Flexible working hours for parents

fagin101

Hi

Essentially I'm after some feedback about Flexible working hours, but it's a little more complicated than that:

Am not sure if I'm on the receiving end of workplace bullying, gross negligence or a lack of understanding for flexible working hoursfor parents, so any advice would be helpful.

The story is as follows:
Am a working father of two wonderful young girls, 7 and 2, and my wife works, too.
My wife has contract work and leaves early to start work early to leave early to collect the children from childcare, and I do the school and nursery run in the mornings, summer holidays a little easier, thankfully!
Now the problem is this, my 'boss' is haranguing me for time keeping, they say they understand my position but would prefer I work 9 - 5:30, and to get the childcare sorted as "hr will say childcare is not their problem". And only the other week I was presented with a spreadsheet of my arrival and leaving times, patronizing, no?

On another matter, my time keeping was cited as the only reason my pay "rise" of 2% was reduced by 0.5% to 1.5%.

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what I may be able to do? All the management are a cosy bunch so feel I can't go to anyone as none of them want to rock the boat or jeopardise their own positions. Is this work place bullying to get their own way? Is it gross negligence that they're not following the law (admittedly, i haven't read the terms of flexible working hours for parents on the gov.uk website, but am hoping for some expert advice from you guys!)

My line manager is fully aware of my situation as I'm updating him every other week of my childcare situation (seems a bit personal for me to be doing so, but I feel that it dampens the flames).

I also feel stressed in the mornings and am charging around and driving like a lunatic I get the train to work to be in on time to avoid the embarassing calls to have a meeting about time keeping and then explain myself all over again. And on most mornings if I'm running late I feel the need to have to text and explain myself.

Colleagues past and present as well as friends and family have said I should take time off for stress as ultimately that's what they're doing to me and my family situation. But I'm too conscientious to do such a thing.

I'm a hard worker by anyone's standards (not blowing my win trumpet, but I believe an honest pay for an honest days work) and I make up the time I am in late and take shorter lunch breaks all to ensure I'm on track for my full time hours each week.

Even whilst typing this I can feel the stress levels rising (on a Monday morning, too!)

Am I unfairly done by or is it a matter of 'rules are rules'?

Thanks

pjcox2005

I could be wrong but effectively I think it's you in the wrong and the company sound like they've been pretty reasonable considering you keep turning up late.

Parents (and now all individuals) have the right to request formal flexible working but the company do not have to grant it. They don't get automatic flexibility to come and go at different times if the company have already said this is an issue.

I would suggest that you either see if you can agree a formal request to be in at say 9.30 each day so that they know when to expect you as currently it sounds quite varied and that could be creating the issue, or look to see if you can have a childminder or drop your children off slightly earlier.

Not ideal I appreciate but I'm sure many parents have to work around specific working hours regularly.

Takeaway_Addict

fagin101 wrote: »

Hi

Essentially I'm after some feedback about Flexible working hours, but it's a little more complicated than that:

Am not sure if I'm on the receiving end of workplace bullying, gross negligence or a lack of understanding for flexible working hoursfor parents, so any advice would be helpful. I notice you don't include that you could just be not doing your job properly....

The story is as follows:
Am a working father of two wonderful young girls, 7 and 2, and my wife works, too.
My wife has contract work and leaves early to start work early to leave early to collect the children from childcare, and I do the school and nursery run in the mornings, summer holidays a little easier, thankfully!
Now the problem is this, my 'boss' is haranguing me for time keeping, they say they understand my position but would prefer I work 9 - 5:30, and to get the childcare sorted as "hr will say childcare is not their problem". And only the other week I was presented with a spreadsheet of my arrival and leaving times, patronizing, no?If you're meant to be in at 9 then get in at 9 surely. It isn't HR's issue if you have children, get them up 10 minutes earlier?

On another matter, my time keeping was cited as the only reason my pay "rise" of 2% was reduced by 0.5% to 1.5%.

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what I may be able to do? All the management are a cosy bunch so feel I can't go to anyone as none of them want to rock the boat or jeopardise their own positions. Is this work place bullying to get their own way? Is it gross negligence that they're not following the law (admittedly, i haven't read the terms of flexible working hours for parents on the gov.uk website, but am hoping for some expert advice from you guys!) Considering you probably haven't even applied for flexible working formally then they don't even have to consider the law.

My line manager is fully aware of my situation as I'm updating him every other week of my childcare situation (seems a bit personal for me to be doing so, but I feel that it dampens the flames).

I also feel stressed in the mornings and am charging around and driving like a lunatic I get the train to work to be in on time to avoid the embarassing calls to have a meeting about time keeping and then explain myself all over again. And on most mornings if I'm running late I feel the need to have to text and explain myself. As you should, you are not honouring your contract by the sounds of it.

Colleagues past and present as well as friends and family have said I should take time off for stress as ultimately that's what they're doing to me and my family situation. But I'm too conscientious to do such a thing.

I'm a hard worker by anyone's standards (not blowing my win trumpet, but I believe an honest pay for an honest days work) and I make up the time I am in late and take shorter lunch breaks all to ensure I'm on track for my full time hours each week.

Even whilst typing this I can feel the stress levels rising (on a Monday morning, too!)

Am I unfairly done by or is it a matter of 'rules are rules'?

Thanks

In my view the employer is being hard done by, they are expecting you to do the job you were employed for and yet you fail to do the basic thing of getting in on time.

You then seem to blame everyone else apart from yourself.

Whilst you probably don't appreciate what i have said I would suggest you put a formal request in for flexible working with a starting time that you can actually achieve. For Example if you are 9-5 then ask for new hours of 9.30-5.30. The employer has to consider this but they still can refuse it under certain conditions.

GwylimT

Personally I don't know any employers who wouldn't be annoyed by a member of staff showing up late on a regular basis. Can you not just leave the house earlier in the morning or get a childminder.

tea_lover

So you turn up late for work everday and you think it's bullying for your employer to mention this?? I can't believe you got a payrise at all with that attitude.

liney

You do not have any 'flexible working hours' in place just because you are a parent: you have to make an official request and have it agreed by the company. Your contracted hours are 9am - 5.30pm. Your place of work has noticed you are not fulfilling your contracted hours and has proven this by presenting you with evidence that this is the case: it is not patronising, it is a fair warning to improve or this will be taken further.

You do not have 'flexitime' in place, so no you can't arrive a few mins late because you are a parent. If you are running late, which should be once in a blue moon, then of course you should be ringing work to inform them.

You are entitled to ask for 'flexible working' which does not mean turning up when you fancy, but an official re-negotiation of hours. The company can refuse this request on the basis of business needs not being met, ie there is a very good reason that you need to be at work at 9am. However, they may consider a request with a later start time if it means you will arrive as contracted, as they are obviously annoyed at your continued tardiness

pmlindyloo

It is not exactly clear from your post whether you are on flexitime or not. This is different from flexible working hours.

So, what are your contracted times/what has been agreed with your employers?

BobQ

fagin101 wrote: »

Hi

Essentially I'm after some feedback about Flexible working hours, but it's a little more complicated than that:

OP. Flexible Working is a permanent change in your terms of employment (unless it is defined as a temporary one at the outset). It is not an ad hoc arrangement.

At present you have defined terms of reference that include contracted hours that you are expected to work to. It follows that any failure to do so is a breach of contract. It is your line manager's job to check you work those hours.

FW is not an excuse to work less hours than your contract. It exists to enable you to vary your times by agreement while still working the same number of hours in your contract.

It can be used to work different fixed hours or to provide more flexibility on different days. But it does not need to be as generous as to let you come and go as you pleases. An employer might define core hours for example.

Have a look at:

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/overview

By all means have a chat with your line manager but if you have childcare responsibilities you have statutory rights. But you must apply for FW formally in writing, and make clear it is a statutory request. Your line manager cannot reject the application because HR will not like it and in law he cannot stop you making the application.

Your employer (not your line manager) must formally consider the application. Where chidcare issues arise they cannot refuse the application without providing a business reason for doing so.

It is quite plausible the employer has a good reason for refusing an application but it must consider the request by you in the context of your job. For example if your job must be performed between fixed hours and is not required outside of say 9-5.

Have a look at the ACAS guidance. Your HR people will understand the law and the ACAS guidance which they will wish to follow.

You should try not to give your employer a reason to refuse. For example, if it were possible to let you start at 10am each day but there was no one to supervise you after 1730, they might trust you, but they might not if you fail to work to your current hours.

Do other staff have FW and do they do a similar job? Do some female colleagues have it?

Am not sure if I'm on the receiving end of workplace bullying, gross negligence or a lack of understanding for flexible working hoursfor parents, so any advice would be helpful.

Before bandying such terms around you ought to understand what they mean

http://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=306&p=0

If your female colleagues are getting FW terms, it could be harassment which is illegal.

Now the problem is this, my 'boss' is haranguing me for time keeping, they say they understand my position but would prefer I work 9 - 5:30, and to get the childcare sorted as "hr will say childcare is not their problem". And only the other week I was presented with a spreadsheet of my arrival and leaving times, patronizing, no?

No. Your line manager is concerned you are not doing your job and is supposed to check. If the hours recorded are incorrect and posted on a noticeboard, that would be bullying, but just telling you to do your job when you are not doing it is fair. Legally such evidence is potentially a precursor to dismissal.

That said if they are offering you an alternative working pattern they are trying to help. What hours would suit you? Would they work for the job?

The line manager may not understand the law on FW but HR will.

On another matter, my time keeping was cited as the only reason my pay "rise" of 2% was reduced by 0.5% to 1.5%.

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what I may be able to do?

Work you contracted hours, attend on time, show you are reliable.

All the management are a cosy bunch so feel I can't go to anyone as none of them want to rock the boat or jeopardise their own positions. Is this work place bullying to get their own way? Is it gross negligence that they're not following the law (admittedly, i haven't read the terms of flexible working hours for parents on the gov.uk website, but am hoping for some expert advice from you guys!)

No it is not bullying. They are using disciplinary measures to curtail the failings of a member of staff who is failing to comply with their contract.

My line manager is fully aware of my situation as I'm updating him every other week of my childcare situation (seems a bit personal for me to be doing so, but I feel that it dampens the flames).

Being aware of your situation does not mean you can break your contract. They seem to have a better opinion of you than you have of them. What hours would fit in with your needs? Would they work in the job? Discuss this with them. Not your problems. What is your solution?

I also feel stressed in the mornings and am charging around and driving like a lunatic I get the train to work to be in on time to avoid the embarassing calls to have a meeting about time keeping and then explain myself all over again. And on most mornings if I'm running late I feel the need to have to text and explain myself.

Colleagues past and present as well as friends and family have said I should take time off for stress as ultimately that's what they're doing to me and my family situation. But I'm too conscientious to do such a thing.

Your employer obviously sympathises with your stress levels but the employer is running a business and cannot ignore your inefficient behaviour just because you have children. They seem to be quite tolerant at present but some employers would sack you for such behaviour.

I'm a hard worker by anyone's standards (not blowing my win trumpet, but I believe an honest pay for an honest days work) and I make up the time I am in late and take shorter lunch breaks all to ensure I'm on track for my full time hours each week.

Even whilst typing this I can feel the stress levels rising (on a Monday morning, too!)

Am I unfairly done by or is it a matter of 'rules are rules'?

There are lots of hard working people around but employers need people they can rely on. When you do not turn up who is affected?

Do you have evidence that you make up time? Your line manager has arrival and leaving times. Does this support the fact you are working late?

I do not think you are being bullied, harassed or treated unfairly, apart form your line manager advising that HR would not like FW.

I would formally apply for FW and explain that it is a statutory request. Suggest the hours you want to attend and assure them that with these arrangements you will be a much better timekeeper. You may find that they refuse because you are unreliable. Or they may offer you the chance to trial this for a month.

BobQ

pmlindyloo wrote: »

It is not exactly clear from your post whether you are on flexitime or not. This is different from flexible working hours.

So, what are your contracted times/what has been agreed with your employers?

I think OP is on a standard hours contract but failing to work to it.

duchy

Are you the only parent in your workplace?
Maybe you need to rethink your childcare so it fits your working patterns properly.
I worked full time when my son was small . My husbands working hours meant it was down to me to get our son to nursery or school and then myself to work. The same as you. My contract had agreed work hours so it was down to me to make sure it was do able and I arranged childcare accordingly. It meant that on the rare occasions I was late my employer was far more understanding than if I was late all the time.

Is the problem that you don't leave early enough or is it that the start time for school and nursery don't allow you enough time to arrive at work on time ?

If it is the former then you need to be better organized, get the kids up earlier, lay out clothes the night before etc, if it's the latter you need to request formally a later start time and if that is refused (as it often is as it is detrimental to the business) then you probably need to look at changing your childcare arrangements or your wife's working pattern.

I'd be pretty miffed if I worked with someone who was consistently late for work adding to my workload and thought I should be covering for them just because they had kids. You should be working the hours you are paid for and instead of slagging off your employer be glad they aren't deducting wages every time you are late. The fact you got a pay rise at all is impressive! The fact they are taking note and putting it on a spreadsheet is a sign they may be gathering evidence for a disciplinary so you need to sort things out now!

Ultimately you chose to have kids and to have both of you working so it is your responsibility as a family to make your lifestyle work ......just as I and every other working parent does.

It isn't your employer causing you stress it is your own lack of organization. Give yourself a workable schedule instead of one that leaves you no wriggle room and the stress will disappear.

agrinnall

fagin101 wrote: »

admittedly, i haven't read the terms of flexible working hours for parents on the gov.uk website

This is the root of your problem, I suggest that you take a bit of time to educate yourself on what flexible working is, then you might have a better understanding of why your boss is unhappy with you.

I think what you want is flexitime, so that it doesn't matter if you're a few minutes late as long as you work core hours and do your contracted hours. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like that's what your employer wants, so if you can't stick to their requirements perhaps you should start looking for another job where flexitime is available.