Requesting no evening shifts?

[Mammymon]

I am returning to work in a few weeks (my little one is 9 months) and when putting in my application for flexible working I have requested to go part time and to only work mornings; the latest finish being 2pm.

The reasons for this are:

1. There is another working mother in the exact same role as myself who was given the exact hours I have requested when she returned to work after maternity

1. My partner does a job where he works away for a week, then is home for a week, in a constant pattern of week on week off so when he is away the only person left to have my little one is my mother who herself works evening shifts beginning at 3pm.

My employer has come back and said they cannot accommodate me. That I must work the later shifts until 8 pm as well as a mix of earlier shifts. They said the woman who has the early hours contract was given it a few years back and they now no longer offer it.

My problem is that even if I put little one in nursery, they close at 6, who would have him until 8? He goes to bed at 7:30 so He needs someone to feed him, change him and put him to bed before I even get home!

Am I being unreasonable expecting the same contract as someone doing the same job as me? I literally have no way of working until 8 with a 9 month old son and a partner who works away!

Have you had a return to work discussion yet? Or was this it?

'Mum hours' are like gold dust at our place. I do rotas and they are a pain. Do you work in retail op?

what's your partner doing to vary his hours so that he can do 50:50 childcare?

They made do while you were away because it was probably easier than hiring and training a temp; but that was their choice. Why should they continue to be inconvenienced now that their employee is back. You really need to do the shifts assigned to you or leave. They're not doing anything wrong here, and your schedule isn't their look out.

EVERYONE
I am sure Rodgerrabbit29
was being ironic!!

OP, sadly, just luck of the drawer for you, they gave the flexi option to her, and probably realised very shortly after it wasnt very viable, but they can't really go back on their offer to her.

Get it in writing the exact reasons they won't offer it to you, go and seek legal advice, and go with whatever your solicitor advises
not a lot else you can do

Could your DP not put in a flexible working request? Why is this all your responsibility to sort out?

I sympathise OP. It is really shit. Evening childcare is like gold dust round here and I have a partner with quite inflexible hours too (as do lots of people I know, there is only so much some jobs can be varied). I had to reduce my hours to manage childcare. I only managed that with a fight and I am now seriously limited in what I can do as evenings are a no go a lot of the time. Many, many people I know are in th same position.

zaphod she clearly says her Mum starts work at 3pm not 2pm so has an hour for handover.

I know for a fact however that they didn't get anyone in to cover me while on maternity, they didn't hire anyone I mean, they just juggled rotas around to cover, so why can't they carry on doing that while also having me there?
So everyone else should be inconvenienced for you? I don't think that would be particularly fair...

They juggled rotas to cover you as you were legally entitled to maternity leave. That is ending so you are expected to return to work. Other employees have families they have to look after, why should you get favouritism. Appreciate its hard as have been there myself , but if you cannot find a way round it you may have to leave, all part of the joy of having children I'm afraid.

I don't think they are being unfair at all - they hired you to do a specific job and that's what they need you to do. Not their fault that your circumstances have changed.
Has your dp looked into requesting flexitime? Because childcare is as much his responsibility as it is yours.

Agree with pp that covering your mat leave was a temporary situation. Other staff members have lives and families too and probably don't want to work more evening shifts just so that you can work none!
The other staff member's hours are irrelevant. They could probably cover the evening shifts more easily when she put 8n her request. Or they've discovered it is problematic but they are stuck with her hours now.
It does suck for you but they can't organise their business around your childcare and not piss off everyone else who works there and without compromising their business.

The reality is that if they gave it to everyone who asked for it, they wouldn't have enough people to do late shifts. Most people will have a reason they don't want to do late shifts.

It's annoying but you either make it work or look for another job.

Op how about a nanny share or an au pair. I had au pairs for years during midwifery training with evenings nights ect.

Rednails yes, sorry, I misread the original post. But even an hour for the handover, bearing in mind mum will have to get to work, isn't very long, unless they all live and work very close by.

I'm public sector and was given six months to sort childcare for new working patterns which would include evening shifts. Six years wouldn't have solved my problem, I couldn't work evenings, so after a lengthy service had to leave (district nursing). The 'needs of the service' come first apparently. Said service is now on its knees.

I mean, they just juggled rotas around to cover, so why can't they carry on doing that while also having me there?

Oy vey.

Time to look for another job. In the meantime, you could offer to work till 6. It's a compromise, you're showing goodwill. They and you don't have to fit together though.

I know for a fact however that they didn't get anyone in to cover me while on maternity, they didn't hire anyone I mean, they just juggled rotas around to cover, so why can't they carry on doing that while also having me there?

So everyone else would have erratic shifts but you would get fixed shifts? Is that fair, OP?

You can't compare like for like as they have to consider the environment as it now is i.e. there is already one person doing reduced hours which is unfortunately not a good thing for you as that may mean they can't offer it to you too.

I sympathise with your situation-
But as someone who needs to review and (with HR advice) decide on flexiwork requests I can see what your business is saying...
We often get "well so and so does it..." but that's a moot point. We may have been able to accommodate that request then but business needs change and we can't accommodate it now.
How many late shifts a week/month are you expected to do?

Go back with another suggestion.

Ask your partner what flex request he can put in.

See if you can source one evening a week where you can work till 8 and get other childcare in place for the other times.

Is there another member of staff who you can swop shifts with?

To be fair to the people who said it should have been planned before pregnancy it was something we sorted when I was pregnant. I used to work shifts but we had the similar issues, my husband works away irregularly with no family to support. One of us had to change jobs as it wouldn't work with childcare. I found a job with regular 9-5 hours which suits us much better.

it's frustrating but the other persons shift pattern is irrelevant. They cannot accommodate a second person being inflexible. Likely they have learned through the first one.

It's hard for you but they can do this. Many people I know we're refused part time altogether.

Good luck hope you get something sorted soon.

You're not realistically going to be able to go back to that job. Chalk it up to experience and find something that you can manage.