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Can my colleague discuss my flexible working contract with my manager?

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  • Emmia
    Emmia Posts: 5,486 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Your colleague may have their own private reasons for wanting a flexible working arrangement, for example personal health concerns, caring responsibilities, a desire to study, etc.

    I think they can cite you as an example of someone who also has this arrangement, on the basis that theirs isnt the first request, and the company has previously accomodated a request for flexible arrangements. 

    Personally I think just as your reasons for flexible working are private, theirs may also be private - you're not losing out...
  • Emmia said:
    Your colleague may have their own private reasons for wanting a flexible working arrangement, for example personal health concerns, caring responsibilities, a desire to study, etc.

    I think they can cite you as an example of someone who also has this arrangement, on the basis that theirs isnt the first request, and the company has previously accomodated a request for flexible arrangements. 

    Personally I think just as your reasons for flexible working are private, theirs may also be private - you're not losing out...

    I agree and people should advocate for their own needs/interests. However, I don't want my colleague telling me that they intend to use my arrangement as an example for why they should be allowed if their request is rejected. At this stage, I don't need to know, but I'm unsure what my colleague is trying to achieve by disclosing this to me. I'd rather not know, and for them to pursue what they need to.
  • Emmia
    Emmia Posts: 5,486 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 25 July 2023 at 10:33PM
    Emmia said:
    Your colleague may have their own private reasons for wanting a flexible working arrangement, for example personal health concerns, caring responsibilities, a desire to study, etc.

    I think they can cite you as an example of someone who also has this arrangement, on the basis that theirs isnt the first request, and the company has previously accomodated a request for flexible arrangements. 

    Personally I think just as your reasons for flexible working are private, theirs may also be private - you're not losing out...

    I agree and people should advocate for their own needs/interests. However, I don't want my colleague telling me that they intend to use my arrangement as an example for why they should be allowed if their request is rejected. At this stage, I don't need to know, but I'm unsure what my colleague is trying to achieve by disclosing this to me. I'd rather not know, and for them to pursue what they need to.
    Then tell them that you don't want to discuss the reason for your arrangements for personal reasons, and you don't have any interest in their request.

    However, you cant stop them referring to you, and your arrangements as a general example of another employee who has a different pattern.
  • gwynlas
    gwynlas Posts: 2,209 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Managers are not automatons and if they lack professional HR advice might inadvertently divulge personal circumstances for working arrangements. It often deoends on the size of the workforce whether needs can  be accomodated so be prepared for disgruntlement should colleagues wants be refused
  • housebuyer143
    housebuyer143 Posts: 4,233 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Go to your manager and make sure they are aware that this colleague may bring up your circumstances and you do not want them to discuss any personal information with that person. 
    You can't stop someone referring to you in a meeting or telling things that are common knowledge. They are not going to take your flexibile working away from you. 
  • TBagpuss
    TBagpuss Posts: 11,236 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Your colleague is free to cite your hours / arrangement when advocating for flexible working for themselves. However, the fact that you have flexible arrangements doesn't automatically mean that she will be entitled to the same. The employre has an obligation to consider the request and to asses it in a reasonable way (which might include considering how other requests have been dealt with. 
    They are however permitted to refuse and the grounds for refusal are where granting the request would not be practical because of one or more of the following 
    • extra costs that will damage the business
    • the work cannot be reorganised among other staff
    • people cannot be recruited to do the work
    • flexible working will affect quality and performance
    • the business will not be able to meet customer demand
    • there’s a lack of work to do during the proposed working times
    • the business is planning changes to the workforce
    Sometimes the fact that other people already have flexible hours can result in one of these - for instance, it not being possible to reorganise the work to other staff or it will mean that the business can't meet demands (this is particularly likely to be an issue where the job needs a specific level of coverage - if you need to have someone available 9-5 and you already have people with flexible hours who works 10-4 or 8-3 or don't work Fridays then it may not be possible to agree another request from someone wanting flexible hours that let them finish at 4.

    Your manager should not discuss personal details about *why* you were granted the flexible hours - if you are concerned about that you can of course speak to your manager or to R to mention that you are aware that your coworker is intending to cite your hours to support her request, and that while you are of course not involved in the decision making process you just want to check that your personal information including any details of the reasons for your arrangements will continue to be kept confidential. 
    All posts are my personal opinion, not formal advice Always get proper, professional advice (particularly about anything legal!)
  • TBagpuss said:

    Your manager should not discuss personal details about *why* you were granted the flexible hours - if you are concerned about that you can of course speak to your manager or to R to mention that you are aware that your coworker is intending to cite your hours to support her request, and that while you are of course not involved in the decision making process you just want to check that your personal information including any details of the reasons for your arrangements will continue to be kept confidential. 
    Thanks. This is the part that is important for me. I think I was taken back by my colleagues brazen attitude, and whilst I accept they can discuss aspects of my arrangement, it's important to me that they realise their is a boundary with discussing why I was granted what I was. 
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,918 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    The colleague can say anything they want, but the manager should shut down that conversation immediately.  The OP is absolutely correct that all decision are made on an individual basis.
  • theoretica
    theoretica Posts: 12,690 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You can tell your colleague you don't want to have that conversation with them - just as you can for any other conversation with the usual risks of being misunderstood or taken poorly, or just try to change the topic.
    But looking at what other people have and asking 'why not me' is natural - I know he is paid X, I want a payrise or justify why my work is worth less...  she gets an ergonomic chair, what do I need to do to get one too?  Hoping for what you have to be exempt from such requests is honestly simply unrealistic.  But you can expect your employer to handle discussions professionally.
    But a banker, engaged at enormous expense,
    Had the whole of their cash in his care.
    Lewis Carroll
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 47,262 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It's for your colleague to justify how their request can be accommodated, and 'blue does xyz' isn't much of an argument. Waiting until it's been turned down to raise your circumstances as justification just shows they don't really know what they're doing.  Prepare for disgruntlement and make clear to all that your arrangement is made with the employer, and no-one else's business 
    Signature removed for peace of mind
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