Looking to drop my hours at work, need some advice.

Ryan_W95

So i work in a call centre, sales based, outbound. Currently working between hours of 11am - 8pm. I'm looking to drop my hours so i finish around 5-6pm due to my partner looking to get a job, I have a son who is going into pre-school for 16 hours per week and I need to be able to get home to care for him so she can go to work.

I work for quite a big firm and been told by a colleague that they will invite me into a meeting, take notes and discuss it, I'm aware that I can only make one appeal per 12 months aswell so I need to be thorough in my research. I wasn't aware that I would need to give as much notice as they aparently take a few weeks to process it all and actually put it all into place...

Basically I'm looking to see what would benefit me when talking to them in order to get my hours to dropped down. I'm aware that they can deny my application and then i have to wait another 12 months which cannot happen as I need to drop the hours down.

Would documentation about the school help, letters from the job centre my partner also assist to prove to the business that it's all for a legit reason?

Thank you!

Undervalued

You have a right to request flexible working but it is fairly easy for a company to reject the request on "business grounds".

Generally it is best to try and present the company with a solution rather than a problem and to highlight any advantages they may get from agreeing to your request.

The documentation you mention may help but doesn't give you any extra rights as such.

Scorpio33

As said, they can reject it on business grounds.

So in order to prepare, do state the reasons why you want the change, but focus on (a) how the change would impact on the business and (b) how you can minimise any issues that the business would face as a result of the change. Focus on how the change would benefit the business.

I would not worry too much about documentation from the job centre etc to prove legitimacy, as the reason for the request is useful to the business when coming to a decision, but is largely irrelevant.

I would also ask what would happen if your request was rejected - ie: would you be prepared to walk away from the job?

Once you have done your research, got everything on paper, I would have a quick off the record chat with your direct supervisor and ask them for their thoughts. They may be supportive, in which case they may be able to add more weight onto your case.

Ryan_W95

Undervalued wrote: »

You have a right to request flexible working but it is fairly easy for a company to reject the request on "business grounds".

Generally it is best to try and present the company with a solution rather than a problem and to highlight any advantages they may get from agreeing to your request.

The documentation you mention may help but doesn't give you any extra rights as such.

My role is basically performance based.. I don't see how I can show them any advantages if I were to leave 2-3 hours early everyday for the rest of my employment with them.. Yeah they could hire someone else for a couple of hours, but that's more money they pay for someone that may not be able to do the job as well as I can (I know that sounds really big headed, target is 8 sales per day, I average 10-13 per day)

Scorpio33 wrote: »

As said, they can reject it on business grounds.

So in order to prepare, do state the reasons why you want the change, but focus on (a) how the change would impact on the business and (b) how you can minimise any issues that the business would face as a result of the change. Focus on how the change would benefit the business.

I would not worry too much about documentation from the job centre etc to prove legitimacy, as the reason for the request is useful to the business when coming to a decision, but is largely irrelevant.

I would also ask what would happen if your request was rejected - ie: would you be prepared to walk away from the job?

Once you have done your research, got everything on paper, I would have a quick off the record chat with your direct supervisor and ask them for their thoughts. They may be supportive, in which case they may be able to add more weight onto your case.

I basically cannot have this denied. I need to have it accepted otherwise the mrs cannot go back to work, we'd have no-one to look after my 2 year old son. So it's basically either they accept it, or I have to leave to find a job with suited hours and the flexibility that I need. I've only been with the business for 1 year now too, so I'm still within that 2 year dismissal gap where they can get rid for no reason...

Scorpio33

Ryan_W95 wrote: »

My role is basically performance based.. I don't see how I can show them any advantages if I were to leave 2-3 hours early everyday for the rest of my employment with them.. Yeah they could hire someone else for a couple of hours, but that's more money they pay for someone that may not be able to do the job as well as I can (I know that sounds really big headed, target is 8 sales per day, I average 10-13 per day)

If you are a good performer, then they won't want to lose you.

So, could you still hit the target with 2-3 hours less per day? If so, do that - the company get what is expected from you (8 sales a day), and save money on paying you less with working less hours.

Ryan_W95

Scorpio33 wrote: »

If you are a good performer, then they won't want to lose you.

So, could you still hit the target with 2-3 hours less per day? If so, do that - the company get what is expected from you (8 sales a day), and save money on paying you less with working less hours.

Yes, I tend to hit my target around 3-4pm anything else is just to help me hit my monthly target...at the moment I'm over achieveing at around 20-30 sales per month.

macca1974

As has been said, you are relying on them to be nice. It isn't something that you can force them to do as they will have a business case not to allow you to reduce your hours (i.e. they need you there selling). Also, don't forget that if they do it for you, then they are going to get loads of requests from other people wanting to do the same and that would be a pain.

I think it will be difficult for you, but my tuppence worth would be....

Demonstrate that over the past 3/6/9 months that between the hours that you want to work (i.e. the reduced hours), that you have been achieving the required 8 appointments a day. So you would be able to continue to hit your target whilst taking less salary from them. Perhaps also hint that if they can't come to some sort of arrangement, you will have to go elsewhere any they will lose your talents. Again, you know your business better than anyone else, so only you would be able to know if that was a good or bad idea!

Good luck

polgara

Ryan_W95 wrote: »

I basically cannot have this denied. I need to have it accepted otherwise the mrs cannot go back to work, we'd have no-one to look after my 2 year old son. So it's basically either they accept it, or I have to leave to find a job with suited hours and the flexibility that I need. I've only been with the business for 1 year now too, so I'm still within that 2 year dismissal gap where they can get rid for no reason...

Well there are childminders? You need to look at all the options as you may not find a job that will accommodate all your needs (with the required salary).

Ryan_W95

polgara wrote: »

Well there are childminders? You need to look at all the options as you may not find a job that will accommodate all your needs (with the required salary).

I guess that is an option I need to consider. As for the salary, I can afford to drop it down a bit if need be so would ok if i had to move to another business but I want to refrain from doing that...

getmore4less

Ryan_W95 wrote: »

My role is basically performance based.. I don't see how I can show them any advantages if I were to leave 2-3 hours early everyday for the rest of my employment with them.. Yeah they could hire someone else for a couple of hours, but that's more money they pay for someone that may not be able to do the job as well as I can (I know that sounds really big headed, target is 8 sales per day, I average 10-13 per day)
..

Do an analysis of the last 6 month to identify the most productive periods.

Hope they are not the hours you propose to cut.

If they are adjust your performance for a while and use the new analysis to justify why you can cut hours without impacting the numbers too much.

Edit: Missed you have only been there a year do the full year analysis
To show how you have increased sales and when.

TELLIT01

Ryan_W95 wrote: »

I basically cannot have this denied. I need to have it accepted otherwise the mrs cannot go back to work, we'd have no-one to look after my 2 year old son. So it's basically either they accept it, or I have to leave to find a job with suited hours and the flexibility that I need. I've only been with the business for 1 year now too, so I'm still within that 2 year dismissal gap where they can get rid for no reason...

I understand your problem, but it is just that - your problem. They don't have to agree to reduced hours simply because you need them in order for your wife to return to work.
If you are as good as you claim, and I have no reason not to believe you, they may acknowledge that they are better having you there for fewer hours rather than no hours at all, but there is no guarantee that they will think that way.
When I wanted to reduce my hours, I let my line manager know that I was looking at two options; reducing my hours to 28 hours per week, or reducing them to zero. It wasn't intended as a threat, and I made that plain. It was simply that for personal reasons I was finding working full time hours more and more of a struggle. I did get my reduced hours, although some senior managers did try to block it.