Asking for Flexible Working

sineadmcn

Hi everyone,

I currently work Mon-Fri with every other Sat so I work 5 day week, 6 day week, 5 day week etc.

Before I went on maternity leave my boss (who has since left the business) suggested that I take Mondays working at home as part of my job is computer based and it would not affect the business, it would in fact help as it would get all the computer based stuff done all in one day.

I put in a letter requesting that the temporary member of staff that had been covering my Saturdays whilst I was on maternity leave remained employed to cover one of Saturdays in the month and I would work the other. Instead of working 2 a month I could work 1 a month. I also asked that I could use my leave and stagger my return to a 3 day week until Christmas.

I left in my letter in July and heard nothing back. There is a temporary boss in place at the minute.

It has left me feeling stressed as I don't know where I stand so I emailed the temporary boss to ask to meet. He told me that week I was back would be ok. I told him I need to book the child in with the childminder and they needed to know how many days he would be coming and requested he see me sooner.

Also, he alluded to the fact the I couldn't do my job from home (I have a letter stating that was agreed). He said he would chat about my working arrangements now I have a child.

Where do I stand. I know I should wait to see what he says but I am so stressed. Is there anything I can state to him regarding not being informed or talked to about my flexible requested letter. There will be no cost to the business, infact they would save money as I earn more per hour than the temporary member of staff. Should I tell him that he has caused stress because he ignored my request? Am I expecting too much to get one Saturday off? I do think that spending only 1 full day at the weekend with my child twice a month wouldn't be ideal.

Thanks in advance.

DomRavioli

Flexible working requests are exactly that - requests. The person who wrote the letter re: working from home isn't there so it is at the discretion of your line manager (regardless of how temporary you think they are).

As you have something in writing, that has to be taken into account, however without the exact wording of the letter known it is impossible to say where you stand. Perhaps speak to the CAB for some free advice, but you would need someone to look at both that and any contract you have to determine your position and the steps that need to be taken.

Savvy_Sue

Do you have an HR dept? If you do, use them.

When are you expecting to start back?

Did you make it clear this was a formal flexible working request?

sineadmcn

No unfortunately I don't have a HR department. I mentioned in my return to work letter that I would like to return early and stagger my return. I then asked them give consideration to a request and mentioned how it would benefit the company, save them money and benefit my family.

sineadmcn

Sorry I am back in 4 weeks.

Nickynoo1

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

If you put in a statutory request they must deal with it in a resonable manner and respond in writing to you.

I asked my line manager verbally for a change in hours and was turned down. I then did a statutory request, detailed with my argument for it, the impact on the business and how any problems could be overcome. This then went to the next level of managment and it was agreed.

It helps to have it written down exactly how you think it would work and be beneficial for both yourself and the business
Nickynoo1

sineadmcn

Thanks for your reply. I wrote it down in my return to work letter so hope it has been taken as a statutory request. I rxpedter a phone call or meeting to discuss but didn't get any acknowlegdement. I think he was waiting until I actually returned to work to discuss.

Great that you got it sorted out.

onlyroz

Regarding the day you would like to work from home - do you have childcare in place for this day? I requested a similar thing when my daughter was a baby and I was told that this wouldn't be acceptable unless I had childcare in place for that day - otherwise I would be attempting to juggle my job and the childcare at the same time, which would not be good for either myself or the company.