Wife Working Part Time...

MrsTinks

alwaysonthego wrote: »

you do not have the right to cut your hours, you have the right to ask to cut your hours, there is a difference. The work place have to follow procedures before they accept or turn down the request.

Correct - If the company can justify why working part time hours is not possible or practical then they can refuse to let you reduce your hours. But they have to justify it. I thought my company had more than enough reason to justify why we couldn't let someone reduce to part time and they decided the risk of her turning it all legal was too great so backed down.
I'd be careful though because it more than likely WILL cause a LOT of bad feeling with other coleagues who have to pick up the extra work and will find things a lot less flexible because of ONE person getting what will be seen as special treatment...

It may be that it's better long term to look for a part time job instead...

Savvy_Sue

A drop of 8 hours is a day's work. If the company feel that they would need to take on someone to pick up that work, it's probably not worthwhile for them. And if those 8 hours work don't need doing, how many other cuts could be made?

When I wanted to cut hours, I made suggestions about how this could be done without affecting the business too badly, and I would suggest that is the way to go.

Paparika

The law has changed somewhat over the years to help parents.
Good luck with it tho, keep pushing and don't let the company force her

DaisyFlower

Your wife only has the right to request the change in hours, not the automatic right to have them granted.

From her employers point of view, finding a job share person to cover from 3pm to 5.30pm Tuesdays to Fridays will be a nightmare. Another mum is unlikely to want those hours as its school pickup time.

Did she detail how her dropping those hours could be covered? Is she expecting the others to pick up the extra work etc?

Its all to easy to see things from our own point of view when making these requests whilst forgetting that it may not suit the business at all.

They have at least compromised half way which puts them in a good legal light should she appeal.

Maybe if she can condense her hours into 2.5 days a week they would be willing to find a job share for the remainder of the week - there are possible other options to look at. If all else fails, she can look for another job where the hours suit upon applying.

galvanizersbaby

Hi Jasons

I work in a large IT organisation and they too promote a flexible work/life balance - it would be very unusual for them to formally turn down such a request - your wife may find when it does go to appeal they will grant her the part time hours.
Failing that is a move to another department an option?