aibu?

[PandaFeet]

I applied for a 16 hour job and got it. They said occasionally the hours would be more. I said that was ok occasionally but I wanted a part time job to fit around the kids.

Now its become apparent that in actual fact they want me to work over 5 days a week, and so far my hours are more like 25 per week. My youngest is not even 2 yet and we are now looking at having to pay childcare for 5 days a week when I'm only working part time hours on part time min wage.

If I wanted to work 5 days a week I would have applied for a full time job.

Am I being unreasonable? What should I do about it? I hate confrontation and although I don't want to leave I feel I should so they can find someone who wants to do what they are asking.

Just do the 16 hours then.

You need to see your line manager to see if you can negotiate (assuming your contract says you can be allocated extra hours - if it doesn't then politely decline the extra work). You could request a change to your contract as a flexible working request, but have an idea what you want before the meeting (e.g. no more than 20 hours over 4 days or whatever). Ultimately the company doesn't have to agree, and then you have to choose whether to stay in the job or not.

Hahaha Ribena - in whose world would that work.... it is a min wage part time job.

Probably presented as a 16 hours per week, variable hours contract - fairly standard.

All you can do is negotiate hours, all the time - be a broken record, or be blunt and say you only want to do 16 hours (and hope that keeps you the job) or quit and find one that fits better.

Its a small business, no contract. Technically I'm on a zero hours contract with no holiday pay etc. If I leave I will be leaving them in the lurch, if I stay and demand less hours I will be doing the same.

I think I need to leave and let them find someone else. But I feel bad even though its them who have moved the goal posts.

Zero hours contracts are a pain. I personally would leave because you just have no week on week continuity of hours or pay - but only if you CAN take the hit wages wise.

so it isn't a 16 hour job ? Can you not say you are only available on x, y and z.

I can take the hit, I haven't been there long enough to be relying on it.

I just hate having to do it. :(

No. I have to do one weekend day every week and this week I have had to do 4.5 hours tues to fri. Last week was the same.

If I leave I will be leaving them in the lurch, if I stay and demand less hours I will be doing the same

no you're not - this is of their own making, they said 16 hours a week and have moved the goalposts

it will drop after the holidays they usually do so if you can stand it for the 6 weeks you will get what your looking for (or maybe less)

Leave them in the lurch where they have placed themselves.

I'm just worried that they won't see that and it will turn into a big "you have wasted our time" confrontation.

Does it matter if it creates a scene? What was the work pattern discussed for the 16 hours .

There were two shifts discussed, short and long. But nothing was said about the amount of days. I said I was fully flexible with notice a week ahead (which they said they would do, and haven't) and that I could only do extra hours occasionally.

saying you were flexible seems to have been your mistake. Have they given you a week's notice for extra ? They are taking advantage . Ask to sit down and review how things are going . Say you can do these days regularly plus an alternate weekend day.

Did you agree to set days?

they heard fully flexible... nothing else - because that is what they wanted.

you need to get in before they do the rota for the week/month/whatever and say "can't do Tue/Wed/Sun" this week or "kids need me more that week, so can we stick to the 16 hours".

They need to know when you are available and will push it as far as they possibly can to fit what THEY need - that is the point of zero hours for employers. You need to make sure you don't go into "doormat" mode and actually say what suits you best - repeatedly - or they will just carry on along the Panda says she is fully flexible line....

I'm just worried that they won't see that and it will turn into a big "you have wasted our time" confrontation.

No, they have wasted your time.

You either tell them that you can do the 16 hours that THEY advertised, suck it up and do the hours they actually want, or just leave.

Nobody else is going to stand up for you. If you leave, then you won't have a job anyway. So either suck it up or do the 16 hours.

If someone hired me on a zero hour contract I wouldn't feel any obligation to them whatsoever. Fuckers.

I told them at the end of my shift today that I had had enough and I wouldn't be back.

I got left under "supervision" of another employee who basically gave me all the jobs he didn't want to do and then barked at me when I wasn't going fast enough. I had to constantly help him with his tasks and then explain to him why I wasn't getting round to mine. And then to top it off he completely refused to help me with something I was seriously struggling with. I don't know how anyone could stand there and refuse to help someone who was clearly struggling.

All in all a disaster. I feel like a failure now. My mum has basically told me I'm an arsehole for leaving. I will be beating myself up over this for a long time. I already have self esteem issues and this will set me back so far. DP keeps telling me its not my fault. But the voice in my head won't listen.

You're not a failure and you're not an arsehole. They are shit employers. Sounds to me like you made a good call.

Remember that the voice in your head lies. I have the same voice.

Thanks. I do know deep down that its not my fault, but there's no talking to me sometimes. My head is pretty messed up.

I will just try to only apply for jobs that have more specific hours, and be really clear at interview about what I am willing to do!

Why is your mum right and your DP wrong? Listen to your DP