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Original poster

University and working dilemma

22 replies

studentlife1 · 04/10/2023 21:25

DS has just started uni and was lucky enough to transfer his part time job from our home town to a branch in his uni town.

He works 2 shifts a week, both finishing at 10 pm.
The issue is the local branch is a good 25 drive from halls and whilst he can get a bus there, he misses the last bus by about 10 minutes forcing him to get a cab at approx £25 a pop!
He has spoken to his manager who has agreed to change his hours for one shift but not the other and leaving DS contemplating resigning as this takes a significant chunk of his money (he earns about £110 pw).

Ultimately it is his decision but I want him to stick with it as he can switch branches between term and holiday time. He has a contract and the benefits are good.
Wracking my brains to see if there is a solution for him.

OP posts:
grafittiartist · 04/10/2023 21:27

Would there be anyone else at work that drives that way for a lift?
Or a bike?
It does seem a shame for him not to be able to do it.

Original poster
studentlife1 · 04/10/2023 21:32

grafittiartist · 04/10/2023 21:27

Would there be anyone else at work that drives that way for a lift?
Or a bike?
It does seem a shame for him not to be able to do it.

Have asked about seeing if anyone else goes his way and offering petrol money.
Bike not option, very hilly and major A roads.
I suspect DH and I may have to stump up towards a taxi but it seems ludicrous giving him extra money just so he can go to work!

OP posts:
Tilllly · 04/10/2023 21:34

What about an E bike - battery for the hills

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Original poster
studentlife1 · 04/10/2023 21:42

Tilllly · 04/10/2023 21:34

What about an E bike - battery for the hills

Even if he could afford one the thought of him on those roads late at night terrifies me. Plus it would probably get nicked from halls in no time!

OP posts:
parietal · 04/10/2023 21:46

i'd look for a different part time job. there are lots of part-time jobs for students and it is often good to have a variety of work on a CV.

Judyjoo · 04/10/2023 21:47

Only other thing I can think of is a moped but I'm not sure that's a winner of an idea either! I wonder if the manager would be able to change his other shift in time. It's like you say, the benefits come with being able to continue all year round.

PermanentTemporary · 04/10/2023 21:48

I'm sorry to say I'd just advise him to get another job, this sounds too much. Or would they let him do one shift only in term?

Electrictache · 04/10/2023 21:49

It's madness for him to spend so much of his earnings on cabs, it just doesn't make sense.
If he can't change his shift then I think he needs to find another term time job.

Original poster
studentlife1 · 04/10/2023 22:18

I am wondering that if they won't change his shifts he drops back to being a student worker becoming a temp and picking up work at our local branch during the hols.
Seems a shame to let all his contracted benefits go though for the sake of moving his shift back an hour. I think he needs to at least have another conversation with his manager.

OP posts:
titchy · 04/10/2023 22:22

What benefits is he actually getting? If they're not worth £25 a week then they're not good enough to try and keep the job are they!

Original poster
studentlife1 · 04/10/2023 22:25

Still more than he'd get if he jacks it in without something else to go!

OP posts:
coffeeoffee · 04/10/2023 23:17

Hm it doesn’t seem worth it for him, can’t he do something different?

User10932 · 04/10/2023 23:24

id be tempted it work it out over the year - ie during term time (which is what in uni?? 34 weeks a year?) that it’s costing him £25pw. But the benefits of then already being part of the company and being able to work more hours in home branch should outweigh the £25pw cost? Compared to unstable student temp hours that aren’t commutable.
also, presuming he’s just started at uni/ new branch of work then it may be a case of sucking it up for a couple of months, proving himself as he obviously has done at home branch, and then manager may be a little more accepting to DS dictating his hours

Elieza · 04/10/2023 23:52

Employers have a duty of care to young employees.

Not sure how much responsibility they bear though.

I know if people finish at 1am or something the employers here arrange a taxi home.

Not sure if 10am is too early for that.

Might be worth looking into?

UsingChangeofName · 05/10/2023 00:08

Presuming that he has checked if there is anyone else he works with who might not share a taxi with him or give him a lift, and presuming he's checked there isn't a better taxi option (Uber?) I'd advise him to look around for another job.

I don't know how big the company is, of course, or how skilled the work is he is doing (ie, how easily replaceable he is) , but letting them know it isn't worth him working if he is having to fork out £25 to get home, so he is handing his notice in might prompt his work to see if they can offer a solution. If he isn't responsible for locking up, maybe knocking 15mins off his break and leaving 15mins early could work. Or maybe (if a big place) they might know someone who could offer a lift that he doesn't know.

I wouldn't send him taxi money. This is one of the good things about actually experiencing going to work - each individual has to work out if it is worth it for them.

Things like the time spent traveling is something to factor in, even if he could get the bus .......... his hourly rate ........ is it somewhere he gets tips on top ......... does he get discounts when he spends there ......... does he get fed / free meal on shift ......... does he actually enjoy the work ....... does he like the people he works with .........
Then he can decide to look at other jobs and balance everything against other jobs he finds.

lljkk · 05/10/2023 04:51

Halls bike storage is a locked shed. But I imagine a £25 fare is at least 10 miles? Long way to go in bad weather on a bike.

LadyBitsnBobs · 05/10/2023 05:03

Just a thought but do these buses run on time?! He might be able to catch it if he runs… I’d definitely be asking the manager again for a change of shift and say will have to quit completely if not as not worth doing the job and paying 🚖

TallulahG · 05/10/2023 07:33

User10932 · 04/10/2023 23:24

id be tempted it work it out over the year - ie during term time (which is what in uni?? 34 weeks a year?) that it’s costing him £25pw. But the benefits of then already being part of the company and being able to work more hours in home branch should outweigh the £25pw cost? Compared to unstable student temp hours that aren’t commutable.
also, presuming he’s just started at uni/ new branch of work then it may be a case of sucking it up for a couple of months, proving himself as he obviously has done at home branch, and then manager may be a little more accepting to DS dictating his hours

This! He’s still making £85 a week plus the benefits of having a contracted job.

Do not pay his taxi for him!

Let him learn to budget, let him learn that sometimes life is a bit unfair, get him ready for the expense of having a car

ssd · 05/10/2023 08:16

Presumably its a supermarket and you dont want to loose the family member discount card?

titchy · 05/10/2023 09:32

ssd · 05/10/2023 08:16

Presumably its a supermarket and you dont want to loose the family member discount card?

Lol - no wonder you're keen for him to carry on!

Original poster
studentlife1 · 05/10/2023 09:34

ssd · 05/10/2023 08:16

Presumably its a supermarket and you dont want to loose the family member discount card?

No benefit to family whilst he's living elsewhere; anyway someone else in family works for the company so discount covered!

OP posts:
ShadowsontheHill · 05/10/2023 09:47

He can look for another job but it would be stupid to just give this job up without one to go to. He is still making £85 per week.

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