MSE Parents Club Part 16

Metranil_Vavin

Morning gals.

Well I got a reply from my boss to my request for a 4 day week with one of those working from home..no..of course. My company are a bunch of b@stards when it comes to being flexible about anything. I KNEW they would reject what I was asking for.

I just wanted to clarify (and I have checked the ACAS website but it's a bit vague), the company only have to consider a request don't they? As long as they can come up with some reasons (excuses)to say no then they don't have to agree to anything do they?

I'm going to ahve to work out now if I can actually afford to go back to work as they have offered me some reduced hours, which will pro rata my pay down accordingly. Childcare is hellishly expensive round here and it costs me about £250 a month just to get to work :eek:

They also expect me to do as much foreign travel as I was doing before..complete with 'dig' that my maternity cover has done loads of travel since she's been looking after my accounts in the last 3 months. Not ideal with a young child. Still waiting for them to clarify too that if I do travel, then I will essentially be on 'full time' hours and pay for that time, as it would hardly be fair to be away on a trip for 3 days and being paid p/time hours!

..radio silence on that one so far!

To be honest the whole contact with work has sent me into a bit of a tailspin and depressed me. It's not always a pleasant place to be..loads of internal politics and if you're not in with the 'right' people you can have a pretty rough ride. i've always got on with everyone and kept out of disputes, but if I kick up a fuss about what they are proposing, my life there could easily become difficult.

Been there 7 years now..amazed sometimes I am still there as I've seen so many people come and go.

So...may have to think about resigning at the end of my Mat leave (due to return January 3rd 2012) and find something else..but that's a scary and depressing thought too as there are so few jobs about, and trying to find convenient hours to suit childcare is even harder!

Meh.

gizmodo_2

@brednall - (hugs) sorry I can't help.

@bigbird - I need to start reading about BLW, I think maybe I've got the wrong end of the stick about it. I thought the idea was they can eat anything within reason that's easy to hold. So I don't see why things can't be prepared in advance or that they couldn't just eat what you're eating for dinner.

@MV - your work situation sounds so like mine, been there 5 years and seen many come and go, not really that happy but scared to find another job. I've yet to write my letter asking to use my 22 days holiday to make 11 weeks worth of 3 day weeks. I don't think they'll say yes. I was hoping it could be a trial and if it worked they might consider me working part time (although realistically I don't think it'll work).

From my understanding, yes, they only have to consider your request and give good reason to say no.

Metranil_Vavin

Giz - he's come back with a bunch of 'corporate jargon' reasons why I can't work p/time. Fact is there is another girl in the team who came back from mat leave 3 years ago and they wouldn't give her a day off, so they were never going to let me!

I'm scared to find another job too. It's so daunting when you have been at a place for so long. The thought of startng again terrifies me, and my priorities have really shifted since having Josh.

CL

Giz, I'm hoping to do a similar thing with my hols when I return to work. I have 35 days (25 days for the year, 1 carried over from last year and 9 stat days I have missed.) I'm planning on asking to take a days holiday every Friday until my days are used up. I return to work in August and get 25 more days in Jan, so should be able to do it until next spring at least. Hopefully by then I will be pregnant again and planning maternity leave, so won't have too long working 5 days a week.

MV can't you do a similar thing?

Metranil_Vavin

Not really CL. It's kind of a full time job I do. I can't see many companies being happy to take me on, on a flrexible hours basis

*BigBird*

Giz, I need to read up about BLW properly too. I may well be overthinking it. I just find the whole weaning thing daunting and it's easy to dip into my Annabel Karmel book and make up a load of purees in advance, whereas I'm not sure about giving Joe a ham sandwich for lunch or chilli for tea!

I've been really lucky with my work as they are letting me do full time hours over 4 days. I worked from home anyway, so it doesn't really make a huge difference to them as long as the work gets done.

If you can find another job, go for it MV. I seem to remember from the pregnancy thread that you weren't very happy where you are now, so maybe it's time for a change. I know it's hard to move when you're comfortable somewhere, but I've never stayed in a job for more than 3 years so have been "the new girl" on several occasions. You soon get over it and settle in. And you may be pleasantly surprised that other employers appreciate that there is more to life than work and are willing to be flexible. You'll never know until you start looking

Metranil_Vavin

You're right BigBird, I have been unhappy there and you are right, this could be the rocket I need to get me to finally move on.

Guess it's my self-esteem issues making me think I wont be able to find anything else.

I think we could manage for a bit on OH's salary if needs be. It would be very tight but with a lot of budgeting it should be doable.

Metranil_Vavin

Nephthys

Hi all, delurking to say MV he is absolutely gorgeous! I have watched your journey from TTC days (am not a mad stalker honest - just our journeys have been so similar just we seem to have the same experiences at roughly the same time) and I get a wee smile on my face every time you post a picture of him! On the work thing - sometimes even having a look for something else can make you feel better!

Isaac is currently asleep on my knee which is cute but I'm not getting anything done!

Metranil_Vavin

aww Nephthys thank you x

How old is Isaac? I love that name btw. It was on my list of faves