Have nc as its work related and dont want linking back to anythingi have posted before. I am ready to be told iabu but please be gentle with me. I need advice more than anything
So i have been with my current employer for 5 years, started pt at the very bottom the chain. Have worked hard and been promoted into full time postion, still in same dept but with more responsibility etc. Been in this postion for 2.5yrs. I got the promotion through circumstance, it is not what i set out for but was happy with it at the time. when i started in postion it was temp until someone came back for long term illness. (He wasnt actually ill as it turns out just milking the system) and in the end he was let go/resigned. I had been doing the job for 8months by this point. Job was advertised etc and i got a permanent contract and even though my role does not justify ( or didnt at the time) training, they promised i could have training to enhance my role/cpd. This has still not happened ( no money in budget/role doesnt require etc). They also put me on a 6month trial which i was not happy about (i had already done 8months in the postion) but i went along with it anyway (i do beleive they were going to get rid of my role but circumstances ment i was indisposable until a certain event was over and this took me over the 6 months)
I am contracted to 33hrs a wk But do not have fixed hrs in my contract i generally work a set pattern but i have worked split shifts/ worked 3 over 7/ 5 over 7 or generally what the business requires. I am generally very flexible ( to the point of in my last apprasial the highest manager stated i am the most flexible member of staff out of over 150).
When i first started childcare was part of the package (staff perk) this changed to a 50% charge which i ( and other staff) accepted.
They then changed my shift pattern and i didnt need to use the service. Brilliant.
Then a few.months ago a collegue anounced they were going to semi retire which ment another change in my shift pattern. Different ideas were thrown about. Then i had a very sudden and tragic loss in my close family amd went on berevement leave. I asked what i was entitled to but noone came bck to me. So I took 2 days (i have since been informed i was entitled to 5 by another.member of staff) . Anyway i had been back 3 days when my boss apporched me and said they had settled on the hrs i was going to work when said person semi retired. Handed me a piece of paper which i scanned, it didn't even registair that one of the days i would need childcare ( person who passed away had agreed to do it if need be) so i signed the paper. ( it does say "trial basis" on it) It wasn't untill the week of the hr changes came into play that i realised i had no one to look after both dds. So i spoke with my boss and put them.in the works facility and asked about cost as i cant really afford it atm. They have taken 8 weeks to get back to me with a price. It is higher than i expected in the first place and really cant afford it and its not enough to claim.on tax credit. I jave approched my boss and explained this. He has been very sympathetic and been to see his boss to see if i could use the service at a greater discount or if any help is available. Their response was basicly tough shit. Everyone has to pay for childcare
My argument is that they agreed my hrs when i was absent. They approached me when i was vulnerable (clearly shouldn't of been at work) they haven't given me any extra hours just changed my pattern to suit their needs and now expect me.to fork out for childcare, which in my orginal contract was free! I have explained i cant afford it and have no one for dcs on that night. I can do another night and it wouldn't cost me anything but they are unwilling to change the night. I have asked for a couple of extra hours to help absorb the cost and they have declined. I have also asked to transfer to another dept as with the way things are i feel unqualified in my role due to legislation changes etc, they have said maybe to this but as they would have to offer me training to do this, they have allowed me to volunteer in the other dept for n hour a week to get some exerience but when ever i ask about training i am given excuses. (Even though they have just taken on 2 mew starters and given them advanced fast track training) Are they just taking advantage? Did they miss their duty of cate when asking me to sign new hrs in a vunerable state? I feel stuck between a rock and a hard place as jobs round here are very hard to get and apart from the 1 day it is very child friendly and because i am not 'qualified' in my role i can't even move to a different company as dont have the now necessary expected qualifications. Any advice or opinion is welcom. And sorry it is so long!