sick I get to do my presentation without your data.

Its like a tax on childless people but I feel strangly okay about it