Part Time Query

getmore4less

NaughtySausage wrote: »

we then talked about my workload - she said if its too much i need to work extra hours during the easter hols to get the job done - she feels i will have sufficient childcare during the hols to support this. again - surely this is my business!

NaughtySausage wrote: »

i suppose what is really annoying me is that I did offer to work extra during the easter hols in exchange for time in lieu. This was point blank refused and was I told 'you do your contracted hours,no more, no less' and now look whats happened. To be clear, the arrangement I proposed benefited the company and myself (which my manager agreed, but another manager refused it).

This is a minefield!

x

So why did you not throw that back at your boss when she suggested doing more.

"it's allready been decided that I only work my hours so sort out approval for the TOLI then come back and we can look at it again".


The thing you need to address is where is this extra work coming from and how to deal with it.

If there is stuff only you can do then you need to offload other stuff.

If the work really is there you could end up with them saying we need a full timer getting one and making your job redundant.

NaughtySausage

to be honest, I was a little taken aback and just went along and answered her questions. After reviewing what was said and asked, I wont be making that mistake again. I never threw that back at her but if anything is said this week about my leaving early (or rather on time) during the holidays you can bet that this will be mentioned!

Yorkie1

I'm just wondering whether all the other part-timers affected are the same gender as you?

If so, I don't ever encourage anyone to shout discrimination without good cause, but there might be some mileage in taking independent advice as to whether the company's actions are either direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of gender?

NaughtySausage

hi guys - thanks for all of your posts. I just want to update you on recent developments

Yorkie - part timers are all female

I thought about getting a copy of my contract from HR so contacted my HR rep. Very helpful (works part time - oh the irony) but she confirmed the following (I understand that she is not impartial but it was a starting point. confidentiality ensured). apparently:

* my manager was well within her rights to request details of what I do after my contracted hours have ended
* the company is changing and cannot sustain flexible working to the extent that it has done
* the company may very well review all part time contracts and change them to full time contracts as long as they have a clear definite business reason for doing so
* my contract does state that extra working may be required but she agreed that notice must be given for me to make arrangements
* failure to make such arrangements may end in disciplinary action

So i suppose that I just need to wait and see what happens.

Thanks for you help guys x

KiKi

NaughtySausage wrote: »

hi guys - thanks for all of your posts. I just want to update you on recent developments

Yorkie - part timers are all female

I thought about getting a copy of my contract from HR so contacted my HR rep. Very helpful (works part time - oh the irony) but she confirmed the following (I understand that she is not impartial but it was a starting point. confidentiality ensured). apparently:

* my manager was well within her rights to request details of what I do after my contracted hours have ended
* the company is changing and cannot sustain flexible working to the extent that it has done
* the company may very well review all part time contracts and change them to full time contracts as long as they have a clear definite business reason for doing so
* my contract does state that extra working may be required but she agreed that notice must be given for me to make arrangements
* failure to make such arrangements may end in disciplinary action

So i suppose that I just need to wait and see what happens.

Thanks for you help guys x

And she's absolutely right, I'm afraid. As I said before, if they have good business reasons for how they want to run their business, they can make those changes. Glad you got some internal confirmation, though.

KiKi

seven-day-weekend

If your job is made full-time, would they be open to two part-timers jobsharing?

NaughtySausage

my job was supposed to be job share anyway but they moved my 'sharer' to another team! Silly!

I will certainly explore that if it comes to it x

Savvy_Sue

NaughtySausage wrote: »

* my manager was well within her rights to request details of what I do after my contracted hours have ended

KiKi wrote: »

And she's absolutely right, I'm afraid.

Is that bit I've left true though?

I mean, I don't work Thursdays, and I agree that my manager is well within her rights to ask if I'd be able to attend a meeting on a Thursday, but I don't think she has the RIGHT to know why if I say "sorry, no can do." Similarly if my contracted hours of work are to start or finish at a particular time, is it anyone's business but mine what I do before or after work?

The OP had a manager TELLING her how far from home she lived and how long she therefore needed to allow for collecting children from school - that's not a situation I'd be happy with! If I'm the one responsible for collecting my children, I'll decide how long I need to go and get them, TYVM!

KiKi

No, I don't think the manager has a right to know what she's doing outside of contracted hours.

The way I read this thread is that it sounds like (rightly or wrongly!) that the OP won't work a minute past 1415. So walked out of a meeting. In that situation, I can see why the manager would question "but you only live ten minutes away" - not because she had a right to know what the OP was doing, but because of the frustration at what she may have perceived to be a lack of flexibility and rudeness at walking out.

But no, I agree she's not right on that front, although she may query the *necessity* to leave immediately it if she feels the OP's not being flexible.

It really does sound to me like the business does have needs which aren't being met, and that's the driver for this...be interesting to see what comes of it.

KiKi

Savvy_Sue

Thaks KiKi, that's the way I'd see it too: although I'm not sure whether there are needs not being met, or whether a new manager has an inherent dislike of flexibility / part-timers. Generally, I think you get better VFM from two people doing the same number of hours as a full-time worker.

I do remember going for an interview, years ago, where the interview said that at present there was some flexible working in place but he planned to put a stop to it. Put me right off!

In the OP's position, I'd definitely join a union (if not already in one), in case this comes to a disciplinary in the future, AND I'd be talking to the other part-timers informally. Because, if they are all women, a group of them pointing out to HR that this looks could be seen as gender discrimination might concentrate their minds somewhat. It certainly would mine!