To ask my employer to cover childcare!

[haggyloops]

I work 3 days a week and have been asked to work full time for a week in October and take the days back over the following week. So in effect work 5 days one week and then 2x 2 day weeks. My childcare is contracted and so I will need to book and pay for additional childcare those 2 said which will be approximately £150 (i have 3 children)

I am pretty sure my employer won't allow it but it's it unreasonable too ask them to cover my additional costs? Should I just suck it up and stop whining? I can't decide if I'm being precious x

I would have just explained that no, I could not work full time for that week as I would not have childcare available.

you can ask... they will say yes or no

your job will greatly increase or decrease your chances i would think. ceo on huge salary- probably. minimum wage- i really doubt it, its more than your wage

A previous situation I had was slightly different as in I was asked to work some of my non work days when DS was in nursery. I didn't have time of in lieu as you are but I got paid overtime and they offered to pay my childcare as well.
If your nursery hours are contracted and you can't just change them round then I think they should pay. If they say no then you can't do it - I assume it is an option to say no as they are asking for a favour?

Depends on the job, depends on your prospects, depends whether you're pulling them out of a huge hole or doing something that will be beneficial to your career advancements. Would it be possible for you to book something for the free days you have in the following week to make best use of the child-free time - dentist or painting the house or whatever?

Can you swap days rather than do extras? My nursery allows me to do this for a small fee (£6 per swap I think) if I need to change my working days.
Then you could swap the days in the following weeks you are not working for the days in the week you are working extra?

I think it depends on if you are expected to be flexible and if you were given the choice.

I would ask or just say you can't do it BECAUSE you don't have childcare for those extra days, and it will be too expensive to find cover for them IF you can even find it.

Contracted nursery hours are just that! You would have to pay for additional days, and that's assuming they would even have space for your child(ren)!

It is not unreasonable to ask. Phrase it that you can only do this if they can cover the cost of your additional childcare, otherwise you cannot afford it.

There really isn't any reason not to ask. They want you to work; you can't unless you have childcare. Either they cover it or you don't work, they'll have to assess what matters most to them.

I'd approach your childcare provider, and ask if they'd be able to swap those days. It might be possible as you're giving plenty of notice.
If they say that you can't, then I'd tell your employer that you've tried to swap unsuccessfully. Ask them if they'd consider paying your childcare costs.
I don't think they could consider it unreasonable if you've explored other options first.