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Going back to work: Flexible working hours

There are a variety of different working patterns that can be adopted by your employer to make your working day more child-friendly.

Part-time working

This means working a shorter week for hours that are pre-defined. Bear in mind your income will be lower in accordance with your reduced hours.

Flexi-time

With flexi-time, the number of hours you work in a week are fixed, but your employer has agreed to some flexibility about when they’re worked.

Working term-time only

This can be a useful option for parents whose children have only just started school

Working from home

If you are able to carry out all or part of your job from home, talk to your employer about incorporating this option into your working week.

Job share

Some roles can be shared by two people, so your employer gets a full week of worked hours and you get some time away from the workplace.

Compressed hours

With compressed hours you’ll work all your agreed time but in a shorter period. For instance, you might work a thirty-five hour week in four days instead of five.

Annualised hours

This is an agreement with your employer that your annual hours of work can be carried out in a flexible way across the year, as long as all the hours are completed.

The benefits of flexible hours for employers

Employers have found that allowing their staff flexible working options allows them to keep their staff loyal to them for longer. This means that investment in their training and development of staff is not wasted. The feeling of a consistent ‘team’ can also be maintained.

Some employers have also found that problems such as absenteeism, sickness and stress have been reduced; while morale, commitment, productivity and performance have improved.

Requesting flexible hours

If you make a sensible and reasoned request for flexible hours your employer is obliged to consider it seriously, and has to give you a valid reason for refusing.

More information on flexible working arrangements

To find out more about flexible working and your rights you can contact the following organisations:

• Equality Authority
  Clonmel Street Dublin 2 Ireland Lo-Call: 1890 245545 Tel: 353 1 417 3333 Fax: 353 1 417 3377 E-mail: info@equality.ie
• IBEC
  Confederation House 84-86 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2 Tel: 353 1 660 1011 Fax: 353 1 6601717 email: info@ibec.ie
• ICTU
  31 Parnell Square Dublin 1 Tel: 353 1 889 7777 Fax: 353 1 887 2012 E-mail: congress@ictu.ie