Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Change to work hours - 1 day notice?

38 replies

jennifleurs · 17/02/2014 11:16

In my contract it says something about being flexible to meet the demands of the company.

But for the 2nd time (a couple of weeks apart) my shift time has been changed short notice and im struggling for child care.

It's only an hour different - was supposed to do a 5-9 but now changed to a 4-8, but boss emailed everyone last night at 7.30pm.

Am I in the right if I ring and say I can't come in earlier because I have child care arranged for 5-9?

OP posts:

glasgowsteven · 17/02/2014 12:47

sexual discrimination as it discriminates against workers with children.

Its not sexual if it discriminates against workers with children - as both male and female do have caring responisibilites

Original poster

jennifleurs · 17/02/2014 13:28

Aren't read receipts seen by the recipient as well?

Regardless, I can lie but don't like doing it as I feel under pressure with him anyway.

OP posts:

Braganza · 17/02/2014 13:48

Sexual discrimination does not have to be overt. Indirect discrimination is defined as 'a rule, policy or practice which someone of a particular sex is less likely to be able to meet than and this places them at a disadvantage to the opposite sex.' (CAB website) So even if a policy is equally applied to both sexes, then if it disadvantages one sex due to societal norms (i.e because women generally have main responsibility for childcare) then legally its indirect discrimination, and actionable. Karim v Laura Ashley (2011) held that shift changes that discriminated unfairly against anyone were childcare obligations were a form of sex discrimination. So yes, you this sounds like it counts.

Original poster

jennifleurs · 17/02/2014 14:38

I phoned up. Spoke to the (much nicer) dept. manager and explained, she said it was no problem.

Thanks for all the replies I do need to stand up for myself more with him as he's a bully and im scared of losing my job if I put a foot wrong which isn't a good way to be thinking I know.

OP posts:

Braganza · 17/02/2014 14:51

Glad it worked out. Would it be possible to let your boss know that you can't can't re-arrange childcare at such short notice, but are very happy to be flexible otherwise? Telling him would put you in a much stronger position if he does it again.

NearTheWindmill · 17/02/2014 15:00

Many contracts are flexible and many people who work on them are mothers and on low pay. It is unreasonable to change hours at short notice when people have caring responsibilities.

Act on the message when it's received, ask if your dh/mum/childminder can help and if they can't you just have to say "I'm terribly sorry I tried to sort out childcare at short notice but it wasn't possible, please can I work my usual shift". If you have child care that is pre-paid or can't be cancelled then let them know so they have realistic expectations of what you can and can't do.

Original poster

jennifleurs · 17/02/2014 15:23

Yes I will try to broach this subject with the deputy manager, I find her much more approachable and I know she co-organises rotas with boss.

I've been there nearly 6 months (new store so we're all new) and very much enjoy the job but am on edge when boss is there because of this telling off I had.

Thanks again for all replies - really need to work on my assertiveness and stand up to him. It's just so hard when you've been unemployed and having to deal with the vile Job Centre staff. I don't ever want to be fired and have to go back there because I think it would crush me.

OP posts:

CoffeeTea103 · 17/02/2014 15:29

Yanbu, it's ridiculously short notice. Just go in at 5.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 17/02/2014 15:34

Where I used to work, there had to be a 5 week notice period given for change of shift pattern (union agreement). An email, outside of working hours, with no guarantee you'll see the email (I'm guessing work don't provide you with a laptop/smartphone/wifi access and you're not paid to be available 24/7) is in no way notification of a change. Keep the email as evidence of his bullying - you may well need it in future.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 17/02/2014 15:36

Also - DO NOT be sorry you couldn't make it. He should be sorry he's not more organised. If you were earning millions and were paid to be jump when your boss said so, fine. But from what you've written, you're not, so you have nothing to feel bad about.

Original poster

jennifleurs · 17/02/2014 16:13

Definitely not earning millions lol. It's a few pence above min wage. But honestly do enjoy the job and am so glad I finally have one again - been an uphill struggle to get off JSA.

I never want to go back to that.

OP posts:

nickymanchester · 17/02/2014 16:31

Doesn't everyone have smart phones these days with their email synced? I do so no getting away from it unfortunately.

I don't mean to be funny or anything, but are you being serious or sarcastic here as there are no emoticons?

On the assumption that you are being serious then the figures are only just starting to creep up to about 50% of the population having smartphones.

The proportion of those that have synced email is, I would suggest, quite small

Original poster

jennifleurs · 17/02/2014 16:46

nickymanchester well most people, not everyone. Just said that because the majority of people I know have them. No escaping emails etc was all I meant.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2