Single parent being told do so weekly callouts

Skintsaver

I'm a single parent who have a flexible working agreement at work. This is to enable me look after my son the days he's with me. Its been in place since 2019.

In 2020 I stopped being on the call out rota Fridays to Monday mornings. I would stay at  my parents with my son to cover the weekends prior to this. But continued working call out Mon to Thursdays until late 2020 when Somone else wanted to cover the entire week.

I have " I may be required to participate in weekly call out rota," written in my contract.

I have absolutely no issues going back on call Monday to Thursday (days my sons not with me)

But I can not go back to the arrangement with living with my parents Fri to Sundays.

This will cause issues getting my son to school Mondays and picking him up Fridays. My flexible working request clearly states the days he's with me and the reasons for changing my working hours. On top of this this caused frictions with myself and parents previously.

Obviously when he's older I will have no objection to covering the whole week again but can't at the moment. His mum works weekends and I have no one else able to look after him.

It stressing me out even thinking of going on call, especially as I only see my son half the week as is, and no way would I want to give that time up. At best case it would be a 1 in 6 rota (different sections cover different aspects). 

What are my options if my new employer (we tuped in April 2022) try and forces me to cover call outs, there's talk of everyone doing it? 

Spendless

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with what any legalities are. In the meantime to help how old is son? What are the working hours that you'd be asked to do on call-out. How much notice do you get for call out -is it that morning and at what time? Do you have your son from Thursday night or is he at his Mums and goes to school from her house, in which case Friday mornings shouldn't be an issue. Is there no breakfast/after school club that could be used. Are Grandparents not able to help out with school runs and having on Sat/Sun if you're called in to work? 

MalMonroe

Are you able to arrange a time to meet with your new employer and discuss your situation?

There seems to be a lot of rumour and speculation flying around and you may be worrying and stressing out over nothing. Very often rumours and 'talk of everyone doing' something are incorrect.

If you can explain that you would like to be able to continue as you have been doing since 2019 and if it's written into your contract, your employer should at least consider your request.

I know it can seem daunting approaching the boss but it's better to take the bull by the horns, arrange a meeting with them and try to get things sorted out to your own satisfaction. Then you can hopefully stop stressing, which is definitely not good for you.

You're not going to know if your working pattern will be allowed to continue if you don't ask.

MalMonroe

Spendless said:

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with what any legalities are. In the meantime to help how old is son? What are the working hours that you'd be asked to do on call-out. How much notice do you get for call out -is it that morning and at what time? Do you have your son from Thursday night or is he at his Mums and goes to school from her house, in which case Friday mornings shouldn't be an issue. Is there no breakfast/after school club that could be used. Are Grandparents not able to help out with school runs and having on Sat/Sun if you're called in to work? 

I separated from my daughter's dad when she was 9 and had to go out to work part-time, although she lived with me.

It's not just the fact that you need someone for child care - which felt to me like passing my child around as if she were a parcel - it's that you want to actually spend time with your child. Or that certainly was the case for me. I didn't want my child to have to be cared for by others (although my parents were always willing and I wouldn't have coped without them). I wanted to spend that precious time with her myself. It's not always about needing someone to look after your child. It's about you as a parent actually being there.

Brie

Skintsaver said:

I'm a single parent who have a flexible working agreement at work. This is to enable me look after my son the days he's with me. Its been in place since 2019.

I have " I may be required to participate in weekly call out rota," written in my contract.

What are my options if my new employer (we tuped in April 2022) try and forces me to cover call outs, there's talk of everyone doing it? 

Being TUPEd means that the new employer must continue to honour the old employer's T&Cs of your employment contract.  Flexible working should be part of that.  That you "may" be asked to do something that has never happened should be taken as agreement that it's not required. 

They can ask for things to be changed but you will have to agree.  And if they try to force the issue they need to prove that there is a valid economic business reason to do so.  Not just "well we want everyone to work this way".  You have 3 years of proof that this arrangement was working so they would have to ensure they could prove that a change is required.  it would be different if you moved to a new role as that would provide new T&Cs.

It may be a good idea when you are discussing this with the new employer to offer the option of working as they wish on occasion, with sufficient notice.  

Spendless

MalMonroe said:

Spendless said:

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with what any legalities are. In the meantime to help how old is son? What are the working hours that you'd be asked to do on call-out. How much notice do you get for call out -is it that morning and at what time? Do you have your son from Thursday night or is he at his Mums and goes to school from her house, in which case Friday mornings shouldn't be an issue. Is there no breakfast/after school club that could be used. Are Grandparents not able to help out with school runs and having on Sat/Sun if you're called in to work? 

I separated from my daughter's dad when she was 9 and had to go out to work part-time, although she lived with me.

It's not just the fact that you need someone for child care - which felt to me like passing my child around as if she were a parcel - it's that you want to actually spend time with your child. Or that certainly was the case for me. I didn't want my child to have to be cared for by others (although my parents were always willing and I wouldn't have coped without them). I wanted to spend that precious time with her myself. It's not always about needing someone to look after your child. It's about you as a parent actually being there.

Meanwhile you still need to earn a wage to provide for the child. Plenty of people have to use childcare even those in relationships, myself included! 

Throwaway1

Spendless said:

MalMonroe said:

Spendless said:

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with what any legalities are. In the meantime to help how old is son? What are the working hours that you'd be asked to do on call-out. How much notice do you get for call out -is it that morning and at what time? Do you have your son from Thursday night or is he at his Mums and goes to school from her house, in which case Friday mornings shouldn't be an issue. Is there no breakfast/after school club that could be used. Are Grandparents not able to help out with school runs and having on Sat/Sun if you're called in to work? 

I separated from my daughter's dad when she was 9 and had to go out to work part-time, although she lived with me.

It's not just the fact that you need someone for child care - which felt to me like passing my child around as if she were a parcel - it's that you want to actually spend time with your child. Or that certainly was the case for me. I didn't want my child to have to be cared for by others (although my parents were always willing and I wouldn't have coped without them). I wanted to spend that precious time with her myself. It's not always about needing someone to look after your child. It's about you as a parent actually being there.

Meanwhile you still need to earn a wage to provide for the child. Plenty of people have to use childcare even those in relationships, myself included! 

The op has been providing a wage no bother since 2019 when the agreement was put in place. They could continue to do so under those terms.

Ath_Wat

MalMonroe said:

Spendless said:

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with what any legalities are. In the meantime to help how old is son? What are the working hours that you'd be asked to do on call-out. How much notice do you get for call out -is it that morning and at what time? Do you have your son from Thursday night or is he at his Mums and goes to school from her house, in which case Friday mornings shouldn't be an issue. Is there no breakfast/after school club that could be used. Are Grandparents not able to help out with school runs and having on Sat/Sun if you're called in to work? 

I separated from my daughter's dad when she was 9 and had to go out to work part-time

What was she doing, sweeping chimneys?

Spendless

Throwaway1 said:

Spendless said:

MalMonroe said:

Spendless said:

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with what any legalities are. In the meantime to help how old is son? What are the working hours that you'd be asked to do on call-out. How much notice do you get for call out -is it that morning and at what time? Do you have your son from Thursday night or is he at his Mums and goes to school from her house, in which case Friday mornings shouldn't be an issue. Is there no breakfast/after school club that could be used. Are Grandparents not able to help out with school runs and having on Sat/Sun if you're called in to work? 

I separated from my daughter's dad when she was 9 and had to go out to work part-time, although she lived with me.

It's not just the fact that you need someone for child care - which felt to me like passing my child around as if she were a parcel - it's that you want to actually spend time with your child. Or that certainly was the case for me. I didn't want my child to have to be cared for by others (although my parents were always willing and I wouldn't have coped without them). I wanted to spend that precious time with her myself. It's not always about needing someone to look after your child. It's about you as a parent actually being there.

Meanwhile you still need to earn a wage to provide for the child. Plenty of people have to use childcare even those in relationships, myself included! 

The op has been providing a wage no bother since 2019 when the agreement was put in place. They could continue to do so under those terms.

That was in response to someone (not the OP) quoting me saying they hadn't wanted to use childcare for their child as they viewed it as 'passing child around as though they were a parcel'. I pointed out it was quite usual to have to use childcare in order to work. I'd asked the OP if there was available childcare on Friday afternoons and Monday mornings, which isn't really using it that much IF it is needed. I also said that someone would come along with the legalities of the situation but in order to help (with suggestions) if more info could be given. Someone has since replied with rules on TUPE, That should help the OP's situation.