The rapport alone won't help you land a flexi-work option. It also depends upon the time frame for which you want to take up this option, the nature of your work and the present situation in the office front.

We spoke to three women who went the flexi-work way in three different circumstances.

"I wanted to study further and was planning to quit."

- Sonal Shah, Mumbai-based call centre employee

Sonal was working with a BPO for a year after her graduation. That's when she decided to pursue a PG in Business Administration.

"I wanted to earn more qualifications, which I feel is a must to further my career. But at the same time I wanted the money as well. I didn't want to rely on my parents to supplement my studies," she remembers.

Since she had already worked for a year in the company and had a good work record along with a promotion to senior customer care executive, it only helped in strengthening her case.

"Within one year I had built a good rapport with my team leader, plus work-wise there had been no issues from my side. So when the time came, I spoke with my TL and worked out a solution. And since there was no HR policy, the HR wasn't involved at all," she says.

What's the Solution?

Her college timings were 6.30 to 8.30 in the evening. Being a call centre, the shifts were rotational.

However, since she had evening classes, she and her TL came up with the idea of sticking to one time slot throughout and working only 4 and a half days every week instead of five days.

But there was a catch.

"The solution is always give and take. No employer will give you a flexi-work schedule simply because you happen to have a rapport with him or her. In my case, I had to do additional work of report generation along with taking the mandatory number of calls," she adds.

Sonal's Tips

• Be consistent with your performance. It always helps to have a good work ethic.
• Try to develop good rapport not only with your boss, but your colleagues as well. You don't want to miff your colleagues by making it look like the boss is playing favourites.
• Don't break the news at the last minute. Give your boss enough time to assess the situation and sort out a plan.