Take 1 hour off work every week to go counselling?

[FreeNim]

Hi,

Would it be unreasonable to take 1 hour off every week to go counselling? I work 4 days a week but my counsellor is only available on one of the days I work, and changing the hours around will make childcare difficult. I am only 6 weeks into the job so hesitant to request it. Would I be unreasonable to request it? It would mean leaving work 1 hour early.

I wouldn't just say, 'can I leave an hour early on a Tuesday' or whatever, I'd say 'can I leave an hour early on a Tuesday but start 20 minutes earlier on the other 3 days' for example.

Try to offer a solution with your request rather than just presenting it as a problem, you'll get much further.

Could you alter your working days to incorporate this into a day off?

If not, and genuinely only an hour away from actual work, I would ask to work an hour extra on a different day.

I would find a counsellor who does evening appointments

Have you been working with her a while? Is there any scope for finding someone else who is more flexible? Fully appreciate this might not be an option if you’ve established a good working relationship with her.

I actually think your councillor sounds bloody mannipulative

Public sector usually very accommodating of these kinds of things, I also rarely see active who takes a full lunch break, sandwiches at desks is more common. I would offer to make up the time though as you are so new, either 8-4 that day or add an extra twenty minutes a day the other three days

I’d find a different counsellor, or preferably a therapist. Unless you’re exceptionally rural, many will offer evening appointments. My current one sees me at 8am so I can be in work just after 9 (that works now, but wouldn’t in previous jobs of seasons).

You need to either adjust your working days so that your counselling is on your day off, or change your counselling appointment.

Your counsellor only has one free spot a week and that’s on a day you work?!

Surely it'll be more than an hour including travelling time?