Hi Willow
I haven't posted for a while, but FYI I am a Human Resources Director.
Your company should have a specific process to deal with your request for Flexible Working that should meet the minimum statutory requirements.
There are specific reasons as to why your company cannot accept your request for a flexible working pattern and these are as follows:
Burden of additional costs.
Detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand.
Inability to reorganise work among existing staff.
Inability to recruit additional staff.
Detrimental impact on quality.
Detrimental impact on performance.
Insufficiency of work during the periods the employee proposes to work.
Planned structural changes.
When putting your request in it might be a good idea to demonstrate how none of the above apply or how you could get around any issues.
This link will also give you informaiton about what you have to do to request the change and what your employers have to do when considering your request and delivering their decision :
http://www.berr.gov.uk/employment/emplo ... 35662.html
I am always looking at the forum and keeping up with what is going on and so if you need any advice please just ask.
Hope you get things resolved
SMR