Back to work and PT working request...

[Abz1982]

In 2011 I submitted a PT working request and from Jan 2012 it was granted on a temp basis for 3 months then to re-evaluate and decide if can be permenant. It continued that every 3 months they did the same thing........push it out for another 3 months.

So now basically........I have a child in nursery PT, but as far as work are concerned I am still FT and I have to submit a new request. Now, I have to book DS into nursery, so thats already going to cost me £500 in up front fees. I cannot book them both in FT as a) cant afford it and b)they dont have the spaces. I could change nursery but again I would then need full upfront fees of £1500 for the both of them and we dont have that kind of money or the ability to save it up for the end Feb.

I cant afford NOT to work. I am dreading that MIL is going to have to come through and 'live' with us during the week again as she did when I returned to work before. DD became really clingy to her and I was forgotten about and DD started to copy MIL and was being spoilt - hense why she went to nursery and then I eventually went PT. I do not want this happening with DS. I would rather starve than let that happen again.

So, what ground do I have, if any, for if they refuse this request? I basically will have to say to them I have NO other child care options. As it is not MY fault it was never finalised. They refused to finalise it, despite then hiring another PT woman and having no issues with her hours.

 

[hollyrose]

i know in most places of work it's totally at ur managers discretion and they can turn down a flexible working request if they feel that it will not meet the buisness needs of the office.

 

[LDC]

Unfortunately, as hollyrose said its the company's decision as to whether you can work part time/flexible working etc. they can refuse your request if they feel that it doesn't meet the needs of the business and your contract will be full time.

I asked to reduce my hours, which was accepted and a meeting was held and minuted. They told me that it would review after three months (and then annually) to see if the new working hours worked for me and for the company. If after those three months they said no (I quit and got a new job anyway) it wasnt working then I would be dismissed if I didn't agree to my old hours.

It sucks but its a privilege rather than a right. Can you not get child care vouchers or anything through your work? That's what oh and I rely on to pay for our nursery fees as like you, I can't afford not to work. She goes in nursery and mil cares for her a couple of days a week.p
Xx

 

[Abz1982]

Unfortunately, as hollyrose said its the company's decision as to whether you can work part time/flexible working etc. they can refuse your request if they feel that it doesn't meet the needs of the business and your contract will be full time.

I asked to reduce my hours, which was accepted and a meeting was held and minuted. They told me that it would review after three months (and then annually) to see if the new working hours worked for me and for the company. If after those three months they said no (I quit and got a new job anyway) it wasnt working then I would be dismissed if I didn't agree to my old hours.

It sucks but its a privilege rather than a right. Can you not get child care vouchers or anything through your work? That's what oh and I rely on to pay for our nursery fees as like you, I can't afford not to work. She goes in nursery and mil cares for her a couple of days a week.p
Xx

We do get the childcare vouchers, and they cover 3 days for DD at the moment. I would be also claiming tax credits for DS fees. If I work PT then it is a reasonable level, if I have to go FT its over £300 a week (fees of about £1400 a month, when I would earn £1700 after tax.

The main issue is that the nursery DD is currently at cannot do a Tuesday at all from november. I am about to ask them if there is a place for DS, but they mentioned before of a waiting list till 2017 - and to even reserve a place I now have to pay a full month up front - so I need £500 just to put his name down. I don't have, nor can I amass £500 in time for going back unless OH gets some serious offshore work. If the nursery still had the rules it did when DD started I would be fine and just pay at the end of the first month and so on, but not now. I also cannot move them as all the local nurseries have adopted this policy it seems. and I have to give 2 months notice of any changes to the nursery.....so I am trying to juggle everything as do I first ask nursery about days then see if work are ok with them, or do I speak to work first and say I can only do X days? I want to add in another half day into it anyway.

I HAVE to work the days my colleague takes off as well, so 6 weeks of the year - plus any study days she has I have to be in the office to cover her and a lot of the time I get like 2 weeks notice to sort childcare.

They did try to make out that due to the nature of the business I couldnt be part time. But then they went and hired someone to do ALL the shipping and she only worked Mon - Weds............and we had to do her work when she wasnt there, yet I was expected to do ALL my work on my 3 days and no one else did it when I wasnt there. Its like they were taking the piss with me to be honest.

 

[LDC]

Blooming heck, 2017?!? That's madness! I know you probably don't want the upheaval but could you move to a child minder instead if all nurseries have the same policy local to you?

When I was looking I found 2 with no places until next year but all of them only wanted a £50 deposit... I'd be very weary of paying a large amount upfront as who knows what can happen in the meantime such as moving house, becoming redundant etc. I wouldn't know anyone who can give that much right away.

I would personally speak to work first as a preliminary chat (as opposed to a formal one) and then speak to the nursery about days etc. just relating to your original post, work don't have to give you days because of child are unfortunately. It might be worth speaking to your boss or hr to see your options first before committing at nursery - especially if they have mind boggling policies.

Can your nursery not book in extra days? My lo goes twice a week but if I needed an extra day, with two weeks notice I can put in a form to get extra days a week and as long as they have the space lo can have them.

Where abouts do you live?

You could always ring acas and check with them about your hours? Especially if it seems unfair - at least then you have professional advice without your work finding out?

Xx

 

[ellismum]

I'd look into a childminder too. They'll be cheaper and more flexible, especially if you get given short notice to cover shifts.

Hope it works out.

 

[Abz1982]

Ive given a local childminder a call. She has said to call closer to when I return - like 2 months and she can advise availability. She also said that really, if I want to reserve days now I would have to pay for them so its not financially worth it. She said though she does have contacts to other childminders on my Route to work etc. But I need one that would also collect from the Local primary as if OH is offshore when LO starts school in 2014 I will not get home in time for the after school club closing - this is the problem. I am not sure they would be that much cheaper, as I am £38 a day for DD. But to have them watched from 7am till 6pm thats 11 hours at £3.6 or £4...and will not be getting it free for the funded childcare place - they would take DD to nursery but of course I have to pay the childminder for the time she is there still. DD is also a social monkey, she LOVES LOVES LOVES her nursery and being with all her friends.

I've got the days at the nursery for Ewan, they can do them - seems there is baby room room, but they have done it based on availability till he is 5 and there is an 3 month gap from him turning 3 until he would 5, but that's 2016 so is far in the future at the moment.

Thing is I am going to have to submit my PT working application assuming I CAN get childcare. Worst case scenario, MIL will have to come down and watch them for one day a week!

What I am the most annoyed at is had they changed my contract before I went on Maternity leave then I would know what I am returning to as it would be the 3 days a week I was doing.............they allowed me do it since Jan 2012.......but just never actually changed my contract! I've basically said that in my application, that it will all work as it has already worked since Jan 2012.

 

[aimee-lou]

Ive given a local childminder a call. She has said to call closer to when I return - like 2 months and she can advise availability. She also said that really, if I want to reserve days now I would have to pay for them so its not financially worth it. She said though she does have contacts to other childminders on my Route to work etc. But I need one that would also collect from the Local primary as if OH is offshore when LO starts school in 2014 I will not get home in time for the after school club closing - this is the problem. I am not sure they would be that much cheaper, as I am £38 a day for DD. But to have them watched from 7am till 6pm thats 11 hours at £3.6 or £4...and will not be getting it free for the funded childcare place - they would take DD to nursery but of course I have to pay the childminder for the time she is there still. DD is also a social monkey, she LOVES LOVES LOVES her nursery and being with all her friends.

I've got the days at the nursery for Ewan, they can do them - seems there is baby room room, but they have done it based on availability till he is 5 and there is an 3 month gap from him turning 3 until he would 5, but that's 2016 so is far in the future at the moment.

Thing is I am going to have to submit my PT working application assuming I CAN get childcare. Worst case scenario, MIL will have to come down and watch them for one day a week!

What I am the most annoyed at is had they changed my contract before I went on Maternity leave then I would know what I am returning to as it would be the 3 days a week I was doing.............they allowed me do it since Jan 2012.......but just never actually changed my contract! I've basically said that in my application, that it will all work as it has already worked since Jan 2012.

Why? That's not the way I've ever seen it work. The CM is only paid (as far as I'm aware) for the time they have the child with them. Yes, they would do a pick up and drop off, but surely those 15 hours should be reducing your bill....same for your nursery bill if they do the funded places?

 

[LDC]

Our local childminder also charges for the time that lo is at nursery/school although I use a nursery, I found this out when researching child care.

It's because during the time that lo is at school or whatever, the childminder can't have extra children, as when she went to pick lo up she would be over her allowance - I hope I've explained that well! - so they charge (cheekily) so that they're not losing out on money essentially. Otherwise they'd refuse to drop your kids off as they don't have them for long during the day but then can't get another child to make up their wages whilst the first child is at school/nursery; they'd have to then try and "get rid" of the later child when the original is picked up from school.

Gah that sounded comfusing

I think it's common practice, the same as having to pay them when you choose to take them out on holiday.

Xx

 

[Abz1982]

Our local childminder also charges for the time that lo is at nursery/school although I use a nursery, I found this out when researching child care.

It's because during the time that lo is at school or whatever, the childminder can't have extra children, as when she went to pick lo up she would be over her allowance - I hope I've explained that well! - so they charge (cheekily) so that they're not losing out on money essentially. Otherwise they'd refuse to drop your kids off as they don't have them for long during the day but then can't get another child to make up their wages whilst the first child is at school/nursery; they'd have to then try and "get rid" of the later child when the original is picked up from school.

Gah that sounded comfusing

I think it's common practice, the same as having to pay them when you choose to take them out on holiday.

Xx

Yup, just like how she also told me that if I find a childminder now I would have to pay to keep the place reserved until I needed it to make sure they took on no other child - even if they currently had a full quota but would be free from X date.