Please Help - Returning to work after baby, requesting a drop in hours..........

mummy962

Hi

I am currently on maternity leave until october, I only work part time 12 hours a week,I work thursday evening 4 hours and every other weekend sat and sun 8 -5 (children already) and want to reduce my hours by a futher 4 a week - so drop the thursday , giving me a total of 8 hours - 1 day a week for the foreseeable future

I work in a private care home as an administrator with 5 others all covering 8 - 10pm 7 days a week ( plus my mat cover person , who am told is now boss's pet and poss something going on) so know cover would not be a problem as one lady wants more hours. my boss is a difficult man so need to get the letter right.

The reason i need to drop the hours is my husband works away in the week and my mother in law who looked after my children can no longer do so. the late night doesnt work any more as child care finishes around 6 pm in most places and even if it didnt would cost me more than i would earn.

any help in how to word my letter to him or advise would be greatly received

Thank you

mummy962

anyone please?

bevanuk

You would just have to write a letter requesting this - you don't even have to give reasons but I would.
List your current hours and days, then the proposed hours and days followed by a reason.
They can decline your request though by saying that your job is needed for 12 hours and not 8.

heretolearn_2

You only have the right to return on the same grounds.

You can however as a parent request flexible working. This is only the right to request it and have it considered. They can say no if there is a good reason.

The way to get a yes is not to talk about your issues, that's not their problem really, but to look at the impact on the business and how that can be minimised. The fact that someone else would like to take on the hours you drop is how this will be minimised. There is no loss of cover for the work and presumably no increased cost to the business.

Savvy_Sue

^ ^ this. Your childcare issues are not the employer's concern, so concentrate on giving them a solution. However bear in mind that if you do this, you won't automatically be able to increase your hours in the future.