Flexitime

wayme

Hello

I have been working on Flexitime for over a year now. I will just fill you in on the history:

Firstly, I never asked for flexible working. About a year ago the company moved from about 5 mins down the road from me to a 40 min + journey for me.

So it was offered to me that I could start work between 8 - 9, and then leave 4 - 5. I accepted as this would be good for me so that I could miss all of the traffic on the roads on my way to / from work.

I work in a warehouse (the only person employed in the warehouse) and so I was specifically told that as long as I had finished all of the parcels that needed to be sent and they were ready in the warehouse to be collected by the DPD driver then it wouldn't be a problem.


So, on Tuesday I arrived at 7:40 and left work at 4. To my knowledge this is the first time that I have left as early as 4. Nearly everyday I leave at half 4. I have had a meeting today where I have been informed that I am no longer allowed to leave any earlier then 4:30 because on the Tuesday an employee from upstairs had to come down to let the courier driver in just after i'd left (as explained above, I was expressly told that this wouldn't be a problem and this is the first time it's happened) also other employees have seen that I have left before them (I think that they are all contracted to 9 - 5 and all live locally) and have also been asking to leave early. I have been told that because of these reasons and because they want to bring me in line with everyone else that I am no longer allowed to leave before 4:30 as was the agreement.

My question is: Are they allowed to just take the flexible working away like that? Are the reasons they have given sufficient? I know it's only half an hour, but I have a feeling that they are wanting to take away the flexible working altogether. I have told them that I am more then happy to wait to leave until after the courier has been.

Sorry for the essay, I have a tendency to waffle on!

Thanks

Savvy_Sue

What do you have in writing about the agreement?

mountainofdebt

tbh it sounds as if you were onto a good thing which has now been curtailed.

Yes life was made more difficult for you when the firm moved but at the end of the day they didn't have to offer you the informal flexitime that they did.

ashtonwn4

I totally get what you mean but.........

Quote: I work in a warehouse (the only person employed in the warehouse)

Exactly how big is this warehouse? A shed?

TELLIT01

If it was an informal agreement, with nothing in writing, I don't see what you can do to stop them enforcing your normal working hours. You do say they are OK with you leaving at 4:30 which is still earlier than everybody else.
If you can get that in writing I would be inclined to accept it as something of win for both sides.

Savvy_Sue

Giving this a bit of thought while we wait for the OP to return ...

If not already in a trade union, now would be the time to join. They probably won't want to help if it becomes an immediate issue, but if it rumbles on for a bit you may be very glad of their support.

How are hours recorded? Do you complete a daily timesheet? If not, how does anyone know what hours you are actually doing?

Is there a method for making suggestions in the workplace? From where I'm sitting, and having had so many years on flexitime I'd loathe going back to fixed hours, it might be advantageous to suggest a formal scheme for everyone.

Where I work now it's fairly informal, but the record keeping side of it is well organised. It's a huge advantage to everyone for medical and other appointments, even haircuts!