Working Families - Flexible Working Guide
Working Families - Flexible Working Guide
When
When timing your request make sure you leave enough time for the right to request flexible working procedure to be worked through. The whole procedure, including an appeal, can take 12 weeks so you need to ask quite early on. Even if you are not planning to use the right to request procedure, you may need time to make childcare arrangements and settle your child in to their new childcare, so it makes sense to ask early.
How
Decide on whether you want to deliver your proposal verbally, in a letter, e-mail or on the right to request flexible working form. There are no rights and wrongs here. Think about the personalities involved and use the method you feel is most likely to succeed. Even if you are going to make your proposal verbally, it is still worth writing down what you plan to say and reading it out to a friend to see how it sounds.
Make sure you are well prepared and give your boss a chance to think and prepare as well. A successful negotiation is one in which both sides feel they have come away with something. You will start things off on a bad footing if you approach your employer without any warning and expect him/her to discuss it there and then.
If you do end up bringing a legal case against your employer it is useful to have written evidence in the form of letters, e-mails etc. so keep copies of everything you send and receive. You can also use evidence of conversations about your request so you should keep detailed, dated notes of these - made and dated as soon as possible after the conversation took place.
ACTION POINT
If you are on maternity leave, what date is 12 weeks before your return date?
How and when are you going to make your request?
Have you requested the right to request flexible working pack from the DTI publications? Call 0870 1502 500 and ask for ref 03/524 . You can print the application form from the website (ref no 03/569X)