Flexible working for study?

Mistral001

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

It's a 20 week course where she'd miss 2 out of every 3 weeks!

I saw that. The 2 out of 3 days could be turned into 1 out 3 by doing swaps with colleagues which does not need full management approval perhaps. Over the period of 20 weeks things could change and she could get all Wednesday's off, especially if the OP's wife was getting support from work colleagues. The management might realise that their "flexible" poasts are not so flexible afterall over time.

I have been to several evening classes and few people turn up on every evening. Never been to cake decorating classes though.

Zelazny

Thank you all for your suggestions. I've replied to a few pertinent posts below.

heretolearn wrote: »

Would your wife re-arrange her working hours because someone she worked with fancied playing golf every Tuesday afternoon for 5 months in the summer? Would she think the company would be right to say yes to this?

Actually, she be happy to do so, unless she was busy herself. Working in the week is good for her, as it means more chance of time off at the weekend, and that's the only time we really get to spend together.

Any wrote: »

OP I understand your wife is upset, but really she doesn't have a leg to stand on. Most employers are understanding and will strike conversation about things with employees, but given the sector she works in she is putting a lot of pressure on employer to change staff around for 20 weeks for something that completely and utterly does not concern them in any way!!

Many people have to change jobs to accomodate university evening courses because their current employer will not accomodate them, and these are actually serious people about change of their career, sometimes even related to what they do.

But at the end of the day employer employed them to do Mon-Fri (for example) and not days they wished they could do.

The problem is twofold. Firstly, the hours that she is meant to work (contracted for) don't work due to members of staff leaving and not being replaced, and the fact that they were drawn up by someone at head office with no idea what they're doing (they miss out things like lunch cover, and often have to be changed for stock moves, sales, etc). Secondly, my wife's manager (who would have to make up the rotas) is more than happy for her to have every Wednesday off, and can easily make the rotas work in that case, but the area manager is insistent that everyone stick to their allotted hours, with no chance of any flexibility (until/unless the company needs you to be flexible, which is all the time). It's the area manager who shot the idea down.

If it were the case that the time couldn't be covered, or that it would place extra stress on the other staff, my wife would understand. As it is though, it seems that someone in head office has decided that everyone must stick to their hours, and no changes can be made.

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Is it possible / allowed for her to swap shifts on a less formal basis?

So the manager doesn't have to do anything, but once the rotas are out, can your wife swap shifts to make herself free?

Sadly no. The store only has two full time staff (the store manager is actually based at another store and pops in once a week to look things over), so she'd have to change things quite a bit to make it work. Also, as mentioned above the company are really cracking down and making everyone work their given hours - it's apparently a disciplinary matter to swap shifts.

MrsManda wrote: »

Is it possible to find a cake decoration course which can fit around her work?
Colleges generally have fixed time slots but other places running similar courses may have more flexibility. My local arts&crafts shop runs cake decorating courses and these can either be in the evenings or weekends. They also occassionally run two day intensive courses which may be more suitable for your wife especially as she already has experience.

It may be worth seeing if there's something similar in your area.

That's what we're looking into now. We have found one ten week course that would require my wife to take three holiday days, but otherwise wouldn't affect her and we're likely going to sign her up for that.

She's also seriously thinking about looking for work elsewhere now. The company's complete unwillingness to enter dialogue on the matter and their hidebound "must follow the rules, even when they make no sense" approach has convinced her that it's probably not a company she wants to work for forever.

KiKi

Good on you. I hope the ten week one works out for you, at least.

KiKi

DCFC79

Its they're loss OP, if they cant be a little flexible for her then maybe she is better off looking for another job but its your OH decision to make.