Hi, my full hours are 9 to 5 saturday to wednesday inclusive and friday 9 to 530 equating to 48 and a half hours a week ! Though I get stopped for 1/2 hour lunch each day thats the only break I have. Im paid by the hour and weekly, Kerry

My biggest issue with why I applied for flexible working was because on a sunday I am now unable to get anyone to care for my eldest child, (disabled) my mum always had him but can no longer therefore leaving me to find childcare for this one day. I thought my easiest option was to drop this day at work hence requesting the flexible working. I can place my other 2 children without a problem with a child minder but as my eldest is disabled and statemented I cannot send him to anyone that comes along, they have to have the relevant experience etc, (he has a one to one at school) which was my reason for requesting the sunday off. I do think on my grounds and my reasons are very fair and should I take it to tribunal of how they have treat and are treating me over him that I stand very good grounds of coming out on top. I may also add .... I have been with the company for 7 years and never ever received a contract of employment, so when they quote me 'your contracted 6 days' I clearly am not !

I have myself found this a very interesting thread considering the trouble I have been having after one day in 7 years my childminder let me down and how I was treat ! See following thread http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/employment-problems/197821-can-anyone-enlighten-me.html#post2148530

As I thought I really didnt think I was in the wrong for having to care for one of my children. The problem is they think they are above the law and never back down. After the 7 years loyalty i have given them and found im thought no better of I think my best cause of action is to find employment elsewhere. I cant sit worrying whats going to happen to my job if one of my children are ill or I get let down on my child care in the way they treat me last week, it isn't fair on me, I feel like im being victimised. With regard to my flexible working its an interesting one, my manager said it was ok to drop the 1 day i had asked and arranged the lady that covered my maternity to cover my day, on seeing the director it went up in arms and he decided 'NO, she works a 6 day week so a six day week it is'. In which ACAS said if that came back at a tribunal I wouldnt lose.

I have worked for my employer for 7 years in October. I have 3 children (11 wks, 3 yrs and 6 yrs). My eldest child is disabled after having amputations in 2004 from Meningitis. I have never taken time off for my children as thursdays (my day off) I have always worked all the hospital appointments round and I pay a nursey and a child minder so I can work. I have never taken parental leave or anything such like and in the last 7 years I have taken only 4 days sick ! I have come back from Maternity and asked for flexible working which was refused as 'you work a six day week so a six day week it is' I was told. I then sent them a letter requesting flexible working and the reason for my application of which im yet to hear. On sunday past I was unable to get to work as I was let down by the childminder I have to care for my eldest child (who has a one to one) so I rang work and informed them. I got a phone call back some hour later telling me, 'if you cant come in today dont bother tomorrow we'll ring you when we want you next. They then decided they wanted me back in on tuesday (today) with less than 24 hours notice so I have come in. I do believe im being treat unfairly over my children considering how loyal I have always been to the company, where do I stand if I fall short with my child minder again ? What are my rights regarding my children ?

:-?Hi we have just moved home and there is a BT box in our lounge for a telephone line. As we both have contract phones we are not interested in having a home phone. Nethertheless we would like broadband, as we are in a 'rural area' we cannot benefit from a dongle or mobile broadband but BT tell me that to have broadband we would have to pay a line rental of £11 something then the broadband on top which equates to £21 at the cheapest ?! Can I not just have broadband without having to pay a line rental seems Im happy not to have a landline phone ?!!! :-?

Hi yes I had previously informally asked to drop my one day which meant I would still be working 38.75 hours a week, as this was refused I then submitted the form formally and are yet to get another decision, but it is looking like the same answer

Hi the only reason I am wishing to extend my OML is because I had submitted flexible working by dropping one day a week off my original work load, this was passed by my manager as the staff member covering my maternity was willing to cover the one day a week but the director then said no a six day week is what she works so a six day week it is. I am a mum to also a boy of 3 and a disabled boy of 7. I cannot do the six day week only 5 as there is no childcare, nursery school or family for a sunday for me.

Hi I started maternity leave through my employment on 7th February 2009 and had my little girl on 14th. I have worked for my employer for 7 years and am entitled to the full OML and AML. Originally I stated I would return to work on 9th May so only taking 12 weeks off, how do I stand with extending my leave to the 39 weeks SMP am I entitled to ? My employer is saying if you do not return on 9th May then your SMP stops and you are due back full time, should you not be back as you previously worked you will lose your job. I rang ACAS yesterday and the lady said I am entitled to continue my SMP without further notice as its a legal payment for 39 weeks and although I stated id be back earlier that doesnt matter yet today I am told different, can anyone help me ?