dont think there is anything i can do but worth asking. re getting out of the 1 in 4 sats i have to work.

[stretchmark]

Hello, basically I work in office used to be 9-5 mon-fri but since coming back off mat leave i now do 9-5 mon weds and fri, before I left we also had to work 1 in every 6 saturdays 9-2, due to staff leaving whilst being off when i went back its down to 1 in every 4 sats.

I'm a single mum without any help from family and the nursery is shut weekends, I struggle each month to find a friend to have my ds for the morning I have work. I have just googled flexitime but that didnt seem to be appropriate, is there anything else i can suggest? I love my job and would happily work there for the next 15 years if they'd keep me but i'm thinking of handing my notice in because of the saturday thing.

I asked when I first went back(been back since july and its got harder each month to find some1) I asked if I could use my holiday for the sats i would be down for but it goes down as time in lieu so i couldnt.

SO sorry this is long but is there anything i can do or am i stuffed and need to look elsewhere?

Thanx

[hairyfairylights]

Have you checked your contract (is it specific or does it have a clause about flexibiity being needed)

Have you talked to your boss about how difficult it is and asked if there is anything he/she can do to help you out.

You could ask for a flexible working request to exempt you from Saturdays due to childcare issues.

I doubt you have any legal way of getting out of it though.

[stretchmark]

Yeah i didnt think so, I dropped a few hints to test the water and he never mentioned anything, i guess if there was something he could have said he would have done..although he's lovely he's also spineless and i know some of the other people would cop(which to be fair i prob would too) if i didnt have to do sats and they still did.

boooo!!!

[hairyfairylights]

Hi Stretchmark

I think you should be more assertive than dropping hints. Under the right to request flexible working the employer must consider all applications.

This covers things like different working hours, eg a change that allows all of your hours to be done during the week, as well as par-time requests.

If I were you I'd formalise it by making a formal request, and the employer then has to justify any refusal, so will take it more seriously.

(check out the DirectGov site for more info on how to do this)

[CarGirl]

have you specifically looked for a nanny or childminder that will do occasional saturdays?

[CarGirl]

I mean professional carers to just have him on those saturdays?

[flowery]

Yes don't just drop hints, ask!

I would say put in a formal flexible working applicationas hairy says, however you are only allowed to do one per year. As you returned to work in July part time, it sounds as though you may have put in a request less than 12 months ago?