What is a fair reason to ask your employer to work part time when you are a male in their 20s?

wilkinson45

The real reason is I want to set up my own business, but do not want to tell my employer this.

Ja7188

Why don't you want to tell them? Also, what happens if your boss happens to enlist the services of the business you're setting up...?

Am I misinterpreting, or are you asking for advice on the best/ most plausible lie to tell your employer?

CP26

My reason was simply wellbeing and work/life balance. I was late 20s when I asked to drop a few hours and I've been working that way for 3 years now.

My reason was genuine but I didn't have to go into detail about why during the process to make it seem more valid. But I am lucky to have a very good manager who is pro more flexible ways of working.

wilkinson45

Hi Jay,

Yes, I guess you could put it that way, I am asking for the most plausible lie to tell my employer. The business would be selling to other businesses so is highly unlikely of them knowing.

elsien

Do they want another part time worker? Because if they don't, it's not going to matter what reason you give.

Masomnia

You should check your contract to see what provisions there are for alternative employment.

Otherwise it's really business dependent as to whether they will allow it or not.

Savvy_Sue

Anyone can make a flexible working request, and the reasons for making the request are irrelevant and do not need to be stated.

What matters is 'the needs of the business', and if you can show how your job can be done in less time you'll reduce the likelihood of them turning you down.

Start here and work your way through.

Is there anyone working part-time who'd like to mop your hours up? Might you consider working compressed hours, ie four long days instead of five shorter ones? These all strengthen your request.

HOWEVER, please check your employment contract. Many state that you must tell your employer if you're taking up other employment or running your own business - does yours?

TELLIT01

If there is any 'slack' in the company you are working for they may be pleased to reduce your hours. I wouldn't lie to them about the reason you want to reduce your hours unless you are planning to set up a business which will be in direct competition with your current employer.

stator

Caring for a sick relative would be a common reason.

Undervalued

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Anyone can make a flexible working request, and the reasons for making the request are irrelevant and do not need to be stated.

What matters is 'the needs of the business', and if you can show how your job can be done in less time you'll reduce the likelihood of them turning you down.

Start here and work your way through.

Is there anyone working part-time who'd like to mop your hours up? Might you consider working compressed hours, ie four long days instead of five shorter ones? These all strengthen your request.

HOWEVER, please check your employment contract. Many state that you must tell your employer if you're taking up other employment or running your own business - does yours?

Quite.

The part I have highlighted is often forgotten or misunderstood. You can make such a request once a year and your employer must consider it and your reason for making it shouldn't influence their decision. However it is very easy for an employer to turn such a request down for business reasons.

You are much more likely to be successful if you present your employer with a solution rather than a problem to solve.

Also, pay careful attention to Sue's last paragraph.