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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Temp Job, hours different to what I was told...

30 replies

Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2018 07:30

Posting for traffic but also asking AIBU. I was contacted by an agency who had seen my CV on line. It was about a temp job for 3 months which I went in to speak with them about yesterday and to register with them. They had sent the job description prior, with the working hours stated as "falling between 8am and 16:45, paid at an hourly rate. I asked about the actual start and finish times in the interview and was told 8:30 til 16:45. When they called yesterday afternoon to ask me to start in Monday, I accepted on that basis.They have since sent details with the hours stated as 8:00 til 5:15. This is not do-able for me for a number of reasons, the man one being lack of convenient public transport. As I was verbally told 8:30 to 16:45, and the initial job description says "falling between" AIBU to ring them to question this? I really want the job. Help!! Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2018 07:34

Frantically bumping this as I need to speak to them this morning! Confused

OP posts:
peachypetite · 13/04/2018 07:37

Just tell them it's not what you agreed and doesn't work for you.

Snowysky20009 · 13/04/2018 07:37

Just ask what you've said here. You've accepted as you told it would be a 4:45 finish but are now confused it is stating 5:15, please can they clarify.

Bixg · 13/04/2018 07:37

Call them and question it. Then decide. Good luck on the job front.

BrownTurkey · 13/04/2018 07:37

Ring and say you noticed there is a difference in the written and verbal information and you are happy to start on monday if the times are confirmed to be xyz. They will want you to start rather than go back to the drawing board, so you have the power here i would think. Or if you would do it anyway, you can ask, and if they say no, say you will make some arrangements and would still like the job.

noMincedWords · 13/04/2018 07:37

Definitely ring them to question it but depending on the role i.e. how easily you are replaced, be prepared to be told it's not negotiable.

I guess it's very role-dependent as to whether your hours can be changed too.

Talk to them and cross your fingers but convenient transport doesn't sound like the best reason to me. How undoable are the new hours?

Archietheinventor · 13/04/2018 07:38

Of course you can question it! Hopefully they have made a mistake with the 5.15 - hope you get it sorted.

icklekid · 13/04/2018 07:39

Ynbu to question and explain your issue with transport to see if any flexibility however ultimately it might not be something they can change. Hope it works out for you!

lapetitesiren · 13/04/2018 07:39

Just explain that there is transport difficulty and ask if you could work at the times you need to. It might not be an issue.

ElsieMay123 · 13/04/2018 07:41

First decide if you're prepared to not take the job, if so it makes it an easier conversation for you to push for the stated hours. I would certainly raise it anyway. They are unlikely to reject you for asking but they might if you can't do the hours they need. Their fault but you could suffer.

BlondeB83 · 13/04/2018 07:44

Call and ask them.

Original poster
Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2018 07:49

Thanks all, knew you'd be here to Help! Re the transport, an 8:30 start would mean I catch the 7:54 Train and walk 20 mins. An 8am start means I have to catch a train at 6:29 and hang around etc before walking to work. I know this probably sounds like a silly minor thing, but I will go on to explain the reason why my working hours are relevant/important. Re finish times, a 16:45 finish means a 17:15 Train and a 17:15 finish means an 18:15 train. Like I said, it might sound like a minor thing but I have M.S and whilst I am obviously able to work, I do suffer with fatigue and know my limitations in terms of the length of the working day, including travel....

OP posts:
NellMangel · 13/04/2018 07:54

Definitely explain to them. Your reasons are completely justified. Hopefully they can honour the verbal pattern. Let us know how you get on.

Original poster
Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2018 07:55

Btw the agency don't know I have M.S as it doesn't require me to have any adaptations made etc so there was no need to tell them as it doesn't affect my actual work

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Original poster
Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2018 08:06

Also, there are a few of us due to start, rather than just me and there will be training etc so I'm guessing me questioning this won't be well received but it is different to both the original jib description and what I was told. Any thoughts on the words falling between as well? Because that doesn't suggest actual start/finish times to me...

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NellMangel · 13/04/2018 08:08

I don't think you need to mention MS if you don't want to. The point is you accepted the position on one basis and they've changed things. It might just be an oversight and easy to amend the paperwork.

Commute time is always a consideration when I look at jobs and a 10 hour day is a whole different ball game to being out for 12 hours. Regardless of the reasons you're perfectly entitled to let this influence whether you take a job.

catinapoolofsunshine · 13/04/2018 08:13

Falling between means it might be less - if working hours fall between 8am and 16:45 you might work 8am to 16:45, or 10am to 2pm, or 8am to 16:45, or any combination of hours, but not earlier than 8am or later than 16:45.

Is there a reason you're agonising over it so much? Does turning the work down impact benefits or are you desperate to work?

If not, just say that the hours you were offered were perfect but that as they have now changed they are not possible, so you will not be able to take up the temp contract.

If its important that you get work through this agency telling them about your MS might be a good idea, so that you can point them back to that info to remind them you can't be totally flexible about doing long days.

OliviaStabler · 13/04/2018 08:15

Call first thing today and say you've noticed an error on their paperwork. The hours that you agreed toward between were A and not B. Please can they update the paperwork and resend.

catinapoolofsunshine · 13/04/2018 08:17

That change in hours could make the job impossible for people with childcare to organise too. Not being clear about hours is a mistake on the part of the agency because it is likely other people will accept an 8:30 to 16:45 temp job but have to turn it down when told they have to start at 8 and work til 5:15. That half hour either end could be exactly what makes using paid childcare impossible. For a good permanent job people might move heaven and earth to find a work around, but not for a 3 month temp job.

Original poster
Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2018 08:23

Thanks for your replies. I'm agonising over it because I do need a job (mine ended just before Easter, I'm being paid until the end of April) and I'd just rather be sorted with something, even temp before having to go down the benefits route (would only be entitled to contributions based as DP earns more than the amount for income based) Also, it is a company that's worth "getting in with" iyswim

OP posts:
NellMangel · 13/04/2018 08:30

Well there's no harm asking. If they're adamant that the hours are longer you can perhaps accept and see what happens...could be car share possibilities or they might do a rota for the later finish.

LIZS · 13/04/2018 08:36

Could you uber there until you can renegotiate or find someone to help with a lift perhaps.

snewsname · 13/04/2018 08:41

Cooks it just be the initial training that is different timings?

snewsname · 13/04/2018 08:41

Could

Original poster
Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2018 08:52

I have just rung to question it and they are checking and coming back to me. They accepted that this is different to what I was told at least. Crossing my fingers!!

OP posts: