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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to return to work but only one day a week?

69 replies

ladyandthechocolate · 26/03/2011 11:16

To give you some background:
I have a 2.5 DD and 11 month old triplet boys and i'm reaching the end of my maternity leave. I do clinical work for the NHS and had arranged to go back 2 days a week (16 hours, Thursday and friday) and my MIL was going to look after the children with some help from a paid friend on a Thursday. DH will have the children on Fridays as it is his day off (he works full time hours over 4 days).
Really sadly my MIL has just been diagnosed with non Hodgkins lymphoma and starts chemotherapy asap so there is now no question of her being able to help us. We just don't know at this stage whether she will recover or not. That leaves us without childcare on a Thursday and there are no other financially viable options to solve this.
I have asked work if I can return doing one day a week and they have said that this isn't a possibility as they stipulate that employees must work a minimum of 15 hours a week. I just don't know where I stand on this one; i'm hoping someone who knows something about employment law might come along.
I don't want to give up work completely- we can't afford it and it would be really hard to get back into in the future.

OP posts:
MitchiestInge · 26/03/2011 11:18

Could your husband go part time?

Original poster
ladyandthechocolate · 26/03/2011 11:21

No he can't

OP posts:
belgo · 26/03/2011 11:22

Can you work on day at the weekend?

MitchiestInge · 26/03/2011 11:24

can he use carer's leave for that one day a week for the time being?
Or how much would a nanny cost between you? I can't imagine four children under three, it's not as if a normal childminder could take them is it. Nursery?

squeakytoy · 26/03/2011 11:24

Hire a childminder one day a week?

MitchiestInge · 26/03/2011 11:25

Can a childminder have four under three at once?

TidyDancer · 26/03/2011 11:25

What other day(s) does DH have off? Nursery clearly wouldn't be an option with that many children, unless you earn bucketloads of money (I'm guessing since it's NHS, you probably don't). What's the situation with MIL's friend that was going to help? Could anything be worked out involving her?

TidyDancer · 26/03/2011 11:27

If OP is relying on the money rather than just keeping the job open until she can return to more hours, then childminder/nanny would probably be out too, would be quite expensive, if OP can even find someone to take on all four. Not many CMs have that many places open.

Animation · 26/03/2011 11:29

Yes - I think one day a week is a great idea - nothing wrong with that - and it also gives you a break!

Original poster
ladyandthechocolate · 26/03/2011 11:29

No childminder would have them all and nursery would cost more than I would earn. I don't want this for them anyway. I realise I am being picky but i'm not asking for people to tell me i'm being unreasonable about this.
DH unable to take carer's leave, he works for a small company and if he was unpaid would make us even worse off financially which is not an option.

OP posts:
MitchiestInge · 26/03/2011 11:31

But pay for nursery on sort of pro rata basis, so the higher earner pays the bigger share.

Original poster
ladyandthechocolate · 26/03/2011 11:31

What i'm asking is whether, given my situation, work can refuse my request for 1 day?

OP posts:
MitchiestInge · 26/03/2011 11:32

You're looking at very very short term hardship in the grander scheme of things, four sets of one day a week nursery fees split between two of you is unlikely to break the bank surely?

MitchiestInge · 26/03/2011 11:33

Sorry, x posted. Don't know.

TigerFeet · 26/03/2011 11:34

Gosh OP I feel for you, i couldn't find a CM in my area who had space for one baby (and also picked up from dd1's school) never mind three

I'm not sure regarding the legality but I do know that someone I worked with asked to work one day a week and was refused on the grounds that it wasn't enough hours to get through the work needed or have enough continuity in the role. My understanding (having been refused pt hours myself once) is that if the business can justify why the request was refused then it's perfectly legal. Have you asked why the rule is 15 hours? If they can't come up with what you believe to be a sound reason then perhaps you could go and see a solicitor - most will give you half an hour or so for free.

Good luck.

LIZS · 26/03/2011 11:35

Yes I'm sure they can refuse. Sorry but ultimatley childcare arrangements and the calcuations as to whether it is viable to return are your responsibility.

cookcleanerchaufferetc · 26/03/2011 11:38

Of course they can refuse 1 day a week. It would have to be viable to have you back for one day a week only and I would assume that this is not in their interests, despite flexible working etc.

FabbyChic · 26/03/2011 11:38

I think you will find that work is perfectly reasonable in saying that you have to do 15 hours.

Look at your contract.

poorbuthappy · 26/03/2011 11:39

4 kids in nursey for 1 day? between £120 and £200 roughly?
Yes, that could easily break the bank!

I would post this in employment and shout for Flowerybeanbag or Ribenaberry for clarification.

TidyDancer · 26/03/2011 11:41

I don't know about the legalities of the work issue, but if they insist on it, and you accept that, what kind of CC arrangements would you accept? From what you've said, you're looking at low cost and familial, which doesn't actually leave you with many options (presuming you've already asked other family members?).

Animation · 26/03/2011 11:42

I assumed you'd work on Fridays - on your DH's day off.

I just did one day a week when I first went back to work.

It kept me sane more than anything!

Concordia · 26/03/2011 11:43

i think they can refuse. the only people i know with one day a week contracts are both teachers Envy
don't know what to suggest really. i think the rules on numbers are relaxed for childminders when multiple births are involved, so that could be worth pursuing. any kind of paid childcare for 4 is going to be so very expensive though, feel for you.
i do remember being on a name thread about your boys before they were born, what did you call them btw (completely off topic i know!)

Concordia · 26/03/2011 11:43

sorry should have added sorry to hear about your mil,

Concordia · 26/03/2011 11:45

oh, why don't you contact the mutiple births support group type people (sorry hazy about names) and ask if they have any advice re childcare?

SardineQueen · 26/03/2011 11:45

You have the right to request flexible working - your employer has the right to refuse it. They are supposed to have a good business reason but I'm guessing that wouldn't be hard to come up with in this case.

So I'm sorry but I don't think your employer has to let you go to one day a week.

I'm afraid I have no other ideas about what you can do. certainly if it were me and in this ec climate I'd want to keep the job.