What would you do? Opinions needed

DizzyAng

Hi all

I am a bit of a lurker and am steadily (but slowly) getting there using all the tips and inspiration from you guys.

I'm in a quandry at work. I've been told that there is an offer of a £4K payrise if I agree to work on Saturday mornings (one a month off). I'm a mum of 3 boys and although their dad has them (generally) on a Saturday I use this time to do all the mundane stuff like shopping, housework etc etc so I am free to spend time with them on Sunday.

Also, it may sound daft but I have been going to the same hairdresser for years. She used to work from home but has opened a salon which is only open until 12 on a Saturday. She charges me £28 for a colour, cut & blow dry which is just over half the price charged at the salons in town. I wouldn't want to have to go to the hairdressers every 4 weeks. I'm sorry if this sounds a bit frivolous as I know that even a visit to the hairdressers is a no no for some.

I wasn't given a payrise last year or this year so I have reckoned that £1K is "due" as in a standard of living type payrise thingy. Just under £2K is due if you take the hourly rate into account. Which leaves £1K. As I am managing at the mo and am trying hard to keep the work/life balance my mum (bless her) thinks I should get a cleaner so at least I will still have Sundays clear. This would take care of the other £1K With me so far?

On the basis that in negotiating you can only go down not up I am thinking of asking for £5K plus either one extra Saturday off every other month so I can go to my hairdressers or for my holiday entitlement to be increased to 23 days (currently a measley 16.5 days!) Or alternatively I could offer to work an extra hour each evening for an extra £3K? and not Saturdays.

What do you guys think - I could do with the extra money to throw at the debts but I don't want to be taken for a fool

james32_uk

Only you can answer the question really. Only you can put a 'price' on your saturdays! Hopefully putting it down in writing has helped sway you more one way than the other.

Annie_Fanny

Do you need the money to pay off debts?

Penny-Pincher!!

I think if it was me I would ask for everything and see what offers they bring to the table. Remember that obviously you being there on a Saturday is very profitable for them, so push it as far as you can...its your weekend too and time missed with the kids when their dad dont have them;) So....

5k payrise minimum
3 Saturdays off in a 9/10 week period
Increase holiday to 23 days (still low IMO though!)

You need to state what you want on the terms you need. If they want you..they will pay and offer what you ask. Do you have good health/sickness benefits through your work? Could they subsidise anything...travel costs/parking/meals/clothing etc etc?

Good Luck!! Well done on working so hard hun. If I got the terms I wanted then I would get a cleaner in, or pay a friend/mum to help

PP
xx

chevalier

Sorry if I am being dense, but isn't EVERYONE now entitled to 4 weeks paid holiday a year anyway? So I guess they should be giving you this much anyway. I would certainly tell them what you want. Their offer may be a minimum that they are hoping to get away with.
best of luck
chev

Dr.Shoe_2

£4K works out £80 per week. Or £100 for each saturday you work which is quite good IMO, I would do it, though I'd push for more.

Doesn't your hairdresser do one late night a week? Most I know do. You could always ask her, she might be happy to open especially for a long term regular like you...

DizzyAng

Thanks guys.

In answer to the four weeks entitlement to holidays the law includes bank holidays so we get 16.5 plus the stat holidays although our boss thinks good friday is not a bank holiday so we have to book that too. Hairdresser doesn't do a late. She used to work from home and would often be slaving away at 11pm so when she found premises to have a salon she knocked that on the head - mum of two to - and can't say I blame her.

Thanks for your input - will mull over it all and let you know how I get on.

:beer: