To think she should do the overtime

[Redrupunzle]

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.

You're not obligated to do it, so could just say no.

But I can see her point of view as she already works 5 days a week so only has the weekends to see her children.

Personally as a minimum I'd offer to do 1 of the Saturdays and she can do the other. It's not worth burning bridges over and in her situation you'd probably want someone to do the same for you. Plus you never know what flexibility you might want to ask from her in the future and this will play in your favour.

But I would also make it clear that you're don't want to make a habit of it.

If you're worried about time with the kids could you ask for the time off in lieu so you can spend a day with them another time? Or even ask ether you could split each day so you do morning and her afternoon?

Tell the manager to organise someone from an agency. Then neither of you need do it.
Ultimately you are not obliged, you have been clear from the outset.

Wow you're certainly not a team player - she works every day and you work two yet can't be flexible enough to even offer to work a half day on the saturday to solve a very temporary issue ?

I understand you not wanting to do it and I think offering to do an extra couple of days is fair. However, it’s not going to make you any friends and I’d only go down this route if a) you don’t plan to be there longer than a few months; b) you don’t care what your colleagues think about you; and c) you have cast-iron backups in place if your kids are ill or you might conceivably need a bit of flexibility at any point.

I’d also think about whether how you put yourself across here spills over into your job. No one likes or wants to put themselves out for someone who obviously thinks their role and their colleagues are beneath them.

You clearly are not capable of working in a team and you think you are better than your role suggests.

Why is you having time with your children more important than her? I get that you were clear about working 2 days, but guessing she would rather just be working 5 as appose to an extra saturday. For the sake of your reference you should do it in my opinion, especially as it sounds like you think it's beneath you and just a stepping stone to a better job.

100% can't see why HR are excited to have you.

• work two days a week
• very inflexible

Definitely worth having you. Offer to do at least one Saturday. You work teo days a week so an extra day isn't going to make a difference.

Just like your childcare isn't her issue, Cover for the reception desk isn't yours. If you want the hours do it otherwise suggest she ring a recruitment site and get a temp in. I'm thinking that the reason she doesn't want to do that is because you are cheaper.

Oh dear. Reading this and how people see it all makes for hard reading.
I have similar atm, at a new part time job I've just started, whilst I'm still doing my old part time job. They want me to work more. Reading this makes me think I'll have to reconsider.

I don't have much sympathy for either of you, using your kids as emotional blackmail. It's like those people who bring out the 'Oh but it's so important when they're young' stuff about having Christmas off, as if spending time with e.g. elderly parents, dear friends etc isn't also important to those us without children.

TBH, the spending time with kids is irrelevant from either OP or the managers perspective. OP works 2 days, this doesn’t include weekends so she doesn’t have to do it. Manager (I’m presuming) works Mon-Fri however (depending on her contract) may be expected to do occasional o/t or weekends. As the manager she should have organised cover and not just expected other employees to pick up the slack, she should have hired a temp if there isn’t availability from other staff to do their own job and a day or two of someone else’s. I’m guessing the receptionist didn’t say “Oh, I’m off for a fortnight after next Friday! See ya!” and that the holiday has been pre-booked and authorised by said manager. Therefore it is up to her to arrange cover or step in herself.

I worked somewhere a bit like this; worked 3 full days, other person did 2 1/2 (including Sat morning), we were always asked to see if the other person would cover if we wanted a day off and more often than not ended up swapping shifts/days. Annoyed me at the time as I wasn’t actually getting leave, just swapping shifts all the time!

As someone else has said, 20 years ago I would have said, sure.
Now, no. You stated all you had to say from the beginning, they employed you. Their problems if they don't pay attention to it thinking they can dictate things to you later on anyways. Now stick to your guns. She can bring someone in from agency.
If you do your job well, there is no need for lovely doormat added to your reference letter anyway.

Within your rights? Yes obviously. Doing the humane, considerate and team player thing? Definitely not. It’s not a permanent thing it’s to help out a temporary situation. I would have thought you could manage some flexibility.

Surely the compromise is you work an e gra day in the week, she does the Saturday and take the day you are working off (but remain on call just in case something requiring her level input is required)?

Personally I would have agreed to do at least one. One weekend won't hurt your kids but could help your career for reasons already stated above.

YANBU. That said, don’t mention the kids thing again to her because she’ll just come back at you with her own childcare dilemma. Reaffirm that you can’t do weekends and leave it at that. Don’t argue, just say, “It’s unfortunate I can’t help more but I can only work 2 days”. Don’t even remind her that’s how you were hired because she’ll get angry about it. You’ll be seen as sassy or uppity as some posters here think you are. 🙄

You were hired after expressly stating you will not be working weekends. Tough shit for them. In jobs like this they keep pushing the boundaries until you find yourself working 4 days a week and are frazzled to death.

LOL at people bringing 'team player' into it. Work doesn't give a shit about you. Being flexible means staying late once in a while - not coming in on days you explicitly said you can't/won't work because the Manager "doesn't want to do it herself".

Let her do one shift and she won't make the same scheduling mistake again.

until you find yourself working 4 days a week and are frazzled to death.

good grief some posters have a very fragile constitution

If you do your job well, there is no need for lovely doormat added to your reference letter anyway.
There is a big difference between a team player and a doormat. It would also be worth remembering there is a big difference between knowing your worth and thinking you are superior to everyone else.

They should have told you that you may have to do holiday cover, including weekends at the start. If that was not mentioned and isn't in your contract you shouldn't have to do it. It is nothing to do with who needs to spend more time with their children.

I think it would be a nice idea to do one of the Saturdays tbh. It's not always about being in the right, it's good to help out sometimes and I think given that you have the majority of the week with your children it would've been a nice gesture to cover so she could have the time with hers.

Is this a proper organisation, (think you mentioned an HR dept). If so, surely there are proper plans in place for people's holidays?

Your "manager" is also being paid buttons, and if she is salaried possibly won't be paid more for her time but get time in lieu. Nonetheless she shouldn't be guilting you into it.

As a one off - even a once per year off - I would offer one Saturday as well as additional time in the week. You don't have to, of course, but I don't see why you wouldn't want to top up your income and show willing (and relieve a bit of a colleagues pressure) at the same time

I understand stand your point, but sometimes it's good to do things just to be nice/help out. I definitely find that if you're helpful, when you need something in return people look upon your request much more favourably.

Ask for double time on Saturday to make it worth it for you or say no thank you. That’s what I did at work, I now get over £25 an hour for any overtime, it makes it worth doing, also they don’t ask me that often because i’m more expensive than other people filling in, win, win 😊