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Original poster

to think I should be able to go part time even though I don't have children

111 replies

suziepra · 02/08/2014 07:43

Hi,

I worked really hard when I was younger, paid off most of my mortgage so my outgoings are small now.

I requested to go part time but they just fobbed be off with its not suitable with my job, even though other people doing similar jobs with kids got this approved.

I feel peeved as its generally the rule that children is the only valid reason to go part time, I just want to enjoy my life more.

When I signed on the job centre threatened to stop the JSA because I was only applying for part time and as someone without children im expected to only look for full time work!

OP posts:
pandarific · 02/08/2014 12:21

I really dislike the 'a job is a job' 'you think min wage is beneath you' stuff. The OP has explained she has certain skills built up over a long time that make her more suitable for that kind of work.

It would have been irresponsible of her to take an unskilled job, while she was skilled and bale to look for work in other areas, and take it away from someone who needed it more. Yeesh.

caroldecker · 02/08/2014 12:21

If you can only apply for 'skilled' jobs whilst not working full time, how to 'skilled' people move jobs - surely the difficulty of full time 'skilled' work makes job searching impossible?

pandarific · 02/08/2014 12:25

I don't think the op was saying that, carole - correct me if I'm wrong though. I gathered she was just annoyed that when she was looking through the jobcentre she was annoyed that they wouldn't let her look for part time work vs full time.

ilovesooty · 02/08/2014 12:52

herald it's not one I would normally have made but in this case the OP has been unpleasant about people less qualified than herself while not presenting as someone professional and highly qualified.

And it certainly appears that she has the financial resources to exercise choice over her work pattern - nothing wrong with that. Her employer however does need to cite a clear business reason for refusing her request.

FraidyCat · 02/08/2014 12:57

Why shouldn't you do "blue collar work" just because you're a highly skilled professional?

My only experience with JSA was more than twenty years ago, but I remember them making it clear that they wanted you to apply for work similar to what you had been doing, at least initially.

TBH, applying for work you're over-qualified for often doesn't work, as the potential employer can see you will be off as soon as something better comes up.

I think the job-centre were being pragmatic, taking a long-term view. If someone gets into the right job for them, they are less likely to be on JSA again in the foreseeable future.

Pyjamaramadrama · 02/08/2014 12:58

Yanbu to want a part time job.

However yabu to think that the job centre are discriminating against you, you don't need a part time job so if unemployed technically you should be open to all employment even if it's just as a stop gap.

Once you're in employment then if course by all means request to go part time/look for part time work. It sounds as though your employer is being unfair.

FraidyCat · 02/08/2014 13:02

Also, as a general rule, employers want people who've been doing a similar job previously, so if anything, people who wanted to skive would apply for different jobs to those they have done, on the grounds they would be less likely to get them. i.e the job-centre thinks you will be off their hand soonest if you apply for what you are most qualified to do.

FraidyCat · 02/08/2014 13:09

In my profession you would be mad to take "any" job, as once you had a one or two year gap in your CV, it would be difficult to go back (to a job paying five times as much.) You would be behind some else without a gap, and the mere fact that unskilled work was on your CV would make employers think there was something off/wrong with you.

Northernlurker · 02/08/2014 13:21

So now you want to take time out from work altogether? Hmm Why?

Anniegetyourgun · 02/08/2014 13:30

My Jobcentre not only offered me only the job descriptions I agreed fitted with my skill set, they had no problem with applying for part-time jobs, on the grounds that it's still better than no job. I did indeed get a part-time job through them, shortly followed by another through my own means, which added up neatly to full-time work. (To be fair this was about three years ago; they may well have toughened up since.)

I am not particularly suited to blue collar type work either, not because I consider it beneath me, but because I am not good enough for it, being less than great at practical tasks (whilst being quite good at some other stuff). I'm also middle-aged and somewhat stout, so although I can, for example, hump boxes if required - and indeed have done - it really isn't what I do best. That isn't snobbish, it's playing to your strengths.

Anyway, as the OP said, she did get a job in her specialism before the Jobcentre got tired of waiting and tried to push her into anything else, so she wasn't swanning around indefinitely. If she had a decent wad of savings she wouldn't have been entitled to any payouts once her entitlement to contributions-based JSA expired. It's still worth signing on, though, as it covers your National Insurance contributions. Not entirely cost-neutral to the public purse, but far from living the high life at taxpayers' expense either.

This is all a red herring though, isn't it? It's not about what she did ages ago when she was looking for a job, it's about whether her employer is reasonable to refuse to let her work reduced hours. I think they can get away with it, sadly. The law says they have to consider your application but it doesn't say they have to agree to it. Which actually makes it a bit useless really. Unions can often be helpful in these situations. Moving to a more enlightened employer is also a good strategy.

LumionaMoonsplash · 02/08/2014 13:34

It makes sense to employ more people at their preferred part time hours rather than fewer full time employees who'd prefer to be part time, surely.

Original poster
suziepra · 02/08/2014 13:35

Cat and panda that's exactly it, would deskill me if I spent too long outside of my skill set. I've worked hard to be mortgage free and have saving precisely so I have options.

To the person calling me unpleasent, you obviously have a chip on your shoulder all I said is I wasn't suited and even used blue collar rather than unskilled to not offend.

OP posts:
Original poster
suziepra · 02/08/2014 13:38

The job centre didn't try to push me to take any old job even after 8 months. They understood I had skills and it was best to get a job that matches them in order to get sustained long term employment (and pay more taxes).

OP posts:
caroldecker · 02/08/2014 14:28

The OP said

And I disagree that you should take any old job as the jobs I was applying for take a lot of time to prep for and I wouldn't of had the time if I was working in KFC.

Suggesting that once you had a job, applying for another was impossible.

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 02/08/2014 14:41

How long have you actually been in your current job? I'm guessing less than a year? Maybe that's why they're not open to you going part time yet. It will have cost them to advertise your job and employ you.

ilovesooty · 02/08/2014 14:48

You stopped signing on because the Job centre expected you to look for full time work and you state this was unfair a f discriminatory. I don't agree with you. I so agree that you have the right to apply on your job for flexible working and be considered the same as anyone else.

And no, I don't have a chip on my shoulder. I'm childless and professionally qualified too. i

hamptoncourt · 02/08/2014 14:48

Could you see if you can job share with the woman who is returning from maternity leave if she doesn't want to be full time? Do you have any means of contacting her?

Otherwise you will have to look for a part time job elsewhere but I would make it known to HR that you were going to leave if they didn't accept your flexible working request - they might back down?

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 02/08/2014 14:51

I think the playing field has to be level for all employees - it is not fair for an employer to consider flexi time for people with small kids onlyl - what about the increasing number of people who have ageing parents who need a lot of care......l

ilovesooty · 02/08/2014 14:52

I just didn't like your assertion "me as a highly skilled professional shouldn't be pushed into blue collar wprk". It's now happening to a lot of people as a condition of claiming jsa. You were no different.

ilovesooty · 02/08/2014 14:56

And of course now the law has changed it is discrimitory only to consider applications from parents for flexible working. I do agree with the OP that her reasons are not her employer's business.

Original poster
suziepra · 02/08/2014 15:05

I'm saying I shouldnt be pushed into blue c work as its a waste of my skills, would hurt my future prospects and there are other people better suited to it. How's that nasty?

I've been there 9 months. They would have paid an agency a five figure sum to take me on perm. I don't want them wasting that money that's why I want to go part time rather than leaving. They say no, but probably don't realise I'm financaly very secure so can leave at the drop of a hat and not have to worry about money for years.

OP posts:
Original poster
suziepra · 02/08/2014 15:05

I'm saying I shouldnt be pushed into blue c work as its a waste of my skills, would hurt my future prospects and there are other people better suited to it. How's that nasty?

I've been there 9 months. They would have paid an agency a five figure sum to take me on perm. I don't want them wasting that money that's why I want to go part time rather than leaving. They say no, but probably don't realise I'm financaly very secure so can leave at the drop of a hat and not have to worry about money for years.

OP posts:
Original poster
suziepra · 02/08/2014 15:09

I asked about job sharing with the woman on mat leave, but they are already concerned that she might request to go part time and I got the impression that was another reason why they didn't want me to have it.

I offered to do 3 days a week, and if needed I was willing to go up to 8.5 hours a day.

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 02/08/2014 15:37

I don't understand why you are saying the work the job centre suggested would 'hurt' your 'future prospects' at the same time as you are declaring you are financially secure and plan to take an indefinite time out from work.

Which is it - either you're bothered about your career or you're not bothered about it. I notice you haven't answered my question about why you want to 'take time out' either.

HippityHoppityLaLaLa · 02/08/2014 15:39

[https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working/overview This webpage] has the current details on flexible working, spread over 4 sections, each on its own page. Reasons for refusing are on page 4, and appealing is on page 5.