Our union contract guarantees our members the right to a flexible work schedule, so long as the request is reasonable. When Reecha Dixit, a Program Coordinator for DHHS in Lincoln found her routine flex schedule request denied, she reached out to her union representative right away.
“I had a doctor’s appointment that would take four hours, so I asked my supervisor to flex my schedule by working one extra hour each remaining day of the week,” Reecha said. “We’ve always been able to flex our schedule, and there weren’t any issues with work duties or coverage.”
Reecha’s supervisor responded that DHHS was cutting back on flex schedules. Since Reecha had plenty of notice of the doctor’s appointment, and because she had flexed her schedule previously, her supervisor said Reecha would need to put in a request for sick or vacation leave.
“I knew that wasn’t right by our contract, so I contacted my union representative right away,” Reecha said. “René Botts helped me get a grievance filed so I wouldn’t have to use my leave.”
Together, René and Reecha enforced our contract through the grievance process. There was no business reason for the flexible schedule request to be denied, and the request was reasonable under our contract. There is no “cutting back” on flex schedules. They are guaranteed by our contract so long as the request is reasonable.
Reecha’s leave was returned to her as a result of the successful grievance.
If you find yourself in a similar situation as Reecha, be sure to contact your union representative right away. Strict time limits apply in order to enforce your rights.