Advice Work/Parent Question.

[Trem]

Quite sure this will ramble.

Where I work they are planning to make us stay until 5.30pm, for some pathetic reason or another.

When asked before I used to work 10am-6pm but this caused issues at home, my wife couldn't cope with the kids and all that stuff so I asked the manager if I could go back to 9am-5pm, she agreed as long as if needed I stayed after those hours to complete any rush jobs, I agreed and have done so since.

In another department there is 2 people and an apprentice, those 2 people are allowed to leave at 5pm for child care reasons and I am 100% sure that will stay that way because they will use the excuse that the 17 year old monkey can cover their work (he can't he knows nothing).

In my department there is me and another bloke who both have children and when this idea was raised we both said we couldn't do it because of child care and we gave a letter to the manager stating this. Apparently since then work has "been looking at it legally" to obviously see if they can make us do this.

Is there anyway that they can actually make us do it while still allowing the other 2 blokes to leave at 5pm? They give the exact same reasons as us and both have 2 kids like us. Would that not be a whole can of worms that my employers wouldn't want to open? Wouldn't that be like saying the other 2 have more important lifes and children than us 2?

Advice needed desperately please because I am ready for a fight.

 

[Scouse]

As long as you fight for the rights of people without kids to get paid more than you, because they don't have any of these silly family issues, then I'm with ya Trem.

FIGHT!

/serious ON
I think it depends on the department. If they were doing the same job as you then work could GTFO. But if they're not...

If it can't be resolved amicably - whatever you do don't, EVER, go "talk to HR" about it. HR works to resolve disputes in favour of the company - they're not there to help you. If you get into a proper bun-fight over it then go take proper legal advice first.

 

[Trem]

Thing is Scouse I don't mind doing it *if* the others are also made to do it, otherwise why the fuck should I? They work in a different department but it is still leaving it empty with no one to do the jobs that may come up. I do have other people who can do what I do if I leave at 5pm.

 

[Scouse]

It depends on the work that's done in the other department. Is your work more critical to the company? Is it customer facing?

For example, you don't let call centre staff go early if there's nobody to cover. But the cleaners can come and go as they please, as long as the place gets clean.


As you say tho - if other people can cover your work - and are willing - then I don't see what your company's problem is. Unless they're just trying to skank an extra half hour out of you?

 

[Trem]

No mate, I could start half an hour later if I wanted, or have an hour dinner instead of half an hour. Their problem is they have spat their dummies out because we said we wouldn't do it, they expected everyone to bend over and take it. I work in an engineering enviroment as do the others, I fix a part and the other department strips parts to sell, both departments are as equally important/unimportant to the company. I do fix one certain part that no one else in the building can do, having said that I always make sure there is plenty of this part done and ready to be sold. Don't really want to say too much about the job just in case.......

 

[Scouse]

Fair enough. Just sounds like you've got a cock for a manager.

 

[Trem]

Fair enough. Just sounds like you've got a cock for a manager.

The director has a mentor now who gives him these ideas. I am ready to quit over this though.

 

[Scouse]

I am ready to quit over this though.

Argue your case calmly and rationally. In writing may help - just say you don't see the time criticality of your working hours and see where it goes. Your manager should bat for you if he's got any balls - if not - go over his head to his manager. Say your job isn't time critical and you don't think your voice is being heard.

Always calmly tho


If you're serious about quitting then start looking for another job. Don't threaten it. The time for that is when you've got another one - then you've a decision to make.



Look at the unemployed person with all the good advice eh?

 

[mr.Blacky]

Good advice from an unemployed but from my point of view do not state that another department does get away with it.
When I hear it (normally about myself) I always think it petty and start thinking the person is a complainer and not to be taken serious.

Only thing why you are being told to stay till a point should be that there might be a need for your skills which would not involve overtime for someone else. No company likes to pay overtime if they have someone for that time period.

 

[rynnor]

Do you have a child under 6 Trem?

 

[Wij]

What's in your contract?

Also, are you in a union? I'm guessing not but they do come in handy in these sorts of disputes.

 

[soze]

Our work have done similar. The Tech depart got the shaft on new support contracts that were sold. Which have us on 8am to 8pm. And on call pretty much 24/7. We pointed out that sales are still 9am to 5pm but were told they cant place orders after 5 so they don't need to be here. We were then told that as our contracts state 40 hours a week and nothing more specific they can call those hours whenever they like. One of the guys looked into this and was told pretty much your contract allows it so there's not much you can do. So maybe check your contracted hours?

Our place has enough guys to cover if anyone needs to slip away early but even if not my place do bend over backwards to allow you out early if there is cover, your place sound like arses.

 

[Moriath]

never quit till you have another job no matter what happens not worth the hardship .. claim stress and go on long term sick before you quit without another job in this climate

 

[Zenith.UK]

Put in a statutory request for flexible working.
https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/overview

You have a legal right to *ask* for more flexible working hours that suit yourself better. It's up to the company in question if they grant your request.
That Gov site has more info about the process. Your colleague mentioned about checking legal channels... this is one option.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Scouse pretty much said it all(since he knows more about UK law etc), but i'm going to grab the devils dildocus and ask this; is the extra 30 minutes that critical to your wifey/childey care? Especially considering the "fight" required.

 

[DaGaffer]

Scouse pretty much said it all(since he knows more about UK law etc), but i'm going to grab the devils dildocus and ask this; is the extra 30 minutes that critical to your wifey/childey care? Especially considering the "fight" required.

You'd be amazed. Kids get progressively more difficult through the day, tired kids in the evening are a lot more work than first thing in the morning. I sympathise with Trem (and don't forget leaving work at 5 doesn't mean you get home at 5, but it does mean you're a little bit ahead of the rush hour traffic. For me leaving at 5.30 means I'm home at 6.30; leaving at Six means I'm home at 7.30).

 

[Trem]

To answer a few questions -

I have 2 kids, my son is 8 and my daughter is 2. I am still waiting for the meeting at work but the lads reckon they will do it when I am off (I break up for Xmas on Friday) because I am the most verbal, that is fair enough with me, if I don't get told I can't do it. The half an hour makes a massive difference, like DaG says, if I finish at 5.30 I will not get in until 6pm and I simply cannot accept that, now I get in at 5.15. Having said all of this I didn't mention that my mum has dementia and I have to pay her a visit a few nights a week, if I change that routine it would really fuck quite a lot up.

Yes the half an hour is worth the fight.

 

[SheepCow]

TL;DR

I manage people at work and have therefore been sent on loads of riveting training. Legally speaking if you ask for flexible working they must consider it - they don't have to give it to you though.

 

[Scouse]

Yes the half an hour is worth the fight.

It certainly is.

And your company should be fighting for you just as hard IMO. Especially if your work isn't time critical. I'd (politely) point out that you work hard for the company and you'd like to see that reciprocated...

 

[rynnor]

As the parent of an under 6 you can officially request flexible working and they have to take a serious look at it and respond within fixed timescales. You should do it in writing and there are certain key phrases you should use. Try phoning your local Citizens Advice for help but its certainly worth a try.