Dropping 1 working day per week

[Register1]

Hi all,
I am currently fully employed, working 37,5 hours per week.
This is 7,5 hours, Monday through Friday.

I need do call-in's every alternate Saturday and Sunday, to provide machine repairs upon breaking down over the weekend.

I got 66 years old last August, and get my state pension.

So I decided that I would reduce my working week to 4 days.
I want to drop Mondays.

I verbally asked my line manager about this.
His reply was somewhat confusing.
He said I need to put in a resignation letter, for when I plan to eventually retire, for example January 2023.

I just thought this a strange request ?

Any one else come across this before ?

[here_we_go]

You are talking about a flexible working request. Ignore any talk of resignation if that's not part of your plan.

You have a statutory right to make such a request (https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working) although it's quite easy for an employer to say 'no'.

Your company may have a flexible working procedure which accommodates the statutory requirements. Ask your manager or HR department to provide you with details.

In reality, you will need your line manager to be onside for you to get the result you want. It sounds like that, at the moment, they aren't particularly aware of the processes they should be following.

I would ask them if you can go through the process together so you can get a shared understanding of what you need to do. As you do this you can further test with them the idea of dropping Mondays. Ideally you want them to agree to the change without you having to resort to a formal flexible working request.

[jm8403]

here_we_go said:

You are talking about a flexible working request. Ignore any talk of resignation if that's not part of your plan.

You have a statutory right to make such a request (https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working) although it's quite easy for an employer to say 'no'.

Your company may have a flexible working procedure which accommodates the statutory requirements. Ask your manager or HR department to provide you with details.

In reality, you will need your line manager to be onside for you to get the result you want. It sounds like that, at the moment, they aren't particularly aware of the processes they should be following.

I would ask them if you can go through the process together so you can get a shared understanding of what you need to do. As you do this you can further test with them the idea of dropping Mondays. Ideally you want them to agree to the change without you having to resort to a formal flexible working request.

This. Flexible working request is completely different from resigning. What an utterly odd post. They should be glad they get to pay you less for someone very experiences.

[Muzzer79]

Register1 said:

Hi all,

I verbally asked my line manager about this.
His reply was somewhat confusing.
He said I need to put in a resignation letter, for when I plan to eventually retire, for example January 2023.

I think your manager is trying to put a timeline on your situation.

i.e you go down to 4 days a week but for a defined period, until your retirement. This will avoid you dropping down to 4 days but working for another, say, 10 years.

But it's really, really odd and inappropriate. They are either happy for you to work 4 days or they aren't.

[Register1]

jm8403 said:

here_we_go said:

You are talking about a flexible working request. Ignore any talk of resignation if that's not part of your plan.

You have a statutory right to make such a request (https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working) although it's quite easy for an employer to say 'no'.

Your company may have a flexible working procedure which accommodates the statutory requirements. Ask your manager or HR department to provide you with details.

In reality, you will need your line manager to be onside for you to get the result you want. It sounds like that, at the moment, they aren't particularly aware of the processes they should be following.

I would ask them if you can go through the process together so you can get a shared understanding of what you need to do. As you do this you can further test with them the idea of dropping Mondays. Ideally you want them to agree to the change without you having to resort to a formal flexible working request.

This. Flexible working request is completely different from resigning. What an utterly odd post. They should be glad they get to pay you less for someone very experiences.

Yeah,

Thats what I thought when he asked me to put in a letter of resignation, for some date in the far future, like in 9 months time.

[Register1]

Muzzer79 said:

Register1 said:

Hi all,

I verbally asked my line manager about this.
His reply was somewhat confusing.
He said I need to put in a resignation letter, for when I plan to eventually retire, for example January 2023.

I think your manager is trying to put a timeline on your situation.

i.e you go down to 4 days a week but for a defined period, until your retirement. This will avoid you dropping down to 4 days but working for another, say, 10 years.

But it's really, really odd and inappropriate. They are either happy for you to work 4 days or they aren't.

When I first mentioned dropping Mondays, to 4 days a week, he replied that it didn't suit the business.
He is an arse TBH.
I feel he doesn't want me to drop any days.

[Register1]

here_we_go said:

You are talking about a flexible working request. Ignore any talk of resignation if that's not part of your plan.

You have a statutory right to make such a request (https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working) although it's quite easy for an employer to say 'no'.

Your company may have a flexible working procedure which accommodates the statutory requirements. Ask your manager or HR department to provide you with details.

In reality, you will need your line manager to be onside for you to get the result you want. It sounds like that, at the moment, they aren't particularly aware of the processes they should be following.

I would ask them if you can go through the process together so you can get a shared understanding of what you need to do. As you do this you can further test with them the idea of dropping Mondays. Ideally you want them to agree to the change without you having to resort to a formal flexible working request.

I have told him about a year ago, that I would plan to retire completely around December '23 - January '24
So no surprise to him.
Hi problem is that for the salary that they pay me, they will never get anyone to replace me.
He can't find any additional salary, so when I leave, this position will never be filled.
It was a vacant position for 12 months before I took the position.

[jm8403]

Register1 said:

I have told him about a year ago, that I would plan to retire completely around December '23 - January '24
So no surprise to him.
Hi problem is that for the salary that they pay me, they will never get anyone to replace me.
He can't find any additional salary, so when I leave, this position will never be filled.
It was a vacant position for 12 months before I took the position.

What do you do out of interest? Its quite bizarre they're willing to leave something potentially empty for 12 months again v's negotiate with you to ask if you can keep it going at 4 days a week and maybe 6 months at 2 or 3 days a week to hand stuff over to the new person.

[shtu]

Register1 said:

I feel he doesn't want me to drop any days.

I'm sure you've thought of it, but beware - there's a reasonable chance of being landed with 5 days' work, 4 days to do it in, and a 20% pay cut on top.

Edited by shtu on Monday 13th March 16:09

[nickfrog]

Tell them that you want to go down to 4 days but keep your 5 day salary.

Given how though they are finding it to find staff, you're actually doing them a favour for not leaving now.

Or maybe it would "suit the business" better if they took another 12 months to replace you and have to pay someone far more.

[Jasandjules]

AS the other posters have said, you are seeking to make a flexible working request. Send it to HR in whatever format they require (often there are matters such as setting out how your role will work on the basis you propose etc).. Then wait.

[Register1]

Jasandjules said:

AS the other posters have said, you are seeking to make a flexible working request. Send it to HR in whatever format they require (often there are matters such as setting out how your role will work on the basis you propose etc).. Then wait.

Thanks

[m_cozzy]

I too wanted too drop from 5 to 3 days a week. Work refused so I dropped myself down to 0 days instead.
Absolutely no flexibility whatsoever.