Flexible working justification

I-W

Hi all,


Was hoping someone could assist me with the interpretation of the new flexible working law.


I put in a slightly cheeky request to my manager for flexible working. I have asked for compressed working 4 days instead of 5 but the same hours. He said (never likes to put things in writing) that I need to include a justification of why I want flexible working.


My understanding from the government website (details at end of this post) is that with the new law you don't need a justification of why you want it only of how the business will manage.


I did include a business justification, I work on large projects and don't deal with customers regularly and potentially would actually work better if worked longer constant hours rather than having to stop at the end of each and remember where I left off the next (always takes a while to get your mind back into things when working on the technical side). Also already in our department a number of the senior staff are already on 4 day weeks compressed hours so there is a definite president.


Who is interpreting this new law correctly? If my manager is what would be considered a reasonably justification?


The real reason I want a week day off a week is so I can get chores done (so I can actually enjoy my weekends), especially things which are much harder on weekends such as shopping, booking appointments etc (need to book dentist and doctor appointments at the moment but work only wants me to do these first or last thing and these appointments are very hard to get). Plus not have to take a days annual leave every time I have to have a delivery or someone from a company over during the week (had to take days off recently for a large delivery and another for a telephone engineer).


Be grateful of advice before I talk to my manager again tomorrow.




https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working


What the email or letter must include

The application must include:

• the date
• a statement that this is a statutory request
• details of how the employee wants to work flexibly and when they want to start
• an explanation of how they think flexible working might affect the business and how this could be dealt with, eg if they’re not at work on certain days
• a statement saying if and when they’ve made a previous application

TBagpuss

I agree with your interpretation. However, businesses are encouraged to discuss requests with the person making the request in order to improve be able to assess the request and consider what options might be possible if they can't agree it exactly as requested.

The business can only refuse the request if there are business grounds for doing so. Has your employer updated their policy since the change in the law? Previously, only those with caring responsibilities were entitled to make a statutory request, so perhaps your boss is not yet familiar with the new rules.

System

Also already in our department a number of the senior staff are already on 4 day weeks compressed hours so there is a definite president.

But it may also be a reason to not allow anyone else to only do a 4 day week - I.E. bums on seats each day.

Takeaway_Addict

I-W wrote: »

Hi all,


Was hoping someone could assist me with the interpretation of the new flexible working law.


I put in a slightly cheeky request to my manager for flexible working. I have asked for compressed working 4 days instead of 5 but the same hours. He said (never likes to put things in writing) that I need to include a justification of why I want flexible working.


My understanding from the government website (details at end of this post) is that with the new law you don't need a justification of why you want it only of how the business will manage.


I did include a business justification, I work on large projects and don't deal with customers regularly and potentially would actually work better if worked longer constant hours rather than having to stop at the end of each and remember where I left off the next (always takes a while to get your mind back into things when working on the technical side). Also already in our department a number of the senior staff are already on 4 day weeks compressed hours so there is a definite president.


Who is interpreting this new law correctly? If my manager is what would be considered a reasonably justification?


The real reason I want a week day off a week is so I can get chores done (so I can actually enjoy my weekends), especially things which are much harder on weekends such as shopping, booking appointments etc (need to book dentist and doctor appointments at the moment but work only wants me to do these first or last thing and these appointments are very hard to get). Plus not have to take a days annual leave every time I have to have a delivery or someone from a company over during the week (had to take days off recently for a large delivery and another for a telephone engineer).


Be grateful of advice before I talk to my manager again tomorrow.




https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/applying-for-flexible-working


What the email or letter must include

The application must include:

• the date
• a statement that this is a statutory request
• details of how the employee wants to work flexibly and when they want to start
• an explanation of how they think flexible working might affect the business and how this could be dealt with, eg if they’re not at work on certain days
• a statement saying if and when they’ve made a previous application

Which president? Lincoln?

Aside from that, why not just tow the line and do it, do you really want to put your managers back up and make it more difficult for yourself?

mountainofdebt

Ah the law of unintended consequences.

Of course you do realise that if you get this then someone who has caring responsibilities may be denied their request because of business needs?

KentishLady

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Ah the law of unintended consequences.

Of course you do realise that if you get this then someone who has caring responsibilities may be denied their request because of business needs?

This in spades.

How are you going to feel if you get your flexible working request granted, and then one of your colleagues has their flexible working request refused when they are struggling with caring responsibilities (eg caring for a parent with altzheimers, or a partner who has terminal cancer, or a child who has a limited lifespan). Would you then offer to go back to your old working pattern? You wouldnt because you probably wouldn't even know their request had been refused until they were signed off sick or resigned because they could no longer juggle their responsibilities.

I am a carer and I work full time. My previous employer allowed me to work 4 compressed days per week - this allowed me to spend one day per week doing all the household chores, shopping, paying bills etc and meant I could devote 2 days per week to support my husband access the community activities. BUT I was flexible, I worked from home on my "at home" day when required, I changed my "at home" day to meet business needs and so on.

My current job role requires 5 days per week cover during office hours so I cannot request a 4 day compressed working week (or 9 day fortnight which is our equivalent). I'll be honest, I am shattered from juggling my work and my home-life. I still think myself lucky that I have negotiated a flexible working week - when we are busy I work longer days so that when I need to take one of my carees to a hospital appointment (or if I am desperate need of a day off during the week to rest) I can book TOIL to release me using the same process we use to book a days leave.

Whilst you have a right to requet flexible working, from where I am sitting your reasons for requesting it are on the face of it selfish. I think your employer has every right to ask what the benefits are to you (i.e. the reason you are asking for it) as well as to them. Apart from anything else they have a duty of care to you so if you were asking for flexible working due to a caring role - they would want to know so they can support you. It also may mean becuase you are not in a caring role that they would only allow you to do so on the understanding you reverted to 5 days per week working when required to do so.

Your reasons for wanting a compressed 4 day week could be easily met by a flexible working day where you agree to available within certain core hours, working longer and shorter days as required to a) meet the needs of the business and b) release you from work to go to your Drs appointments etc.

Or by working from home one day per week - you would still be available to your employer, you could still get your washing done, nip to the doctors etc but they would still have you available 5 days per week.

KL.

agrinnall

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Which president? Lincoln?

Aside from that, why not just tow the line and do it, do you really want to put your managers back up and make it more difficult for yourself?

Toe the line...

:rotfl:

getmore4less

are any 4 days are fine eg Mon,Tue,Thur,Fri.

Also you do realise you will only get 4/5 of the holiday allowance.

For a 28day allowance where you normaly get 8 bh allocated and 20 free days.

in 2014 with a wed off schedule that would be 22.4 days with 7 allocated 15.4 free

bugslet

Whilst it isn't a legal requirement for you to give your reasons why, then I don't see the problem in an employer asking. As T Bagpuss said, it might give them an understanding of where you are coming from and maybe come up with a halfway compromise.

I'm not sure if there is a precedent set entirely as you say it is senior staff, there would be an argument possibly that it's a benefit for those of a different grade.

Takeaway_Addict

agrinnall wrote: »

Toe the line...

:rotfl:

At least mine technically reads correct.

Takeaway_Addict

For those saying 'what if's' about people that care...well at the end of the day it's not really the OP's issue and it shouldn't stop the OP applying when they have a right to.