Hello!
A person on maternity leave has put in a request for compressed hours. Working 8-6pm, with a 30-minute lunch break over 4 days, instead of 5 - on full pay.
Our core hours are 9-5:30pm.
We are a PR company, thus clients expect us to respond 5 days per week.
My company is hesitant to approve this request - because they say the person "cannot fit 5 days of work into 4" and they don't want to set the precedent.
However, they are happy to provide part-time working of 4 out of 5 days, or 9 out of 10 days.
My query is that wouldn't this be the same, legally, as compressed hours in 4 out of 5?
Whilst I understand the reasons, I have tried to explain that these are not legal reasons to reject the request.
In all honesty I think the person will put themselves under too much pressure and I am worried about their mental health, but again, not a legal reason.
It is true that there would be a "lack of work to do during the proposed working times" in the sense that no meetings that might be necessary could be booked outside our core hours, but I feel that is a bit weak?
Any advice or help would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
Laura