Cant do 6am starts?

[thebeast]

Hi,

My office has just moved to 6am starts. My problem is that i cant do this as it means finishing later and so i will get to the nursery too late to pick up my son.. We cant afford to have him there in the afternoon either.

The manager has not given any alternative yet apart from mentioning childcare is not his responsability, what would be a sensible move on this and has anyone else come accross a similar problem?

Ta

[celerycelery]

By law if your son is under 5 (i think thats the age) they have to help you out. Speak to your union rep asap. We have people finishing around 13.15pm because of this reason and they come in a bit earlier

[thebeast]

My rep is to say the least not helpful

I have been told that as Royal Mail had no choice but to put us on a lter start (slower vans) then they are not obliged to be flexiable over this.

At the moment we have a few coming in a hour early (5am) to open bags on overtime but that is ending after christmas.

[yorkie]

UNER R/M FAMILY FRIENDLY POLICY THEY HAVE TO GIVE YOU CHILD FLEXY HOURS IF YOUR SON IS UNDER THE AGE OF 6 YOU ARE ENTITLED TO IT MATE..CONTACT YOUR BRANCH SECRETARY OR YOUR EQUAL OPPS OFFICER THEY SHOULD HELP YOU OUT IF YOU STILL STRUGGLE LET ME KNOW.OR RING HQ AND ASK FOR THE EQUAL OPPS DEPT THEY WILL GUIDE YOU.


I HATE THE BASTARDS WHEN THEY TRY THESE TRICKS THIS IS ALSO PART OF THE AGREEMENT WE ARE VOTING ON THAT THE c***s HAVE TO SHOW CONSIDERATION FOR US

[curly1975]

As much as Royal Mail like to think that they are above the law, they do still have to abide by it. Parents (including foster parents) who have children under six have the right to request for flexible working. This has got to be looked at by Royal Mail, they cannot just bury heads in sand and claim its not their problem.

[thebeast]

Thanks for that, any idea where i can see a document on this. Paperwork and agreements dont exist in our office

[curly1975]

Try this link:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10029491

[stephen500]

http://www.cch-solicitors.com/employmen ... m#flexible
Flexible Working
This is a new right that gives employees who meet the relevant criteria (e.g. as to service and age of dependant children) the right to request a variation of their working patterns and/or hours so as to be able to take care of dependant children.

Once a formal request has been made, the employer is obliged to follow a strict timetable to discuss and decide the issue. A request may only be refused if the employer gives a valid "business ground", which is prescribed by the legislation. A failure to comply with the procedure and/or a failure to give a genuine business ground to substantiate a refusal will allow the employee to bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal.

The new rules are in addition to the existing duty not to discriminate on the grounds of sex when an employee makes a request to vary hours as a result of childcare responsibilities. It would appear that this new right now strengthens the position of all employees, whether they satisfy the criteria for the legislation or not, because granting flexible working to qualifying employees will open the way for non-qualifying employees to demand similar rights, with the threat of bringing a discrimination claim if they do not get them.

[stephen500]

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/whatwedo/mediac ... 42491.html
What is flexible working?

Flexible working usually means a working pattern that is an alternative to the standard, full time working week where employees change the hours and times they work as well as the place they work from. In general this works well where it suits both the employer and employee.

Who is legally entitled to request flexible working hours?

The legal right to request flexible working was granted to parents of children under the age of six (or disabled children under the age of 18) in April 2003 in the Employment Act 2002. Under the law, employers are required to consider seriously such requests. The right to request will be extended to carers of dependent adults in April 2007 under the Work and Families Act 2006. Employers can refuse requests on specified legitimate business grounds. The Working Families Act 2006 also introduced additional statutory paternity leave and pay for new fathers, which entititles them to a new right of up to 26 weeks, some of which could be paid if the mother returns to work.

[stephen500]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ ... G_10029491
Employees Flexible working and work-life balance: an introduction
It's important to balance your work and home life. The right to ask for flexible working aims to help employers and workers agree on work patterns that suit everyone. Find out what flexible working is and how to apply for it.
What is it?
'Flexible working' is a phrase that describes any working pattern adapted to suit your needs. Common types of flexible working are:

part-time: working less than the normal hours, perhaps by working fewer days per week
flexi-time: choosing when to work (there's usually a core period during which you have to work)
annualised hours: your hours are worked out over a year (often set shifts with you deciding when to work the other hours)
compressed hours: working your agreed hours over fewer days
staggered hours: different starting, break and finishing times for employees in the same workplace
job sharing: sharing a job designed for one person with someone else
home working: working from home
You can combine any of these working patterns to come up with something to suit your circumstances.
Interactive help
there are interactive tools to help you with your application If you need help with flexible working, there are interactive tools to help you:

find out if you have the statutory right to apply
choose a type of working that suits you
prepare a case to convince your employer
Get help finding out if you have the statutory right Get help choosing a working pattern and preparing your case Who can ask for it?
Anyone can ask their employer for flexible work arrangements, but the government has introduced a statutory right in order to encourage applications. Provided you are an employee (but not an agency worker or in the armed forces) and have worked for your employer for 26 weeks continuously before applying, you have the statutory right to ask if you:

have a child under six or a disabled child under 18 are responsible for the child as a parent/guardian/special guardian/foster parent/private foster carer or as the holder of a residence order
are the spouse, partner or civil partner of one of these and
are applying to care for the child
From 6 April 2007, you also have the statutory right if you:

are a carer who cares, or expects to be caring, for a spouse, partner, civil partner or relative or who lives at the same address as the person being cared for
Under the law your employer must seriously consider any application you make, but they don't have to agree if there's a good business reason not to. You have the right to ask for flexible working - not the right to have it.Do you have the statutory right to request flexible working? How to apply
If you have the statutory right to apply, then there is a process you must follow.

If you do not have the right then the statutory process will still be helpful to you.

Flexible working and work-life balance: the statutory application process - how it works Find out what flexible work arrangements suit your needs Other rights
Other rights that help you take time off work to care for others are:

parental leave, where you can book blocks of unpaid time off to care for young children
time off for dependants, which gives you unpaid time off to cope with family emergencies
More about parental leave Read more about time off for dependants Find out about caring for someone Parental rights and responsibilities - find out more Where to get help
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues. You can call the Acas helpline on 08457 47 47 47 from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Acas (opens new window) The Labour Relations Agency (LRA) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues for residents of Northern Ireland. You can contact the LRA on 028 9032 1442 from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Labour Relations Agency (opens new window) Your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can provide free and impartial advice. You can find your local CAB office in the phone book or online.

Find your local Citizens Advice Bureau (opens new window) If you are a member of a trade union, you can get help, advice and support from them

[thebeast]

Thanks Stephen, i think the problem is this

"a request may only be refused if the employer gives a valid "business ground",

Royal Mail will say they had no choice but to change the times?

[ray of sunshine]

I had trouble on a saturday, with hubby at work at 11am and no childminder.
My dim saying he cant help.
Got a letter from hubby's boss stating his hours on a saturday.
Dim's boss said fine i work until 11am on saturday.
Now the wheel is coming off see my earlier posts............

[thebeast]

I am suprised a letter off your husbands boss was enough?