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Has anyone requested changing from full time 5days a week to 3 days a week with a non-UK current employer?
I know that you are legally allowed to request it and there is a nice template on the ACAS site but I work for a US company and our HR are based over there. They are completely useless when it comes to HR matters outside the US so I'm not sure they will treat this request seriously.
I assume you're employed in the UK, on a UK contract? In which case UK employment law applies, regardless of where the company is based.
Anyway, you have a right to request if, but they have a right to say no. With these things you generally know the answer you'll get before you ask the question.
Yes, I'm UK based. Always have been over my 20+ years here.
I think my line management would be supportive as they don't want to lose experienced staff but once it goes up through the corporate system who knows what will happen.
Speak to your line manager first. Make sure that your assumptions are correct and that they will support you with dealing with HR. Same as the approach you’d want to take even if it was a UK company
How big is this company and how many workers do they have in the UK?
I'd imagine larger companies with a "reasonable" amount of UK workers are already familiar with "European" (ha) idiosyncrasies...
4000 people but very small number of people on the UK
I’m going through this at the same time - although asking for a chunk of time off for travelling with MrsG and cycling stuff in 2026. I work for a US company with a small number of UK employees.
The best thing I did was find a couple of employees that had part time working and I used this as precedent.
BTW my US boss - very experienced 30yr exe - said “I have no idea I’ll have to ask”. It’s not a common US request!
i wouldn’t cite the UK part time law unless the US company says no and you are determined to do this otherwise in the corporate world it may be seen negatively - seen as you aren’t committed to the company
i wouldn’t cite the UK part time law unless the US company says no and you are determined to do this otherwise in the corporate world it may be seen negatively - seen as you aren’t committed to the company
Spin it as being committed to the company - for "reasons" you'd like to reduce your working hours, but don't want to leave them.
10 years ago I was the first working dad to request part time in my civil service department. It was refused. Took me waving a resignation letter and the union pointing out that they granted it to working mums quite happily for them to agree.
Do not underestimate the impact part time work has on your salary, pension, and promotion prospects though.
Has anyone requested changing from full time 5days a week to 3 days a week with a non-UK current employer?
I know that you are legally allowed to request it and there is a nice template on the ACAS site but I work for a US company and our HR are based over there. They are completely useless when it comes to HR matters outside the US so I'm not sure they will treat this request seriously.
Would that company start with A and end with M by any chance?
I've discussed this with my US boss a few times and he generally supports me as he doesn't want to lose an experienced team leader. I'm 55 next year and I've got no intention of working full time forever. He's a couple of years older than me and is stunned that I've got such plans. In the US they often work until well into their 70s to maximise pension (401K).
I simply want a better work:life balance whilst my body still works. There are too many rides/walks/via ferrata/experiences out there to do and waiting until I'm 70 isn't going to help me.
My plan is to request it for Q4 2026. The US HR function can't even get simple payroll and pension stuff right so this will blow their minds. My view is that I will be working part-time in the future somewhere but it's in everyone's best interest for me to stay a few more years and help the team grow, pass on domain expertise etc.
Do not underestimate the impact part time work has on your salary, pension, and promotion prospects though.
I don't care. We don't have an expensive lifestyle and I've been stuck in the same role for years. There are zero prospects of career progression here but I get well paid to do a job I don't enjoy.
Would that company start with A and end with M by any chance?
No.
PS thanks for the advice
I did it with a Dutch company but then I was the odd one out doing a full week! Everyone got promoted and took a three day weekend over the pay rise.
Always had it turned down in other companies. Mainly size issues as there wasn't the big team to cover the work.
Love to go back to 4 days. Yes it hits pension as wel as income but both my wife as. I saw our dad's die within 2 years of retirement so would rather have the time now.