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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

On call

124 replies

BabylonElf · 22/12/2012 20:22

AIBU To refuse to go on the "on call" rota if/when I return to work?

On call would be once a week and one wknd in 4 from Friday 5.30pm to Monday 9am.

If I get a call out, I have to travel 30 miles to the lab, pack up lifesaving blood products, wait for a courier to collect them and then drive 30 miles home. All for £30 a call out.

I did it previously and was happy to be on call until I was 34 weeks pregnant with dc3.

I'm due to return to work end of January. DS is still EBF (and weaning) but I breastfeed him minimum of 4 times in 24 hours.

DH is a self employed plumber and is on call for plumbing emergencies 24/7.
He is also main breadwinner.

The likelihood of us both being called out at the same time is very slim, I realise that, but my DCs come first and in the event that we did both get called out in the middle of the night or otherwise, I wouldn't be happy having to drag them on a 60 mile round trip. There's no way they could go with DH either.

I happened to mention this to a colleague today at a mutual friends birthday party, and she just looked daggers at me

It's a massive bone of contention with her anyway as she is the person who gets called when anything goes wrong, but AIBU to refuse to do this?

OP posts:

toobreathless · 22/12/2012 23:51

I would have no issue with this as one of your colleagues unless I was expected to do more on calls to cover you. Then I would refuse

'Your' shifts should be offered to your colleagues if you don't want to do them. If they don't want to do them they shouldn't be forced too. I work as part of an on call rota and if there is a gap for any reason we are offered locus rates or if no one wants the shift a locum is employed.

Original poster

BabylonElf · 22/12/2012 23:53

Zero hours contract is something DH been looking at. Not many takers though!!

Boss happy for me to take DCs to work, though I'm certain the HR wouldn't be happy if they knew.

Sub contractors also an option for DH, like I said, we're covering as many options as possible!!

OP posts:

scottishmummy · 22/12/2012 23:55

no.you buy sofa bed from ikea,you have reliable agency or sitter to book
you accommodate the babysitter, dh work,you work.or he passes on job
you're purposefully carastrophising this.it doesn't need be so all or nothing

MrsKeithRichards · 22/12/2012 23:55

So there are workable options, which will work if you want them to!

Original poster

BabylonElf · 22/12/2012 23:56

Right ok :)
Thanks for your helpful suggestions ScottishMummy

OP posts:

Original poster

BabylonElf · 22/12/2012 23:57

Yep definitely workable options MrsKR just want to make sure we get the right one! :)

OP posts:

scottishmummy · 22/12/2012 23:59

you're being purposefully obtuse you have sitter,you have sofa,you're reluctant
it's not the absolute no other option sceanario you're portraying
you not need traipse kids to lab.you have sitter,you have options

toobreathless · 22/12/2012 23:59

Ideas:

Swap your On calls so that you have guaranteed childcare- family member/friend?
DH takes Annual leave over your on calls.
See if you can pay a babysitter to be 'on call' for your on calls- come over only if you get a call out.

It IS hard, I appreciate that. DH and I both work shifts and on calls.

weasle · 23/12/2012 00:05

If you are bf I think you can ask not to do on calls or nights. I did that at one point and it was fine with the hospital HR.

You need to be very organised and get rota in advance then DH can plan not to be on call that day or get a sitter.

It is possible, both DH and I do nights/ on calls with 3 dc but you have to plan well in advance and swap any clashes. Good luck.

scottishmummy · 23/12/2012 00:10

fixed shifts on call for you,project dates.dh or sitter cover
no surprises.book sitter in case dh get call out
your on call does need to be po rata to hrs worked

TheSecondComing · 23/12/2012 00:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scottishmummy · 23/12/2012 00:13

plenty jobs do on call,you accommodate it.you know that taking job
op on call will be factored in the post,same as as her colleagues accommodate
employing someone additional hrs or weekend costs the employer more

TheSecondComing · 23/12/2012 00:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

custardismyhamster · 23/12/2012 00:21

Union staff member here.

First job, speak to HR. Ask their opinion. Also read contract carefully.

Speak to your union if a member. If not, maybe CAB.

Totally agree with poster who said your on call should be 60% that of a full time staff member if you're doing that percentage of a working week. Asking for your on call shifts in advance is not an unreasonable request.

Good luck and pm me if you want further help

scottishmummy · 23/12/2012 00:26

her overall salary Inc on call,she not working for nothing.all inclusive salary she paid
if op won't work,either collegues pick up oncall or employ someone else at extra

TheSecondComing · 23/12/2012 00:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scottishmummy · 23/12/2012 00:30

you're irascible and potty mouthed
and no I'm not biting
go swear at someone else see if they bite

TheSecondComing · 23/12/2012 00:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

scottishmummy · 23/12/2012 00:34

ask notification of shifts in advance, allows you notify sitter
of course on call is pro rata
book meeting with hr

MrsKeithRichards · 23/12/2012 00:40

I do think no no call allowance is shit. And a flat £30 is shit too.

Original poster

BabylonElf · 23/12/2012 10:05

That flat £30 is also subject to tax and national insurance

OP posts:

Somebodysomewhere · 23/12/2012 10:15

I used to work in a lab where we did on call and didnt get paid to do it,only for call outs. The call out money was already included in our very small salary.

Im wondering if you work for the same company..although i doubt it as we had more than one lab (Coventry and one in West Yorks)

Narnia34 · 23/12/2012 10:33

I'm not surprised your colleague 'looked daggers' at you! She, and everyone else that you work with has been carrying the can for you for months, and now you're telling them that they might have to continue, because you don't want to do that part of the job, despite being contractually obligated to do it.

I fail to see what relevance your chosen method of feeding your child has on your being on call. Do you have a contingency for times when you and your DH are 'on call' together?

IMO, you are not being deeply unreasonable. Look for a new job.

DontmindifIdo · 23/12/2012 12:43

Up thread I suggested looking for local teenagers who want some more work - if it's a case of just sitting in your house for a maximum of 1.5 hours just incase you are called out when your DH has already been called out, then I'd pay a retainer (perhaps £5 a night) for them to stay at home and be 'on call' for you, if you need them, they can have another £10. This is going to be far more cost effective than you giving up work completely.

And working 3 days a week, you shouldn't be expected to be on call for the same number of nights as a full time staff member, you can insist on 4 weeks notice of on call dates (so you can plan either family staying or paying a retainer to said teenager, or your DH can arrange other people to cover his on call hours).

If you are going to have costs to being 'on call' then your DH shouldn't be knocking those call out fees off his final bill. I've never heard of a plumber agreeing to those terms.

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