Flexible working request

Hi

I was wondering if anyone can help me to fill out a flexible working request. 

On the form it says I need to write what affect this will have on the company and colleagues. I am applying to go from full time to 3 days a week. 

I also wondered if this request shouldn't be a reasonable adjustments request instead. My boss have already made it clear to me that the business can't accommodate part time working, but it's due to my disability that I would like to request to work 3 days a week.

Not sure where I stand with this, I already have a employment tribunal claim against my work and they have admitted all their failures but is now sending me to a specialist because they say autism doesn't fall under the equality act. 

I really want to work and I am worried I will never find another job. 

Hope someone can help me with this flexible working request.

Thank you. 

  • This is a great resource about autism jobs. 34 Best and 10 Worst Jobs for Adults with Autism.  Autism should not become a hindrance when it comes to finding and retaining employment as one grows older.

  • Most things are for a "trial" period. It will work out ok, you are past the main hurdle. Good Luck.

  • Hi I got an answer today and they have accepted on a 3 months trial basis. I guess it’s better than nothing, But i don’t like the uncertainty. :-( 

  • How is your flexible working request going?

  • Hi, sorry, I didn't mean to imply in your specific circumstances, I apologise if any offence was caused. 

    In the past I've had people ask for reasonable adjustments that were frankly unreasonable, eg a day off a week, or three half days a week with no reduction in pay. I've also had people with genuine issues (a lady who needed weekly physio which was close to her house, so we let her work from home and fit it around the physio on that day (2.5 hours work in the morning, the same in the afternoon with the physio in the middle). I'm in favour of reasonable adjustments, I think there are also a lot of people who try and take liberties. 

  • By, default, if I requested to reduce the days I work to 3 days instead of 5, I would not expect to be paid for the reduced two days.

    However, it would be nice if I would be paid. But it is not mandatory.

  • Hi

    not sure where I mentioned that I expect to be paid for full time when I want to reduce the days I work to 3 days instead of 5. 

    i fully expect to only be paid for the hours/days I work. 

  • As an employer if I've employed someone to do a job I expect them to do that job, within the realms of reasonable adjustment. I do not expect to to pay someone a full time wage to work part time whilst having having to also employ someone else to do the rest of the work I employed the first person to do.

    Having two part timers is not ideal, especially when you wanted one full timer.. Two part timers are also generally less productive than one full timer. I'm all for reasonable adjustments, people working from home, but someone expecting to be paid a full time salary for being a part timer is not a reasonable adjustment and reducing their hours by 40% is not a reasonable adjustment, it's a total redefinition of a job role.

  • I've had it as both. In my new post I've dropped to a 0.9 contract, this has simply been put through as a contractual change. In my previous post I went from 1.0 to 0.8 as a RA. In my current post, the RA is that I work my hour over 4 days instead of 4.5.

    If you have any flexibility and your employer won't support three days it could be a good idea to go back to them and negotiate if. For example, would you be able to cope working 4 days a week as that would put less of a burden on your colleagues?

  • I cannot answer your question as I do not have any direct experience of requesting working from home as someone on the spectrum.

    It helps (or it should help) if you have a union rep to assist with your request. Failing that, the links I provided should help you gather '"evidence" to support your request and the NAS should also be able to offer some help/advice.

  • I read somewhere that the employers usually by default reject everything and as a reason mention a business reason. At least, my employer is a perfect example.

    Unfortunately, in most cases, if one wants the adjustment, one has to fight for it.

    Realistically, what are other people's experiences with the working from home requests?

  • my employer also sent me to OH who also confirmed my disability but they are still not happy now they are paying for a specialist. :(

    I think, it is good that they are paying for a private autism assessment.

  • I do have a formal autism diagnosis.

    my employer also sent me to OH who also confirmed my disability but they are still not happy now they are paying for a specialist. :( 

  • But only, if you have a formal autism diagnosis!

    I believe that no formal autism diagnosis is necessary to fall under the Equality Act.

  • I don't think going from 5 to 3 days could be classed as a reasonable adjustment

    I do not agree that going from 5 to 3 days could not be classed as a reasonable adjustment.

    I think it is completely opposite.

    It is perfectly reasonable adjustment.

    The employer can hire someone else part-time for those two days a week.

  • For clarity changing from 5 to 3 days would not be classed as a reasonable adjustment under any circumstances, that's a huge change to job role and far from minor.

    That is not necessarily so as it comes down to what is reasonable. Below is an extract from the Equality and Human Rights Commission website (https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/multipage-guide/what-meant-reasonable). The reduction in days may, for example, be accommodated by allocating some duties to other people.


    Your employer only has to do what is reasonable.

    Various factors influence whether a particular adjustment is considered reasonable. The test of what is reasonable is ultimately an objective test and not simply a matter of what you or your employer may personally think is reasonable. [My emphasis.]

    When deciding whether an adjustment is reasonable an employer can consider:

    • how effective the change will be in avoiding the disadvantage you would otherwise experience
    • its practicality
    • the cost
    • their organisation's resources and size
    • the availability of financial support.

    Your employer's overall aim should be, as far as possible, to remove or reduce any substantial disadvantage faced by you as a worker which would not be faced by a non-disabled person.

  • Please keep signing and sharing StarBlue hearthttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/210975

    It's important the government are aware of ASD in these Assessments. It's unfair and people with ASD are being assessed by people who are not educated enough with the Autistic Spectrum. Keep sharing! 

  • I don't think going from 5 to 3 days could be classed as a reasonable adjustment, it's a 40% reduction in work time rather than a relatively minor change to help accommodate specific needs.

    You need to look at what parts of your job will need to be done by other people, either specific daily tasks or general work that would need to be done by others due to the reduction in your working time. 

    In terms of your employer considering the application that's as far as they are required to go. They have to consider your application, they don't have to agree to it and if they have a valid business reason, which can be as much as it would mean the team would have to take on two days additional work ans they don't think they can cope with that then they are within their rights to deny the request.  

    I would say it may also be looking at reasonable adjustments which allow you to continue to fulfil the current full time role as they are obliged to implement these if they are reasonable (although reasonable is an area for discussion) where as they have no requirement to let you work part time. For clarity changing from 5 to 3 days would not be classed as a reasonable adjustment under any circumstances, that's a huge change to job role and far from minor.