Work hours

Hi girls this is a long and deep one but desperate for advice. Before I went on maternity my manager told me I could apply for flexible working and temporarily drop my hours when I came back. Since returning I’ve had a new manager who claims to know nothing about this. I’ve applied for said flexible working and she’s quite hesitant to allow me this. I’ve spoke to HR and they’ve told me she only has a certain amount of time to confirm in writing whether she agrees or not and then I can appeal this and it goes to a panel. They’ve told me they push managers to allow flexible working and you should put in your request knowing it will get accepted unless there is a genuine business reason. You can still appeal regardless. I feel she is just being quite tight towards me. So far I’ve had no communication or written agreement or disagreement. I have asked her a number of times for it in writing so I can appeal but I get ignored? I’ve now gone off on long term sick as I’m feeling so depressed and anxious about this and also I have no childcare to return to work full time!! Anyone else going through this? Feel like I’m at my wits end and don’t know what else I’m meant to do :’(

Show your support

They have to have a genuine business reason to reject the FWA (like it needs to be shown to affect the business negatively on a regular basis) it’s very unlikely you will get it rejected due to childcare so many new things have come in to support working mums. It’s your right to reduce your hours, I know it’s hard but don’t let it get you down anymore than it is. You’re doing everything right your end.

@Elle well I had a meeting with her a few weeks back and she didn’t really say much, just kept changing the subject and didn’t seem to want to let me reduce hours. The thing that worries me is time is getting on and I know it’s a lengthy process apparently if you appeal. She has two months from when I submitted the request to answer and it will be two months next week so I will give it till then but just unsure what I do after that as it goes against policy for her if she goes over two months

Just escalate it to HR once she goes over the two months or if she rejects it. My boyfriend actually had this problem with his boss and he appealed it on the grounds that he needed to work flexibly for childcare reasons. His request was approved straight away by someone else in the company.

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