Flexitime - any suggestions?

Question

I have just found out that I have no option to go back to work and do anything less than 37.5 hours a week as I was previously doing before my maternity leave. Am trying to look at as many options as possible meaning I wouldn't have to work five complete days a week, i.e. doing longer days or working into the evening. Any suggestions and has anyone found their particular work pattern to be ok in terms of enough time with baby/enough time for yourself etc?

Answer 1

Have you given FMLA a thought? If you work for a company that qualifies, you are entitled to 12 weeks a year of unpaid leave and you can use it in increments if necessary. I did this when we adopted our son. I did not qualify for maternity leave because I did not give "birth" to him, and we couldn't afford for me to stay home for any length of time but I worked out with my employer to work 6 hour days - so that I could be home with my son more for bonding, etc. It worked well for us because I was still getting a paycheck and was still considered "full-time". Just a thought.

Answer 2

I am actually fighting a case at the moment - I have a 10 month old baby and work full time over the period of 3 days, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. My hubby then looks after the boy so it all works out ok. He is self employed and works on my days off. Now, the **** in charge has decided to add on an extra 8 hours of work onto the weekly rota, to be worked every 2 weeks on a Monday. Obviousy, he has not got a chance of me working that. I am requesting the additional hours to be spread over the 3 days I am already working, so that it does not affect family life. If you have a child under the age of 6 you may submit your request for flexibe working. This can be submitted once only in any 12 month period. The company does not have to honour it, but must give it a very serious consideration. If they reject your request, they must let you know the reasons behind it. The company would be acting unlawfully if they rejected your request if it is indeed ok for you to work the flexi hours without it affecting the business. I hope things work out for you, be persistent, I am, and I will get there!

Answer 3

I am in the same boat and I have just asked for compressed hours, i.e. work full time over less days.

You need to put a request in writting to your employer stating what you want to do and when you want to go back to work. Your employer is not legally bond to agree to your request but must seriously consider it or you can have them for sexual discrimination. The dti do a form called FW(A): Flexible Working Application form which is really easy to fill in.

The important thing is to try and consider the reasons that they can reject your request before you submit it then you are covered when you have your meeting to discuss the application. The main reasons are burden of additional costs, reorganisation of staff, impact of quality or performance, work load, customer demands, structural changes, health and safety.

GOOD LUCK!!! Hope your employer is more helpfull than mine is being

Answer 4

Well it depends on if your single or have the baby's father around.
I worked full time from 8-5 when my son was young. My family helped me out then at 2 year I put him in daycare. It worked out fine for me and babies just eat sleep and poop a lot. I found I had plenty of time to spend with my son because I did not work weekends and now that he is in school, he goes to aftercare for about 1 hour which he like because his friends are there too. As long as you are not working over 40 hours a week you should have plenty of time to spend with the baby.
Good Luck!