Reasonable notice for training course?

[Seaside31]

Just looking for opinions regarding a work situation:

Scenario: You work in a PAYE role, part time, set days each week due to childcare. Your employer wants you to complete some training courses which are in a location far from your home/workplace. Each course involves 2 overnights and getting home on day 3 at around 10pm. Around 4h public transport each way with multiple changes.
Some of these courses happen to fall on your contracted days while others would require you working your non contracted days.

What would you say is a reasonable length of notice for them to give you about the course coming up? Having an issue and just wondering if I’m being completely unreasonable!

If not in my contract, I wouldn’t go at all due to childcare. Are there no online/closer to home options?

Otherwise, at least a month.

It is in contract - but that all courses would be complete within the first year. I completed a few then for various reasons (to do with company, not me!) they haven’t been held. I’ve been doing the role 7 years and they’ve now decided the courses need completed.

Courses are internal - no external trainer etc involved and they require face to face training.

Im being given less than a week notice sometimes and unable to attend and now being told im “lacking commitment” 🙄

I think it would reasonable of them to give you the notice you need to sort extra childcare. If that takes two weeks to sort or whatever then that's what they should be doing. It's difficult if the notice is not written into your contract though. I think they are being unreasonable to suggest you are lacking in commitment.

How much do you want/need the job? Can you contact HR to get advice or are you in a union? I'm guessing as you've been there for 7 years that you are usually happy with the role?

At least a month so you can book childcare or switch days.
You'd be within your rights to refuse to go on non work days though if you genuinely have no alternative childcare

@whycantibeselfishforonce Yes, usually happy in the role. Works well for family life. My issue is that DH works abroad and if dates fall when he is out of the country then it’s not possible for me to attend as I have no overnight childcare. We did not have children when I started the role so had the training been held during the timeframe specified in the contract there would have been no issue.

I have sent the trainer a list of dates that I will be available months in advance (DH works a set pattern of weeks on/weeks off). And have made it clear that if they’re able to give me a list of dates of upcoming courses in advance then DH can do what he can to adjust his schedule to accommodate the courses. But I can’t do anything with less than a weeks notice if he’s already abroad or just about to leave. I have also suggested that I join in the theory part of the training remotely so that I have at least done that part and then do the practical part when dates suit but they won’t allow that.

@user2848502016 thank you. I’m going to need to have another serious chat with them I think!

‘Lacking commitment’ the absolute cheeky fucks!

Are they aware of your home situation? If so, I don’t understand what they want you to do about it? Only in real ‘emergencies’ would I have someone to leave the DC with for essentially 3 days, and a work training course doesn’t count for me.

You sound like you've been very accommodating by giving them dates and actually agreeing to complete these courses.

A weeks notice is ridiculous, although to be honest I'd be questioning if the courses were even necessary if you've worked there 7 years without them!

@WhatWasPromised Very aware of my situation. And I do feel like I’ve tried to be accommodating given that this is only now being pushed as a requirement.

My only option while DH is at work would be to pay for a Nanny or something for the 3 days/2 nights which tbh, I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing at all. And I know DC wouldn’t respond well to that!

@TwentyTwentyFive I don’t think they’re necessary personally. There are some new people who have joined the business in other locations recently who will be doing the training so I guess they’re now just trying to complete mine to tick boxes.

Do you have an HR department, or are the HR department the ones being dickheads?

Have you spelled out your situation and asked them to explain what they think should happen to your children in this scenario, without inventing imaginary friends and family who are able and willing to step in?

If it's literally a tick box exercise which it certainly seems to be then I would be pushing back on having to do them at all let alone at such short notice. They clearly know you can do the job without these courses and if it's an internal training company then there must be other opportunities to do them when it works better for you.