Request to reduce hours

krustylouise

Hi all,

I was after abit of advice. I am a single working parent of a 6year old. When I was tupe transferred to my current employer I was working 16hours a week. I did explain I wanted to increase my hours and they (very kindly) accommodated my request and I started working 32.5 hours a week. Fast forward a year and I am struggling, DD's behaviour is difficult, I'm trying to balance work and home life and don't think I've found the correct balance yet. I have been pondering for about a month whether reducing my hours to 24 would be the answer and discussed this with my line manager today.

He said his initial reaction would be selfish and he wouldn't want me reducing them so would say no. Apparently he doesn't think it's convenient in case he has to "nip out" as there has to be 2 people in the office at all times (aside from the fact I'm asking to drop 1 day and there are 3 other employees in the office...)

I currently work Monday - Friday 8am until 3pm. I propose mondy - Thursday 9am - 3pm (so I don't have to send my daughter to breakfast club) and off on Friday. I have also offered that on te days my colleague requests a holiday I will cover the Fridays he requests as I am the only 1 who can cover him on our computer systems.

I know it's very case specific but what do you think are my chances and do you think I've been fair with my proposals?

Thanks in advance.

Kirsty

Takeaway_Addict

Its good you have thought about the issues the employer may have with this but I suggest you need to go further.

Who will cover these lost hours?
Does the employer need to cover these lost hours?
Are the hours you are not going to do going to affect the workings of the company, will it lose major efficiancy?

If they say no to your official request what will you do?

krustylouise

I have asked to reduce my mornings by 1 hour per day. And for those times I genuinely can't see any issue with the runnings of the office. There are 3 other employees in the office and 2 of them sit doing nothing 60% of the time (1 is manager the other is supervisor) the only issue I see is the full day I have requested, which I have mentioned, and which I have offered to cover (obviously on a notice-given basis)

If they say no, I will have to search for alternative employment as y daughters happiness means more to me than any job and personally (rightly or wrongly) I wouldn't want to be employed by someone who had such little compassion or empathy for their staff.

Of course I would remain in paid employment until I found other employment.

Thanks for your quick reply.

bluenoseam

It looks to me like you're seeing the parental side, but what about the other people who'd have to pick up the pieces you want to drop? I get that your daughter's happiness is all that's important to you, but that comes at the cost of burdening your colleagues with more work. You might see it as your boss lacking empathy & compassion for you, but I'd see it as your boss having compassion & empathy for your colleagues!

I think you might be looking at a new job, your boss has already suggested that he's inclined to reject it with sound business reasons.

krustylouise

Sorry - but I think you've overlooked my offer to cover the day I drop. The mornings that I will be 1 hour late, all I do is time sheets and purchase orders, a job no one else does and on the occasions I ever take time off these are piled up for me to get through on my return.

I have looked at this from the parental side initially because as I have mentioned my priority is my family. And I have also countered that with the other side, where the shortfall would be and how I could cover that, not the business, not my colleagues, but myself, giving up my free time to cover.

I don't see how that is one sided?

paddedjohn

Why do you feel you need to drop Fridays when your kid is in school anyway? what about suggesting a 9am start each day instead of 8am?

krustylouise

That's a good question. Currently I am struggling to keep up with anything, I struggle to find the time to shop, keep on top of the housework, run errands, meet with teachers, attend drs apts, the usual everyday things. I find I am doing these things whilst DD is crying out for my attentions and company. I am run ragged trying to do all these things after collecting DD from rainbows, swimming or after school club on Fridays. I don't feel I have enough time to stop and spend time with DD. if I could do my shopping, cleaning and errands on a Friday. I would have enough time free on the evenings to spend quality time with her.

krustylouise

Or any other one day of the week. It doesn't necessarily have to be a Friday....