Is there a way to cut my work hours whilst attending evening classes?

Mike86d

Basically i've been in this job for just over 12 months and as i was taken on to be trained i have to attend evening classes 5 days a week from 7pm to 10pm. I work 6 days a week from 9am to 5pm but i have an hour and a half journey to and from work, so after work finishes i grab a bite to eat in town and then go to my evening class as i wouldn't make it home and back on time. The thing is all this effort is starting to take its toll on me and today i called in sick for the first time because i woke this morning and i was just physically drained. I want to reduce my hours by a day so i can rest a bit more. I'm physically very fit but at the moment i am exhausted and if i keep doing as i'm doing i think it will affect my health. Is there a way i can negotiate this and also knock a day off of my evening class?

mrsp89

You can always speak to your employer - ask them if you can reduce your hours?

Explain the situation to them and I usually find total honest is the best policy in situations like this - explain why you had to ring in sick this morning - I think if most employers were aware of how much you are doing (you're effectively working an 80hour week if you include travel) they would allow for some lee way - Maybe you could start earlier? Start at 8, finish at 4 so that you could get a break between work and training (although this might not make you any better off if you live further away)

Good luck in finding a solution, I certainly couldnt be doing what you are! ... I dont think any job is worth REALLY making yourself ill for - maybe look to see what the job market is like too if its really that bad?

Mike86d

mrsp89 wrote: »

You can always speak to your employer - ask them if you can reduce your hours?

Explain the situation to them and I usually find total honest is the best policy in situations like this - explain why you had to ring in sick this morning - I think if most employers were aware of how much you are doing (you're effectively working an 80hour week if you include travel) they would allow for some lee way - Maybe you could start earlier? Start at 8, finish at 4 so that you could get a break between work and training (although this might not make you any better off if you live further away)

Good luck in finding a solution, I certainly couldnt be doing what you are! ... I dont think any job is worth REALLY making yourself ill for - maybe look to see what the job market is like too if its really that bad?

The thing is, i spent a long time before this job unemployed and being on the work program. I just dont want to end up back on that so i'm giving this job everything i've got and now i have given it too much. With training and travel making it over 80 hours a week does that fall into the work time regulation thing?

WestonDave

Travel to work doesn't come into the working time directive. I suspect out of hours training probably doesn't either.


I suspect the training course is what it is so dropping a day from that would simply mean missing 20% of the material and isn't an option.


How long is the current situation likely to last - it seems a very intensive training programme to be working all day and doing another few hours training every night - I'd imagine it to be a fairly short duration at that intensity.

Mike86d

WestonDave wrote: »

Travel to work doesn't come into the working time directive. I suspect out of hours training probably doesn't either.


I suspect the training course is what it is so dropping a day from that would simply mean missing 20% of the material and isn't an option.


How long is the current situation likely to last - it seems a very intensive training programme to be working all day and doing another few hours training every night - I'd imagine it to be a fairly short duration at that intensity.

The training is for a qualification which is paramount for the job and ends next april. When i started i was only working 4 days a week instead of the current 6. If i had only 4 days at work i would not be feeling like i do now where every bone in my body aches.

agrinnall

So what changed to increase your working days from 4 to 6? Can you not explain to your employer the effect it's having on you and ask to return to 4 days until April?

Mike86d

agrinnall wrote: »

So what changed to increase your working days from 4 to 6? Can you not explain to your employer the effect it's having on you and ask to return to 4 days until April?

Being on 6 days was only supposed to be temporary to cover a colleague who was on sick leave but then the work load increased and they needed me to remain on 6 days a week. They do praise me for my effort and i do feel appreciated but i need to go back to 4 days for my own personal wellbeing. Do you think it would be better if i wrote a letter instead of just going in face to face demanding a break?

Takeaway_Addict

Have you not actually asked them then to go back to 4 days a week?

Just ask them to start with and see where the land lies, the fact you've not said anything means they probably think things are fine.

Ms_Chocaholic

Can you ask to drop to 4 days whilst doing the training but willing to consider (if you are) going back to 6 days once the training is finished.

I think "demanding" is a strong word to use during discussions.

Mike86d

Takeaway_Addict wrote: »

Have you not actually asked them then to go back to 4 days a week?

Just ask them to start with and see where the land lies, the fact you've not said anything means they probably think things are fine.

Not yet. Calling in sick today gave me time to rest and think about it, the problem now is how i approach this? I dont want to do it in a way where they think i'm not competent enough. Its a good job and i dont want to lose it.

Takeaway_Addict

Mike86d wrote: »

Not yet. Calling in sick today gave me time to rest and think about it, the problem now is how i approach this? I dont want to do it in a way where they think i'm not competent enough. Its a good job and i dont want to lose it.

If the course had not been related to work I would understand with your bosses not being happy but any sane boss would understand that 6 days where effectively you are 'working for 12-14 hours a day is going to be draining long term.

If your bosses aren't happy then I would be thinking about your long term aims workwise.

Just an opinion.