Female boss rant!!!!

[Lully2011]

Hi ladies,

I just want to have a little rant.

Basically I have worked in my job for nearly 5yrs. I have a female boss in her 50's who doesnt have any children, her and her husband live for work - which is fine, each to their own!

When I fell pregnant I did not take the p*ss like some pregnant women do, even when I felt crap I still went into work. At 29 weeks pregnant I was taken into hospital, My boss seemed very understanding ( I did not get paid for sick) I was in hospital on bed rest until my girls arrived. At 33 weeks I had my 2 little girls. 2.5days later one of my little girls died. My boss seemed very caring, always contacting me making sure I was ok, sending presents to me in the hospital, it was nice to see this side of her.

So..... I have 9 weeks left before I am due back to work. I am looking into childcare and most creches in the area close at 6pm, if you are late it is €1 per min I am late. I finish work at 5.30pm... it takes roughly 1hr - 1.5hrs to get home every day traffic is really bad!!!

I popped into my boss last week and asked if I could drop a few hrs a week. I asked if I could work through my lunch and leave at 4pm every day.

She said she would get back to me but basically it was a no!!!! I dont know what to do, if I work till 5.30pm every day I will have barely any time with my daughter in the evenings before she has to go to bed. I have really let this get to me.

Also childcare can be anything from €200 + a week. If I pay €200 a week childcare and pay everything else (loans etc), Iam only working for €100 a month which would easily go on petrol!! If I pay any more than €200 per week on childcare it will cost me to go to work...What sense does this make? It doesnt make sense to give up a job in a recession but I feel like if she says no I have no other choice. I have been nothing but loyal to this company. I'm sooo angry they cant just meet me in the middle somewhere.

P.S Let me say in the many years I have worked there I can count on 1 hand how many sick days I have had. On one sick day I left in the morning and returned at 2pm after lunch!!!

I feel like she's taking advantage of this recession. Let me just say there is another lady who works through her lunch and finishes at 4pm...this happens to be her best friend!!!

I have no contract with this company, I feel like my hands and tied What would you do?

Rant over

 

[SabrinaKat]

I'm giving up work/not going back after maternity leave due to the high cost of childcare as well -- and wonder if I should give up a job in Ireland's worst recession since the 1980s, but....c'est la vie.

In your case, I would put your request to finish at 4pm into writing and ask for a reason as to why, if she refuses -- I'm not sure where you are but in the UK/Ireland, you are entitled to ask for more flexible working hours (although they don't have to agree and if they don't agree, you can't claim unfair treatment, get unemployment/dole, etc. if you leave the position). Could you survive financially if you left your job? Personally, I think the stress of trying to get to the creche in a rush would be very hard -- is there one closer to your job (I was advised NOT to do that (my job is an hour away as well) as LO wouldn't like the commute), but it might be a compromise to consider, rather than one at home (plus, you could pop over at lunch-time to the creche to see LO every day, which might make YOU feel better (that was my idea, but again, realised that I would be so busy preparing for classes that I wouldn't really get over to the creche at lunches).

I'm not much help, sorry -- but if it is going to cost you money to work/childcare, then perhaps start looking for something else?

best wishes

 

[nickibrum]

I agree with the above post- put it in writing and send a copy to HR too. Could family/oh not pick LO up on time and you collect from them?
Or how about working longer hours some days and then take one day off, or is it possible to work from home one day a week?

Also, how can you not have a contract? I thought that was a must where it sets out your annual holiday entitlement, probabtion, grievance procedure etc.

 

[frangi33]

could you not find a creche closer to work so that you can finish normal time and pick your lo up before 6?

 

[Lully2011]

I dont know what to do

If they wont give me a few hrs off a week they are not going to let me take a day off a week. They really do just want it their way or no way!! As I said there is a lady there that is already working the hrs I want 9am -4pm my partner thinks I should say this to my boss. I have no contract with the company, no one does. Its a very small company 17 people work there 5 are sales reps on the road and the rest are in the building. There is a guy there 25yrs and he hasnt got a contract. Its crazy!!

My partner thinks I'm better off slumming it out, at least then as the yrs go on childcare costs will go down. I know if I leave work now and return to work in a few yrs, I wont get the same wage. I'm not on great wages at the moment but I'm on a little more than min wage and definatly no chance of a pay rise. I'm not even getting the salary agreed in my interview 5yrs ago

Such a tough decision! Personally I think I'd be crazy to leave work in a recession but at the same if I go back there at my "normal hours" knowing the quality of my family in evenings is really bad, I will hate the place.

Maybe choosing a creche nearer to my job is an option

 

[nickibrum]

I would definately investigate places closer to your work.

Unbeliveable that noone has contracts. Surely thats not legal! lol. Your right I wouldnt quite while not having a job to go straight into- but there is no reason why you cant attend a few interviews while on maternity leave. If you have no contract then surely you dont have to work the 4 weeks notice!