What would you do?

[Minionmom88]

Bit of a long one but I was looking for some perspective.

I am currently in my job(retail) for the past 12 years. Went part time after having DS.

Recently my partner has started a new job, also in retail and is currently working 6 days on evening shift/nights.

I have always worked one late a week but since he changed jobs have informed work that I need to change my hours slightly and finish 2 hours early as my Mum looks after him and has to work herself aft a certain time in the evening. They have agreed temporarily until I can sort other arrangements but so far have been unable.

I have also been looking at other jobs part time with better suiting hours but nothing has come up yet.

Where it gets tricky is where I work are accomodating for other people on similar circumstances but just not me. Am I being stupid to stay and fight for the hours I need?

We are looking to buy a house and try for baby number two so I don't really want to walk away from a permanent job and amazing pension.

I know it's probably not as big of a deal as I think but it's causing me a lot of stress and anxiety. Any help would be appreciated.

I think you need to get a babysitter and suck it up for the two hours a week, in order to keep your job and all the benefits it has.
If you are only paying for two hours a week childcare, you really are getting off very lightly.

How do you expect your workplace to cover those two hours?

Put an official flexible work request in and see how you get on

Oh ya I have no problem paying for someone to cover those hours but with a 3 hour round journey i'm struggling to find a baby sitter to either stay that long into the evening or start early enough in the day that it makes it easy going to work for a day rather than just a few hours. There isn't a huge amount of childcare in the area.

I don't really think they have an issue covering the hours the reason that they are giving me as to why they can't do it is that if the do it for me they will have everyone else asking for the same thing.

Well, from an employers pov, that is fair enough. They have set hours to cover and there is no business benefit going to be gained by them by letting people choose not to work unpopular hours, because the employee's partner has changed their job.

You said in your op "that I need to change my hours slightly and finish 2 hours early as my Mum looks after him and has to work herself aft a certain time in the evening.", so I was thinking you needed to get a babysitter to cover those two hours - I'm not sure why it would be too long to cover?