Job Dilemma

Chilli*_2

Hi all.

I wonder if anyone could give any advice on the following.

I have been employed in a job for about 18 months and have generally hated it for about 12 of those months.

I finally bit the bullet a couple of weeks ago and handed in my notice (4 weeks required). I have not secured another job yet and have recently had a couple of rejections which has somewhat knocked my confidence. I know job prospects are quite bleak!

My manager has recently approached me and offered me part time hours to suit myself, as he appears to be keen to keep me as I do produce successful results in the position and I suppose it will cost them more to recruit someone new.

He has asked that I give the part time hours a period of time eg. to Christmas to see if it will work. If I agreed to part time, am I obliged to work until Christmas if it's not working for me? Would this be a new contract or a continuous period of employment?

I know people will think I'm crazy for resigning from a job with no other employment in place. But I have got to desperation stage.

I suppose what I really want to ask is if anyone has had a job that they couldn't stick full time but is ok part time.

Thanks for any replies

grey_lady

Depends, if they ask you to sign a contract specifically stating you'll work those hours until Christmas - if not it should be the usual notice period, no matter what guilt trip your manager lays on you.

But your last point - are jobs ok part-time that are to much to cope with full-time? I guess it depends upon the actual job and your own circumstances. For example someone with young children may find part-time much easier to cope with than full-time.

Marteebies

Best to ask your manager directly as it will build a good working relation and remove any misgivings.

Savvy_Sue

I would make it clear that I regarded the 'try it until Christmas' as applying to their end of things, eg if they feel they need full-time after that then they either make you redundant or turn it into a job share if it's not working for you, but that your notice period would remain whatever it is now.

There are jobs I could do part-time but not full-time, and also if you have more time for 'the rest of life' it can be easier to cope with the job. What does NOT work is trying to do exactly the same in fewer hours, so again it needs to be clear what you are NOT going to do any more.

paulwf

Chilli* wrote: »

I suppose what I really want to ask is if anyone has had a job that they couldn't stick full time but is ok part time.

Yes! You wouldn't believe what a difference it can make. In my case it was supermarket work, I actually really enjoyed switching off for a few hours each day but when I went full time it was mind numbingly boring and sucked the life out of me.

My OH works a full time job but in 4 days a week. If you think about it a normal 2 day weekend is only 1 free day as a day is usually spent shopping, paying bills, and various other chores. So an extra day off doubles the amount of free time

Whenever anyone on the employment board says they've got to the stage where they don't need so much money and they want a radical career change because they hate their job my first thought is always to try the same job but part time instead.

You might as well give it a go, I don't think you have much to lose.

AbbieCadabra

after 12 years i'd got to the stage of hating every moment at my last job. i'd had some health issues & this was the decider for halving my hours. the reduced hours made it feel like a whole new experience, head down, get on with it & the rest of the week was mine!

make sure you know all the terms that go with this offer & go for it! hope it works out for you.

The_Archivist

Hi

Give the part-time route a try for a short period, say 3 months. Ensure you can quit if you still don't like it.

Good luck!

Chilli*_2

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

I spoke to several part-time collegues (who were previously full-time) this morning before making a decision and what they said seems to be consistent with the advice you have all given.

They all concurred that it was like doing a different job when you're not there 5 days a week - easier to motivate yourself and stay focussed.

So I spoke to my manager and agreed new hours over a 3 day week. He was very accommodating and was able to resolve all concerns. I will still have the normal notice period but he has asked me to give the new arrangement a fair chance to see if it's working out.

He has organised a new contract with HR to reflect the new hours and this will be as continuous employment.

I do feel a lot more positive about everything, so I'll be giving it a go, hopefully with a fresh mind-set and newly invigorated!

Again, thanks for all your advice. It really helps to have objective opinions from people not immediately involved in the situation or who have experienced something similar.