I understand that it's a request not a right. But the matter remains that my store manager has no problem with it and will quite happily facilitate it. It's the senior management playing hard ball for no real reason at all. It seems they dont care about good employee relations and job satisfaction all of which are essential for good productivity. They are so authoritarian about menial requests that are easily implement able without further company expense or loss of quality of work.

Thanks for your input i will do just that! I thought the whole aspect of companys having a flexible working policy was to offer assistance when needed. Not to have a policy then try to make it near impossible to grant and make people feel criminal about it all. I thought the meeting would have detailed a few things and maybe offer the help that they can if possible. Instead i got 2 hostile people snapping questions and making snide replies.Stumps me. Again if anyone else has any further info/input i'd appreciate it!

May i also add that during our interview she was asking me questions in relation to how it would effect the business ect and when i had given my answer she would make a sly comment but did not document her response. is this normal? should i request that in the next interview that she document her response also?

Hi, thanks for your reply. My meeting was held on tueday they 13th Dec so they have until the 27th to inform me. she called today asking for the extension stating that she needed a meeting to discuss aspects to do with my role as supervisor. i cant possibly think what she would be wanting to discuss. and as i stated i think she has a trick up her sleeve to have a concrete reason to deny my application. my application is genuine but i feel they are looking to trip me up as they cannot find a valid business reason to deny it (all other staff are fine with me working flexibly and have said they would have no problem working the shifts that i cannot- as they already follow the same shift pattern) i stated in the interview that the 8.30-5 shift is actually benificial to the company as this is when most orders are delivered, sales people who need dealt with, paperwork and other roles can be completed. which is entirely true. im so confused by it all and dont want to be made to feel criminal for asking for flexibilty.

Hi all! New meber here. i hope you can help. I'm currently in the process of applying for flexible working hours. I work in a convenience store as a supervisor working 30hrs/week. At present i'm fully flexible 7days a week 6.30am to 10pm. My typical shifts are 6.30-3.00, 1.30-10.00, 9.45-6.15. The reason i'm asking for flexible hours is because my stepson who is 5 has autism and we are due our second child in January. I am requesting to work shifts 8.30-5.00 weekdays so as i can help with getting our son to school at 8.30 and finishing at 5pm so as im away from work as little as possible after school which finishes at 1,30. I'm also asking that during weekends i can work fully flexible in terms of work times but im requesting a shortened shift to 4/6 hours- again so as im away from home for as little as possible so as to help with caring for our son and soon to be daughter. I've had my first meeting with my regional mgr and a senior HR staff member. it is now friday and my employer had until Tuesday to inform me of their decision. Thing is, My regional mgr phone me today asking me to sign a form to extend this to 10th jan and also wants a meeting this Thursday (29th) to discuss things in relation to my role as supervisor. My question to you all is this: what will be the outcome if i refuse to sign the extension form? will they have to make a decision by the first date (tueday 29th) or will this probably end in a declinement of flexible working hours? To be honest my regional mgr has a track record of making life difficult for staff who she doesnt like for certain reasons or if they can't fit entirely into the 'fully flex' role. I'm worried she is going to try to trip me up in this next interview as she said on the phone today that they should be able to make a decision shortly after this next meeting and not closer to the extension date of the 9th (jan). i know i sound as if i have a negative outlook on the whole situation but believe me when i say i know she is trying to make it very difficult for my application to be approved. if anyone here has any advice on the matter i would be very gratefull. i just want to provide the best possible home life for my family as well as continuing to be the most productive i can in the workplace. And if anyone with any previous experience in re: to applying for flexible hours has any input good or bad im thankful. thanks, Chris.