urgent employment question

red eye · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:26

Im a bit stuck and as its the weekend I cant get legal advice until Monday.

I have just been told that I cant start early and finish early to drop off and pick up my kid from school. I need to do this on average once a month due to my wife working shifts at the hospital.
This was discussed at interview and was told it wouldn't be a problem so now after 3 years it is now a problem.

I have paid for morning and after school club to minimize the time I need, so all I need is less than 2 hrs.

What do I do?
I can go in late and possibly get the sack or call in the morning and take time off for dependents but don't know if I can take the time my kid is in school this would be good as I can go get some legal advice.

This is general discussions so all advice is welcome

Dis86 · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:29

How old's your child

Jono8 · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:30

Have they given you a reason as to why they can no longer allow you to do this after 3 years of it being ok?

Rroff · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:32

Make a formal request for flexible working - parents have extra rights and there is an appeals process.

However if you need to look after your kids this Monday morning then you'll have to hope your employer is understanding :S (Though they wouldn't come off well in an employment tribunal if you had no other option when it comes to child care).

EDIT: There are various entitlements for parents in regards to leave, etc. but they all need to be arranged a reasonable amount of time in advance depending on how urgent you are talking about.

Slam62 · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:35

If you can't get any cover, you have to look after your kids. That's the law.

opstrat · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:36

have you been doing this for 3 years?

Tosno · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:42

* edited *

But in all seriousness, family > job. Just do it with or without your job's blessing.

dowie · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:43

I'd ignore the sudden demand and drop your kid off at school on Monday as usual, family comes first and you've got a legal duty to your child.

I'd point out politiely via e-mail that you're unable to make a change to this without sufficient warning/notice and so can't immediately comply with the demand.

Further to this you'd like to request a meeting to discuss this going forwards... in the meeting I'd point out that you were told at interview that this was acceptable and also formally put in the request for flexible working as above.

opstrat · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:46

If you have been doing this for 3 years then you could argue custom and practice.

Raumarik · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:47

Can't a child minder drop off for you?

cainer · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:48

cant you just swap your kid for smth? might get a swap for a gtx970 on the MM

blueboy2001 · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:48

red eye said:
I have just been told that I cant start early and finish early to drop off and pick up my kid from school.

Just on Monday, or never again?

knip · 5 Mar 2016 at 18:55

If you've been doing it for 3 years, Google custom and practice. That should be enough of a blurb to put in front of them if they've suddenly changed things now.

red eye · 5 Mar 2016 at 19:09

Halfmad said:
Can't a child minder drop off for you?

dont know any childminders and for this reason I will not use a childminder

cainer said:
cant you just swap your kid for smth? might get a swap for a gtx970 on the MM

I'd want more than a 970, I asked him what to do about this and he said "take me to work with you" that is worth more than a 970, but he also said "when you dead im going to work were you work" I locked him in his room for that!

blueboy2001 said:
Just on Monday, or never again?

when ever my wife is working so twice next month and when ever shes rota'd

knip said:
If you've been doing it for 3 years, Google custom and practice. That should be enough of a blurb to put in front of them if they've suddenly changed things now.

I'll do that

multi quote fail

Adam · 5 Mar 2016 at 19:11

I don't understand why this is urgent.

opstrat · 5 Mar 2016 at 19:12

the problem with custom and practice is that you could ague it but then your employer just ignores it. Its really how far are you willing to go. you would have to take it to tribunal, at your cost.

bsoltan · 5 Mar 2016 at 19:17

What kind of job do you have?

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/overview

All employees have the legal right to request flexible working - not just parents and carers.

This is known as ‘making a statutory application’.

Employees must have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks to be eligible.

red eye · 5 Mar 2016 at 19:26

Dis86 said:
How old's your child?

hes 5

Jono8 said:
Have they given you a reason as to why they can no longer allow you to do this after 3 years of it being ok?

"its not their concern" but apparently I been doing it every other week last year
once in aug, twice in sept, and once in oct. I did say on avrage once a month but in reality its less than once a month

Rroff said:
Make a formal request for flexible working - parents have extra rights and there is an appeals process.

However if you need to look after your kids this Monday morning then you'll have to hope your employer is understanding :S (Though they wouldn't come off well in an employment tribunal if you had no other option when it comes to child care).

EDIT: There are various entitlements for parents in regards to leave, etc. but they all need to be arranged a reasonable amount of time in advance depending on how urgent you are talking about.

I was looking at flexy time but dont know how it would work for me. Would I have the time as unpaid or would I need to make it up? the only way I can make it up is on my day off which can work I suppose

Slam62 said:
If you can't get any cover, you have to look after your kids. That's the law.

I agree but I dont want to lose my job

opstrat said:
have you been doing this for 3 years?

I been there over 3 years I think I been doing this for 2 year an 8 months before new manager chucked his toys out the pram, told area manager who waved two time sheets with a load of lates on it funnily enough they happen to be the same sheets where I had to start late and finish early. not signed of course so not following company procedure. Thanks for reminding me I need to discuss this with a legal rep.

red eye · 5 Mar 2016 at 19:29

Adam said:
I don't understand why this is urgent.

im back at work on mon when I need to drop off and pick up my son. cant get legal advice on a sunday and I was working today. and the urgency is I want to plan what to do before I start a gaming sess

Rroff · 5 Mar 2016 at 19:33

If its just the odd day now and again and your employer is open surely you can just switch around the day you have as off? assuming work won't suffer.