To expect work to cover my child care costs?

[CatThiefKeith]

Background is I work as a receptionist at weekends, but the weekday receptionist is having some health problems following a routine operation and I got a phone call this morning asking If I can cover her job for the next fortnight.

Dh works full time, plus 3/4 evenings in a different job, so the only way I could do so would be to employ a childminder or increase her days at preschool and use a childminder for the rest of the day ( it is only open mornings)

It is a minimum wage job, so I would effectively be working 14 days without a day off for less than £3 p/h.

Would I be massively unreasonable to say I will do it if they cover the childcare costs?

Have you actually sounded out your childminder friends to check they aren't already booked up? Would be a bit if he agrees and you can't get the kids into childcare.

God, he gets more wankerish with every email he sends.

I like Tension's reply too.

What a cheeky, unpleasant twat this man is. He has deliberately twisted things to try to guilt trip you and has shown himself to be an unreasonable, selfish prick. I'd be tempted to tell him to ram it but reckon Tension's email would be better. Don't forget to reiterate that you are prepared to offer 3 days a week not the full amount of time and that it is £40 per day for the childcare. If he still argues or sends another cunty email I'd be tempted to tell him that actually you think it would be a better solution all round for him to engage agency staff to provide cover as you are unable to find a mutually acceptable solution.

Hope you're not getting stressed by him. He really is a toolbag.

He sounds like a total knob. He is trying everything possible to get you to work at no additional cost to himself. He obviously hopes that you will be so desperate to keep your job that you will agree to do the work while paying for childcare yourself.

I would let him know that you are more than happy to help him if he is willing to pay for you to use a qualified childminder for those two weeks. Your family is unavailable and is teenage daughter would not be suitable.

.

As usual, I like YellowDinosaur's response. I have taken the liberty of a little C&P from others and edited it slightly. Can I also suggest that you post on the employment board, as there are a fair few HR bods who might be able to help.

Dear boss,

I have explained I am happy to cover most of the shifts but not for no financial recompense, and the additional childcare costs this would involve at such short notice makes it economically unviable for me. I am also not happy to leave my daughter with an unqualified stranger in order to help.

As I have already explained, childcare will be approximately £40 a day. I will provide receipts for the actual cost. In order to try to arrange childcare I will need some notice so please let me know one way or another by the end of today.

I understand this is a difficult time for the company, hence my willingness to help out for 3 days per week, in line with my other commitments. Alternatively, I am happy to train another person in the role to enable them to assist.

Yours sincerely,

Keith

Dear Boss

I have already supplied you with my estimate of childcare costs in my email on xx.

To save wasting any more time, I'll cut and paste from it below:

I have looked into childminders and the cost would be approximately £40 per day.

As I am sure you understand, this means it is not financially viable for me to cover xxxx for two weeks. It is also unworkable as it would mean a shift pattern of 14 days straight.

I have given the matter some thought, and the only option I am able to offer is three days midweek if you are willing to cover my childcare costs.

I would recommend a quick decision from you as setting up childcare takes some time, and I may already now be too late to get something organised. It is a pity so much time has been lost on addressing the rather unusual, some indeed illegal, "solutions" to your problem you have put forward.

Yours two-fingeredly

Keith

Honestly don't enter into any debate. A simple

I'm sorry I have been unable to help the company out on this occasion. Whilst I would like to be more flexible unfortunately present circumstances make this impossible. I hope you will find suitable alternative cover, if not I could perhaps come in between x and y on these days [ie when your dd is already in preschool allowing travel time], if it would be of any benefit.

Oh, LIZS, that's much better!

I like LIZS reply.

Whilst it might be satisfactory to stick a metaphorical two fingers up at the ghastly man, it's going to make working there very pleasant. I'd perhaps tweak it slightly:

"I'm sorry I have been unable to help the company out on this occasion. Whilst I would like to be more flexible unfortunately present circumstances make this impossible.

I hope you will find suitable alternative cover, if not I could perhaps come in between x and y on these days [ie when your dd is already in preschool allowing travel time], if it would be of any benefit. then in order to help out I'm happy to train someone at the weekend or as per previous email I can come in for 3 days if you cover my childcare costs of £40 per day. "

Sorry that was more tweaking than I thought, twerking maybe....

Sorry for the delay, it has all gone horribly wrong!

Boss replied this morning with.....

After careful consideration with regard to your childcare issues and inability to cover all days, would the following hours be acceptable?

Tues -Friday next week, 9-2.30

Mon - Friday following week 9-2.30
Saturday 9-6
Sunday off.

Xxxx (Office Manager) has offered to cover reception the rest of the time, and I am prepared to cover up to £25 per day childcare costs for shifts you do not normally work.

Regards

Twat boss

If you will be out of pocket, just say no!

Would £25 cover 6 hours of childcare?

In my excitement at having got my own way, and at having a much long for Sunday off with dh a and dd I replied

"That sounds ideal, thank you for your understanding, and I will see you Tuesday"

Then I thought "I know, I will phone the preschool manager and ask if it's ok for dd to do 5 mornings before I phone the cm"

So I did, and she gently reminded me that next week is half term

Unsuprisingly, the cm has no spaces during half term either, but can cover the following week.

Twat boss is so not happy with me!

Oops!

He's being a tight, obtuse, wanker of a boss.

It's not a fucking negotiation - it's a favour he's asking you to do for him and he's making out you are trying to fleece him while he pays minimum wage?

I'd be tempted to reply with

'After careful consideration of your proposal I can confirm I will not be available to work the shifts as suggested. Good luck with hiring a temp.' You wanker

Missed 2nd post.

Well he can just suck it up. And cover reception himself.

Haha oh dear! Bet that went down well.

I sent

"Having looked onto professional childcare for next week it seems that due to half term there are no spaces available and therefore I will be unable to cover next week after all.

I can however still cover the following week when the children will be back at school should you wish.

Please let me know as soon as possible so I can secure my child's place if need be.

Best wishes

Keith.

I got back

"I see"

I sent

"Having looked onto professional childcare for next week it seems that due to half term there are no spaces available and therefore I will be unable to cover next week after all.

I can however still cover the following week when the children will be back at school should you wish.

Please let me know as soon as possible so I can secure my child's place if need be.

Best wishes

Keith.

I got back

"I see"

I sent

"Having looked onto professional childcare for next week it seems that due to half term there are no spaces available and therefore I will be unable to cover next week after all.

I can however still cover the following week when the children will be back at school should you wish.

Please let me know as soon as possible so I can secure my child's place if need be.

Best wishes

Keith.

I got back

"I see"

Whoops!

Ah well, it is extremely short notice!

Boss could have saved himself however many hours' worth of arsing about (and time is money, etc.) if he'd just booked a temp in the first place.

"I see"????? What a twunt. Hope he has to do it himself next week the nasty, passive-aggressive wanker.

He needs to suck it up and put his bloody hand in his pocket! When I couldn't work last minute due to sick baby not able to go to nursery, my boss's wife looked after child! she had had a gizzillion of her own kids and was wholley trusted by me Surely agency staff cost a lot more? If he wasn't so bloody tight in the first place this could all have been resolved a lot sooner, the issue of half term would have cropped up earlier, he wouldn't have left himself in this situation. Good on you for standing your ground!