Aiming for part-time work
I presently work full-time, and have two small children under five. I would like to approach my employer about working part-time but I want to know my rights first, in case they say no. I still need to work because of my finances, but I really cannot cope anymore. I would like to work a half-day, every day, so that I can be there to take my kids to school and to pick them up.
Poor you, your situation sounds very stressful. The basic legal position is that if your employer refuses to allow you to start working part-time, it could constitute indirect discrimination. But this is a complex area of the law and each case will be decided on its own facts.
If you can do your job part-time, it is very unlikely that it will be seen as justifiable for the employer not to allow you to start working part-time. Alternatively, it might be necessary for the employer to institute a job-sharing arrangement. In this case it might not be reasonable for you to specify that you can only work in the middle of the day, starting late and finishing early, as it may be difficult for the employer to arrange for someone else to share the job in these circumstances. You may have to compromise, sometimes working mornings and sometimes working afternoons.
If your employer flatly refuses to allow you to either work part-time or job share, you could take a complaint to a tribunal or claim constructive unfair dismissal.
Good luck, I hope you manage to resolve this situation.
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Employment lawyer Rachel Lewis advises on your work-related issues
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