Associate Handbook 2018

The written and dated application should be submitted to the Associate’s Manager and, in order to meet the requirements of the formal procedure and to help the manager consider their request, should;

(a)

state the reason for the request;

(b)

provide as much information as possible about the current and desired working pattern, including working days, hours and start and finish times, and give the date from which the Associate wants the desired working pattern to start; address the effect the changes to the working pattern will have on the work that they do, that of colleagues and on service delivery. If the Associate has any suggestions about dealing with any potentially negative effects, please include these in the written application;

(c)

(d)

provide information to confirm that the Associate meets the eligibility criteria sets out in this policy;

(e)

state whether they have made a previous formal request for flexible working, and, if so, when; and

(f)

ideally be submitted at least two months before they wish the changes they are requesting to take effect.

Forms of flexible working

Flexible working can incorporate a number of changes to working arrangements:

reduction or variation of working hours;



reduction of the number of days worked each week; and/or



working from a different location (for example, from home).



Such changes may involve starting a job share; working a set number of hours a year, rather than a week (annualised hours); working from home (whether for all or part of the week); working only during term-time (part-year working); working compressed hours; working flexi-time.

Formal procedure: meeting

Ideally, a meeting will be arranged with the Associate and Manager to discuss the request. However, this will not always be possible, in which case the Manager will respond in writing to the Associate providing they have received all necessary information.

If new working arrangements are agreed, the Manager may suggest an initial trial period, to ensure that the changes meet everyone’s needs.

Formal procedure: decision

The Associate’s Managers will notify the Associate of their decision in writing within a reasonable timescale.