Asked to go part time but have no children.

beckysbobbles1

I work full time at the moment and have recently requested to go part time (three full days a week).

My husband died 13 weeks ago and I have struggled working full time, also an elected councillor and studying. The full time job is the one I dislike the most.

I have made the formal request to my manager and HR after an informal discussion with my manager. I said I was struggling to work full time.

Although I explained in the interview that i was an elected councillor, they ahve not been very accomadating of this and have said several times I need to seriously consider which one I perfer as though I have to chose.

I always go to meeting outside of work so they do not affect my working time.

I am wondering if I have any rights to this request? I have no chidlren, it is purely as I am struggling. I was on a phased return to work and initially they were supportive but ahven't been so great of late.

LadyMissA

try this

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/EmploymentDecisionTrees/WorkingPatterns/right_to_flexible_working.dsb

Jarndyce

beckysbobbles1 wrote: »

I work full time at the moment and have recently requested to go part time (three full days a week).

My husband died 13 weeks ago and I have struggled working full time, also an elected councillor and studying. The full time job is the one I dislike the most.

I have made the formal request to my manager and HR after an informal discussion with my manager. I said I was struggling to work full time.

Although I explained in the interview that i was an elected councillor, they ahve not been very accomadating of this and have said several times I need to seriously consider which one I perfer as though I have to chose.

I always go to meeting outside of work so they do not affect my working time.

I am wondering if I have any rights to this request? I have no chidlren, it is purely as I am struggling. I was on a phased return to work and initially they were supportive but ahven't been so great of late.

You don't I'm afraid.

You have the right to time off for your councillor duties but your employer does not have to pay you for this (unless your contract requires them to).

All you can do is negotiate. You could see if your GP will give you a qualified fit note to say that you need reduced hours. Even then the employer would not have to agree it.

KiKi

Hi there

Sorry to hear about your husband.

With regards to work, you say that your councillor work doesn’t impact your paid employment – but it obviously does as you are struggling to do all those things. I think you need to be clear whether you are struggling generally with *everything* because of your husband’s death, or if you are struggling with the paid employment because you are doing so many other things.

Without wanting to sound harsh if it’s the latter then it’s not really your employer’s concern. They are paying you for a full time role, and you have other activities – and now you’re struggling to do them all (I understand – I’m employed full time, studying for another degree and also self-employed too!).

If it’s the former then you could appeal to their sense of kindness, or look at a doctor's fit note if you really aren't well enough to work, but they have already completed a phased return to work and been supportive that way.

In terms of what you can do, I think you need to be clear in your own mind as to why you’re struggling. Is it everything because of your OH’s death, or just this job because you dislike it the most? You can put in a formal request for flexible working, but the business are within their right to reject it (for sound reason). The fact that you are too busy outside of work is not a reason for them to grant it.

From their perspective, the fact that you’re okay to do all your other work and study, but not *this* work will probably make them less likely to want to support you, I’m afraid.

I hope that helps.
KiKi