[Closed] Request for Flexible Working - Pushing the boundaries?

Ask to see the policy written down and then work within that. If you're not seeking to reduce your hours overall then it sounds like you're asking for compressed hours, which would be a reasonable request.
If you have an existing flexitime arrangement could you work up the extra hours and take them off as soon as they add up to a day? Could be a more straightforward way to do it.

What you're after is unpaid leave not flexible working, flexible working has to be good for both parties. Reducing 1 day 0
Per month/week has less impact than someone heading off on their jollies for 2 weeks extra.

flexible working has to be good for both parties

you're asking for compressed hours... flexitime

Reducing 1 day Per month/week has less impact than someone heading off on their jollies for 2 weeks extra.

Yes, in some circumstances that would be true. So I'm quite happy to submit the request as "Reduce 1 day per month". In essence it'll amount to almost exactly the same thing. Only November and alternate March/April would be an issue.

And also, see comment about termtime working What I'm asking for is much less onerous than saying I'll be taking a whole 6 weeks off through summer.

Can you not just get holiday buyback, its how my company does it.
I buy 5 extra days a year, wouldn't ever think of going back to the normal level unless forced

I know of several organisations who offer the option to 'buy' extra annual leave. The NHS trust I work for will let you get up to 30 days extra leave. Obviously has to be signed off by line mangers etc and has not be doable and of course not mean that you need to be replaced by more expensive agency staff! It's done pre tax as a salary sacrifice.

um. I already buy 5 additional days 😳

This is an easy one:
https://www.gov.uk/parental-leave/overview

I'm on flexible working. Compressed my hours from 39 to 36 so I can work 9 hours a day but have Fridays off (a change that I highly recommend and wish I'd done years ago). I think that's more the kind of thing it is aimed at.

Sounds like what you want is Parental Leave which lets you take blocks of unpaid leave to spend time with your kids.

That doesn't help Aracer, he wants a day off a month.

That says you got to take a whole week off unpaid.

I'm assuming he already takes whole weeks off using his annual leave?

Not convinced about that. It has to be tolerable for both parties, but I'm not convinced it has to be good.

I am as your saying exactly the same thing.

And also, see comment about termtime working What I'm asking for is much less onerous than saying I'll be taking a whole 6 weeks off through summer.

Seen that but you weren't clear that some take all of the summer holidays off. What you now have if that's the case is a precedence set and continuity, your argument is now that others are allowed long periods off. However you also have to argue about getting the reduced hours to allow this.

You need to be very clear with your details are your boss won't understand what your after.

I think 1 day per month sounds reasonable and should be easy to negotiate BUT is having one day a month extra off actually going to give you that time to do the things you want.

Also remember unpaid time off impacts your salary, pension and potential redundancy payments.

I went part time/term time at the start of the year - I work 24 hours over 4 days a week, and have 10 weeks unpaid leave to cover summer, Christmas and easter holidays. Normal accrued leave covers half terms, sick days and inset days are covered by my non working day each week.

We did it to allow me to swap roles with my wife, who had got a much better paid full time job after being part time since we had kids. It meant we had no issues with childcare in holidays, minimised childcare in term time, we actually got more time together as a family, and I wasn't working with one eye on the clock to make the school run etc, so I could concentrate and be more productive at work. I also get to help my parents a bit more as they are now late 70s and not in great health.

Work initially refused my request for probably valid business reasons, and I actually resigned and went on leave to use up my holiday before finishing. At that point the union got involved, pointed out that lots of women were on similar terms but I was the first male to request it and it had been turned down, so sexual discrimination and constructive dismissal were threatened. I got what I'd asked for.

Seems to have worked well this year - summer holidays much smoother and less stressful, a proper 2 weeks with the four of us together instead of splitting the summer between us. Just reapplied to have the deal extended for another 12 months, and my boss immediately approved the request and sent it up the line, so he seems happy as well now.

I work for a company that is very flexible in work agreements with staff, whether its extended leave to go travelling, flexible working hours or part time we will pretty much do whatever it takes to keep good employees.

Talking HR recenty they said requests like yours are on the increase as more people( especially younger employees) are looking for more than just money and want some balance with travel and life experience.

Whever you get what you want depends on how much the company values you and how progressive they are.

Parental leave rather than flexible working as they cannot refuse this- I have used it it annoys them but hey ho

take your weeks holidays as this and then take your day per month as annual leave

Parental leave is unpaid. You’re entitled to 18 weeks’ leave for each child and adopted child, up to their 18th birthday.

The limit on how much parental leave each parent can take in a year is 4 weeks for each child (unless the employer agrees otherwise).

You must take parental leave as whole weeks (eg 1 week or 2 weeks) rather than individual days, unless your employer agrees otherwise or if your child is disabled. You don’t have to take all the leave at once.

A ‘week’ equals the length of time an employee normally works over 7 days.

Sorted- at least legally

As everybody seems to be ignoring my suggestion, is there a reason why that wouldn't provide exactly what the OP wants?

<aracer>what you want is Parental Leave

Hmmm, does than not just apply if your kids are under 5 years old. I'll have a google.

As you say, that would do the job fine, I would just use parental leave for my normal two week holiday and then spread the other 30 through the year. Only bother is that the salary hit would be all over one month, instead of spread out over the year.

ooh, up till 18 years.

That might be the solution. I think there's less discretion for the company to refuse it too.

[quote=aracer ]As everybody seems to be ignoring my suggestion, is there a reason why that wouldn't provide exactly what the OP wants?

I used your link to answer what more do you want?

They might be arsey over the A L but depends on the contract. I would develop a monthly medical condition that required doctors visit something convincing like Bad aids ???

[quote=Junkyard ]I used your link to answer what more do you want?

I wanted somebody to answer before I started typing my own reply 😉