Since the new laws came in in April, has anybody had a refusal for a request to work Flexible hours at all or have you been successful ?

Would like to know what you did and what the outcome was if you don't mind sharing it with me.

Thanks

Lucy

I have mentioned to my boss that it is something I may be interested in & he was very nice & is more than happy to discuss it further, when I want to.
I think after the new year I'll be speaking to him about it.  :)

That is nice that he seems open to it !

Shame all employers aren't !

Hi Lucy
just touched on this in my H&S Diploma course
Are you wanting to discuss your working hours with the "boss" ?
Think it depends on he Company how its interpreted - some are much more "family friendly" than others .
Lel

Yes it is but I am having to go down the legal route :(

The company policy is an extremly good policy on paper but not in practice it seems !

Is it about returning to work after Indigo ??
Have you looked at this -
http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/20020022.htm
Lel

I have an 2 people in my team who are soon due to go on Maternity leave and have both requested flexible working when they return.  I know the application they have to complete is very indepth however the key thing to remember is it 'must suit the business needs of the company also' ie. we are only open 8am till 6pm Mon to Fri so the hours requested needs to be within those times.  Also if they are only looking to work 3 days as opposed to 5 we can request they do not work on our quietest day ie. Wednesday.  I do have an information pack on flexible working I can mail you if you like however won't be able to do so until I go back on Monday.

Yes it is.

I have something similar from the solicitor but not in such depth and have all the extensive policies from work so have all my ammo but will have to wait and see how it progresses.

It is a shame as there is no need really for the situation to get to this stage and I am amazed it has !

As a Manager myself would take any request from my staff seriously and follow the company procedure it is shame it has not so far been the same for me. :)

Thanks

Lucy
xx

Solicitors are funny people - they can give the advice but do not always want to follow it themselves :D :D I have only ever worked for them and the firm I am at now is too small for me personally to do flexi hours. Some of the other girls can but I think it also depends on who you work for at the company you are with - obviously not always a law firm :p :p

Gina

Edited to say that I wasnt thinking that you worked for a solicitor (just me)!! :)

Interesting Gina why do you say the firm is too small for you to do flexi time ?

Lucy
xx

There are only 4 of us in the family dept. I work for the partner my friend for the assistant sol. My friend works flexi time (more or less) as she has children and leaves at 3pm and as it is such a busy dept there is no way I could work anything other than 9.30 to 5pm. I worked for 20 years for a large London solicitors and worked for one of the senior partners there - there was NO WAY he would ever have let me do flexi time. They were not a good firm to work for if you left to have children as they didnt really want you back again and even one of the lady partners was "made" to leave rather than work shorter hours or less days a week. I hope they are now in the 21st century but I bet they are not they will find some way round it.

Gina

Surely in circmstances like this they would have to take on another employee part time ???
I think it is easier to change your working hours if you are on shiftwork because then the employer can move you to a day shift for example to make it easier for your childcare arrangements and such like.
I havent read enough of the Act to be able to interpret it fully but with a lot of these Acts it usually comes down to what is seen as "reasonable" by the employer . This word has a million different meanings depending on the individual. :rolleyes:

By the way how is he/she  covering your maternity leave now ??

You may know this already but incase you dont- this is taken from the Act itself
Employer's duties in relation to application under section 80F (flexibleworking)
 
       An employer to whom an application under section 80F is made- 
( which I presume you have)
 
   shall only refuse the application because he considers that one or more of the following grounds applies- 
  (i) the burden of additional costs,
  (ii) detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand,
  (iii) inability to re-organise work among existing staff,
  (iv) inability to recruit additional staff,
  (v) detrimental impact on quality,
  (vi) detrimental impact on performance,
  (vii) insufficiency of work during the periods the employee proposes to work,
  (viii) planned structural changes, and
  (ix) such other grounds as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations.
     
 
  There should also be a meeting between the employer and the employee to discuss an application under section 80F within twenty eight days after the date the application is made;
Hope that helps ?