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1. Check Out The Options
The most common options are:
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Flexitime - working to a core time (and a set number of
hours to be worked per week), but with the added flexibility
of being able to vary times to start and finish work. Hours
lost one week can be made up the next. Extra time worked
can be banked and taken as leave at a later date.
- Jobsharing - two people sharing one full-time job.
- Compressed Hours Working - working fewer, but longer,
days each week
- Weekend Working
- Term-time working - a normal full-or part-time job, but
one which allows you to take unpaid leave during school
holidays.
- School Hours Working
- Home Working
- Career Break - Absence from employment to look after (normally
young) children.
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Know your rights. The legal picture about employee
rights is complicated and constantly moving. To check out your rights,
contact Parents at Work or New Ways to Work (click on the links
button, or here)
2. Talk To Others Who've Tried Them Out
What sounds great in theory, may be a complete nightmare in practice.
Unclear expectations, unscrupulous employers, a changing legal picture,
and lack of written agreements are just some of the things that
add to the confusion. If you think you know what you'd like to do,
seek out other parents who have tried it already and ask their advice.
3. Decide Which Is Most Likely To Work Best For You,
Your Job & Your Employer.
Think about the nature of your existing job. Does it lend itself
to a particular working arrangement more than another? Think about
the benefits to you and your boss.
4. Make The Approach
- Do your homework
- Write your proposal down.
- Find a good time for your boss - avoid a casual corridor chat.
Make an appointment.
- Present your case - and the benefits of your proposal - as much
from their point of view as yours.
- Be positive about why you want to do this - don't apologise.
- Pre-empt their questions.
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