Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think she should do the overtime

218 replies

Redrupunzle · 05/07/2019 10:58

So I started a new job last month, it's low paid (8.50) and is temporary, to cover maternity leave. Tbh I'm way over qualified but I've been out of the work place for nearly 4 years after having my eldest and now my youngest is 1 I'm wanting some part time work in this field just to dip my toe back in and freshen my cv a bit. I've no intention of working more then two days until my youngest starts school and I've definitely no intention of working weekends ever again. I've done jobs since I was 14 and worked all hours and now I want to put my family and my life first, I'm also starting a course in September to freshen up some skills. Anyway that's the background. So the job is 2 days per week and I made it clear that that's all I could do, hr we're still delighted to have me on board. My manager has now come and said the woman on the reception desk has two weeks holiday coming up and I need to help cover. I said I don't really have childcare but I'll ask and try and do an extra weekday on each of the weeks. Shes not happy and said she needs me to do the Saturday. I said "I'm sorry I can't I spend the weekends with my kids", She then said "I understand that but if you don't cover it I'll have to and my kids are in nursery 8-6 5 days a week and I really need my weekends with them". I replied that I was sorry I couldn't help. Shes not happy and I get that but imo I'm not paid well enough to want to do a Saturday, her salary is at least 22k (I know as my previous job was her job in another company) and it's her responsibility, that's what happens in her position. My friend disagrees and says as "someone lower" I should be picking up the slack. I feel I made my position very clear right at the beginning.

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 05/07/2019 11:00

If you make your position clear and it isn't in your contract then YANBU.

She wasn't unreasonable to ask, and you've been willing to compromise by doing extra during the week.

chuttypicks · 05/07/2019 11:04

Could you do one Saturday each? I totally understand your POV but it might be a nice gesture, maybe even nicer if you negotiate overtime pay at a better rate than usual as well...

Yerroblemom1923 · 05/07/2019 11:07

One each sounds fair. Sometimes you just have to muck in and be a team player, it's not about money really but being a willing and helpful member of the team. It might go in your favour promotion-wise etc

NanooCov · 05/07/2019 11:07

Can't she just get cover from an agency? If it's Reception work it should be ways to get someone.

NanooCov · 05/07/2019 11:07

*easy

TulipsTwoLips · 05/07/2019 11:07

YANBU, but is this a place you might want a reference from in the future? Helping out in times of need can go a long way.

crustycrab · 05/07/2019 11:10

You're making out like she's on big money and that that should make a difference. She's not on much more than you.

It would be a nice gesture to do one of the Saturdays and negotiate an overtime rate. And it might not always be her that needs you!

flowery · 05/07/2019 11:10

What does your contract say?

Ragwort · 05/07/2019 11:12

You don’t have to & did you state very clearly at the interview that you were not willing to do overtime?

However, your attitude comes over as being rather superior (‘I’m way over qualified’) and in most jobs there is an element of being a team player’. You never know when other opportunities might come up for someone who is prepared to be flexible.

LemonBreeland · 05/07/2019 11:13

She needs to be more organised with her holiday cover. She should not have assumed that you would be willing or able to cover.

PepsiLola · 05/07/2019 11:15

Fool the manager leaving it so late to organise

AuntyMarysBigRedPants · 05/07/2019 11:16

I think that you have been clear about what you could do so no, I wouldn't do it either

newmomof1 · 05/07/2019 11:20

I wouldn't do it if you have made it very clear you're not able to.

But you do need to come down off your high horse.
£22k isn't worth working weekends for, especially if she's having to pay for full time nursery. And if you're only one level below your previous role, you're not 'way over qualified'.

Coffeeonthesofa · 05/07/2019 11:21

Will you ever want to change one of your working days for a hospital appointment or if one of your children is ill etc and need to ask for a favour?
Working one of the Saturdays may build some good will if you ever need flexibility yourself.

Chloemol · 05/07/2019 11:27

Ever thought about the fact that this is a temporary role but you may want to approach them for a reference? Most companies want people who are prepared to give and take and, be a bit flexible, and who knows at some point you may need your employer to be a bit flexible with you. You are the type of person who, being so inflexible, is likely to wind up everyone you work with, do you really want to be that person. Agreeing to do one Saturday won’t hurt you

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/07/2019 11:28

You sound rather full of yourself. Way over qualified, hr delighted to have you on board even though you can only do two days and are being very rigid about it, you have no intentions of ever working a weekend again. Alongside the not willing to help out that attitude is going to get you very far.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 05/07/2019 11:29

Not going to get you. Ffs where did the not disappear to.

VivienneHolt · 05/07/2019 11:30

Yanbu given that you were clear from the outset but getting on in a job means being a team player sometimes and given that she is also on a low wage and works all week (so can’t see her kids except at weekends) I would be offering to do one. There may come a time when you have reason to ask for flexibility from them, and this will set you in good stead if it does.

StCharlotte · 05/07/2019 11:33

Well I can see your point but you're not exactly fostering goodwill are you?

And I think she also has a point. You have five days a week with your children, she only has two and, in this case if she has to work the Saturday, one.

I'd say have a re-think but I think the damage has already been done.

Redred2429 · 05/07/2019 11:34

If you can get child care what about offering to cover one or even half one of the Saturdays?

Brefugee · 05/07/2019 11:34

Usually when you go on holiday you need to make sure your back-up person/People are fixed. (IME it's actually up to the manager to do this but they never do)

I'd find out how they usually handle this, probably the person who you're standing in for did it? In which case they should have informed you about this.

I completely disagree with your friend - for this kind of extra working outside of normal business hours and outside your contract should be covered by management in an emergency. They can, of course, ask for volunteers but they need to offer something good in return - extra money or time off in lieu. Managers don't get that kind of thing so i understand where your manager is coming from with that.

NakedBrainStrollingInManhatten · 05/07/2019 11:35

Spending time with your kids is important to you, spending time with her kids is important to her, maybe you could have taken one Saturday and suggested she did the other.

22k is not a lot of money, especially when you have to pay full time childcare fees so I don't think her higher pay grade is relevant. Also if you're paid by the hour and she's salaried, she may not get paid for doing the extra hours while you would. (I used to work somewhere like this and it was so difficult to arrange cover)

For the sake of making a good impression, getting a decent reference and being a team player, after all you may need s favour from your colleagues at some time, i would have just done it if at all possible.

gingersausage · 05/07/2019 11:35

Twenty years or even ten years ago I would’ve happily done it and more, but looking back I now realise that no one thanks you for it or is even bloody grateful. Say no, or you will just get sucked into more and more and end up working full time for minimum wage (and it still won’t be enough for them!).

Bitter, me?! 😉

that25cUKHeatwaveof2019 · 05/07/2019 11:36

She should have made it clear from the start that you would be expected to do holiday cover - what happens when the receptionist is off sick?

I hate employers who come up with stunt like that, it's fine but make it clear from the start.

She should just employ a temp. If you could do Saturday, could you take time off in-lieu later on? I wouldn't even say that I want to see my kids, just that you cannot. If you had another job, you wouldn't be able to, and it's unlikely your contract state that you are not allowed to work somewhere else when you are PT.

22k is really not much at all, it's unfair to pretend she should give up her weekend because of it.

BarrenFieldofFucks · 05/07/2019 11:37

I can see your point, but I don't think you are coming off well. You will be seeing the kids a lot as it is the holidays soon anyway, I'd do a Saturday. £22k isn't a massive salary, and you don't sound hugely overqualified.