Okey dokey, I've done it!
I have exercised my rights under section 80F of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Yes indeedy. Settle down at the back there.
For those who aren't already in the know, section 80F gives us little people the right to ask for flexible working arrangements which will help care for a kid or an elderly relative.
It also gives the employer the right to say no.
See what they did there??
I can ask, and they can say no. A full blown cynic would say that being given the right to be told no wasn't that much of an advance in workers rights.
And a half hearted cynic would agree.
But.. but ..but this doesn't have to be a complete waste of time.
What about you place a bet?
Go on
I have exercised my rights under section 80F of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
Yes indeedy. Settle down at the back there.
For those who aren't already in the know, section 80F gives us little people the right to ask for flexible working arrangements which will help care for a kid or an elderly relative.
It also gives the employer the right to say no.
See what they did there??
I can ask, and they can say no. A full blown cynic would say that being given the right to be told no wasn't that much of an advance in workers rights.
And a half hearted cynic would agree.
But.. but ..but this doesn't have to be a complete waste of time.
What about you place a bet?
Go on
I've pointed out that I can cover the same work, and not inconvenience any of my team if they let me work four longer days a week instead of five
3 April 2012 at 21:52
If it's like most bureaucracies, I'm thinking the default response will likely be more paperwork, followed by eventual approval after all of the spineless middle managers have covered their asses.
3 April 2012 at 22:21
(",)
xxx
3 April 2012 at 22:28
what lx said, sugar. they will make you jump through hoops, but they'll say yes eventually. xoxoxox
3 April 2012 at 22:39
I voted for B. Obfuscation is the first line of defence, to those I think of as 'them'.
3 April 2012 at 22:58
I hope you get what you want, companies are often so short sighted.
4 April 2012 at 07:32
Lx - Indeed. Obfuscation and attention to arcane and irrelevant details are two of the Institute's speciality subjects.
Maps! Do you play hospital gigs outside of Ireland by any chance???
Savannah - The wheels will grind slow that's for sure...
Tim - Yep. I work with lots of Them...
Suburbia - Smart money so far is saying this is the case.
4 April 2012 at 13:24
I voted YES, because I'm an optimist damnit.
I suspect it will be paperwork though...
But that really is a good thing to do. You can't keep working as you are trekking all the way over to your mums and look after Cherub and not do yourself a health mischief.
And actually, make sure you point that out to them! Your health is also at stake.
4 April 2012 at 14:07
Ah lovely lady, if they considder your past two years, look at your circumstances and look at your contribution to the effeiciency of the firm, you will be on flexi time very soon
You know they should say yes
They know they should say yes
So, it will be a yes
4 April 2012 at 15:55
WILL them to say yes....wish it so hard it makes you eyes bulge and then it WILL be so....
4 April 2012 at 16:11
So hard not to be cynical isn't it?! I'd love to vote for a resounding 'yes!' but like I said....
4 April 2012 at 20:46
Wow, I'm going to allow these "rights" to my kids when they ask for candy...
4 April 2012 at 21:07
Roses - You optimists are in the minority...today I was told, btw, that They have already turned down someone elses request.... a dramatic slump over my desk might be the only solution...
Clyde - You're becoming an optimist too!
And Libbby - Another optimist? If only all this was a real vote!
Ms Weekend - Excellent bit of legislation isn't it? I'm surprised they haven't extended it yet....
5 April 2012 at 13:51
With lots of work experience behind me, I confidently predict they'll want to say no because they suspect you'll do less work and encourage others to seek "unconventional" working hours, but they want to appear fair and reasonable so they'll go through all sorts of complicated procedures to get there. And then hopefully you'll get pissed off with the said procedures and withdraw your request.
5 April 2012 at 14:38
Just because they say no to someone else, doesn't mean they'll say no to you.
I really think you need to play on your health issues, use it to the absolute maximum.
Because in all honesty, I know you've got to do it. The buck stops with you...but you've got so much on your plate.
I iz worried for you. I iz too far away to deliver wine, chocolate and for us to have a DVD night, you know, provide support IRL too.
5 April 2012 at 16:31
It seems to be the law that they cannot make instant decisions but I agree - sooner or later they wil see the light.
Would it help to suggest a trial period?
6 April 2012 at 07:14
Roses - You're lovely. Would you believe that some of the immediate feedback I've had is that they're worried about my health, so a longer working day 4 days a week would be too much....
Might be easier to move Norfolk north!!!
Pat - Yes, looking on the really bleak side I think a couple of months might be all I need!
6 April 2012 at 08:55
If they have any sense in them (both for the human as well as for the business aspect of the whole question), they will say yes.
6 April 2012 at 17:59
My money's on them never quite saying no.
We're coming back to that age where if somebody doesn't say "no" we should say: "fuck it, that was yes."
6 April 2012 at 18:53
Ms Librarian - You would think so wouldn't you? But then in my more cynnical moments I consider how many businesses have actually suffered from not treating their staff well.... not many really.
Mr Musgrove - Exactly. They have presumed on our good nature enough. It just takes one of us to start....
8 April 2012 at 07:41
Good luck! Actually I was wavering between 1 and 2, but the miserable old cynic in me won the day!
8 April 2012 at 23:05
I voted for paper shuffling but have a hunch that maybe the resounding yes might come your way as that's what I would do. And I used to be in personnel many moons ago.
9 April 2012 at 21:29
I'm going to say that they will let you do it, that you're a good worker they will want to retain and that this is a small thing for them to do.
All limbs crossed!
Pearl
17 April 2012 at 09:40
What did they say?