Working Families - Flexible Working Guide
Working Families - Flexible Working Guide
Thinking about applying for flexible working? This interactive guide will help you consider what arrangements would be realistic for you, your family and your workplace. By working through the guide we hope you will end up with a firm proposal on flexible working which has the maximum chance of success.
There are several different pieces to the flexible working jigsaw, each of which is vital to the success of a new arrangement. It's a good idea to look at all the aspects of your situation at the beginning - there is no point in negotiating a great arrangement at work but then finding you can't get childcare at the times you have agreed. Please do ring our freephone helpline on 0800 013 0313 to discuss any of the areas raised in the guide.
The elements which we usually think of when considering flexible working are listed below. Start by jotting down the headings and adding any of your own - for example, health or commuting time and cost. Next, click on the headings which interest you, working though the action points and discussing with other people who will be affected (childcarers, partner-if you have one, older children, etc). When you have worked through all the headings which are relevant to you scroll down to "Preparing your Proposal for Flexible Working".
THE LAW - what can you insist on at work? What does your employer have to offer you in terms of flexible working?
WORK - there may be limits on what you can and cannot do which are dictated by the nature of your job. This may lead you to apply for a particular type of flexible working, or it may ultimately lead you to think about moving to a new job.
MONEY - for most of us this is a major factor in deciding what we can/cannot do workwise.
FAMILY - what are your caring responsibilities? Children, partner? other relatives or friends? Who needs to provide this care - just you? your partner? other friends and relatives, care provided by social services - or that you pay for yourself?
CHILDCARE - you need to find out about what is available and think about what you can afford and what type of care would be suitable for you and your child(ren).
YOU - what is making you unhappy about your current arrangements? Think about where you fit into it all - your health, stress levels etc. What is going to be sustainable for you in the longer term?
Having considered the relevant aspects of your work and home life you hopefully feel ready to start work on a proposal to your employer to change your working arrangements.
It is really important that this proposal is as persuasive as possible and well worth spending time on getting it right. Whilst there are legal provisions which can help you get what you want at work, it is much better for everyone if you can negotiate without having to use them. Your aim is to try and persuade your employer that granting your request will be good for them, as well as for you.
Flexible Working Checklist
Step 1 - Decide when and how to make your request
Step 2 - State the change you are asking for
We hope this guide has been useful and helped you to prepare an excellent case for flexible working. Best of luck with your request. Do let us know how you get on through our feedback questionnaire (and go into the draw to win £50 of high street vouchers). We would also really welcome your comments on the guide, what you found useful and what could be changed or added to make it more useful.
This is a complex area and Working Families offers free, friendly, expert, confidential advice to help you make sense of it all! Please do call our free helpline to speak to one of our legal advisers who can offer advice on flexible working, maternity and paternity leave, emergency family leave, adoption leave, childcare, tax credits and benefits. The advisers can also offer one-off or longer term telephone advice to assist you through the process of applying for flexible working or dealing with other legal problems at work.