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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

missbattenburg · 05/07/2019 12:22

Team player be damned. In too many cases (like this one) "team player" means someone prepared to pick up someone else's slack or mistake. It's a cop out for a business who have not got themseleves organised.

Either you are contracted to do your days and more, if required, including occasional weekend cover or you are not.

If your contract says you shouod cover, then do so. That's what you signed up for.

if your contract is strictly for your 2 days then do not.

Doing anything else simply papers over the shoddy organisation of the business. They have a receptionsist that is entitled to leave but nothing in place to cover that leave. They have failed.

ShirleyPhallus · 05/07/2019 12:23

Just re references - these days references are very basic and just include job title, length of service etc. Choosing not to do overtime will definitely not somehow magic its way in to a reference in the future

WaterOffaDucksCrack · 05/07/2019 12:24

Obviously you don't have to but I'd do one each because it's nice to be kind. Also if in future you need a favour (an event you want to attend or shift swap etc) people won't help you.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 05/07/2019 12:25

Flexibility goes both ways. You'll want holiday too? And to have your requests for it accommodated? Will your work be covered or just left for you on return? I'd find that all quite worrying.

I suspect it was assumed that on an hourly rate you would be keen to get more hours. It should have been raised with you as a possibility/expectation/offer during recruitment.

HollowTalk · 05/07/2019 12:26

That poor woman. I think you should definitely have helped out if it wasn't going to cost you money.

WaterOffaDucksCrack · 05/07/2019 12:26

This thread has made me glad I work in a genuine team where people help each other!

DarlingNikita · 05/07/2019 12:26

(And who wants to work more than 4 days a week anyway?) I regularly work 6 or 7. Needs must.

FrancisCrawford · 05/07/2019 12:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

li1972 · 05/07/2019 12:28

Nope. I wouldn't do it. You were clear on availability during interview and they accepted that. YANBU.

KarmaStar · 05/07/2019 12:30

I would definitely help out by offering to do one Saturday.it's only one and if you're never going to work a weekend again,one Saturday is nothing.
Irrespective of pay,it's being part of a team.
And if you are inflexible now(not forgetting you have offered to do an additional week day)it may come back on you in the future.
Give her a big smile and say you will be happy to do one Saturday.
What goes around and all that.
Plus it seems she doesn't see her dc much and it will be nice for them to see their mum.I know it's not your problem,but,it's good to be nice when you can.🌻

1300cakes · 05/07/2019 12:30

I don't think you should do it, but not because of any of the reasons you listed in OP. The fact that you worked since you were 14, are overqualified and vowed not to work weekends aren't relevant at all. Even the fact that you have kids doesn't come in to it. Do not enter in to an argument about who deserves the day off more or who's kids need them more. The bottom line is it isn't part of your contract and you are not able to do it.

WootMoggie · 05/07/2019 12:31

Wow - I'm glad I'm not a colleague of the nasty people in this thread.

You've been very professional in stating from the outset exactly what your terms and boundaries were in taking on the role. It is very unprofessional of your manager to mention her personal life in order to guilt-trip you into something that you stated from the outset you were not prepared to do. If she worked for me, I would be having words.

Offering to meet halfway is a bad idea. It weakens your original assertion that two days is all that you can do, and sets you up for roped into doing unwanted cover in future. A receptionist's holiday is not an exceptional event, but business-as-usual that your manager has failed to plan for.

Incidentally, being a "Team Player" is about working well with others WHILST YOU ARE THERE - it is not about working beyond your stated capacity, and you would be well within your rights to challenge any reference that made a negative statement in this regard.

It is up to your manager to escalate to leadership the lack of coverage so they can arrange agency covered.

Your manager has failed, and you will not get neither credit nor thanks for bailing her out, and are only inviting more problems for yourself in the future.

WootMoggie · 05/07/2019 12:32

"agency covered" = "agency cover" (autocorrect)

Crinkle77 · 05/07/2019 12:32

I suppose they should have been clear when they took you on that it may require some weekend working. However, you're only there for 6 months so would it hurt to offer to cover one each as others have said? What happens when you have leave. Does someone cover your position?

Applejack5 · 05/07/2019 12:33

If childcare isn't a problem at weekends then it really wouldn't hurt you to do a Saturday as a one off. It's not like they're asking for it on a regular basis and as others have said, it would look good for you in terms of a reference or any future role there which you might want to go for. Being flexible and a team player can't be a bad thing.

You would still have 4 days with your kids that week and you would get overtime pay. Sounds good to me!

INeedAFlerken · 05/07/2019 12:35

I wouldn't do it.

If you have been contracted to cover two days, and both sides agreed to this up front, then the manager needs to look elsewhere.

People are entitled to have other commitments. What if OP had another job on the weekends? Or was a fill in carer somewhere? Company cannot assume availability in these cases.

And you won't be thanked if you do it. You never are. :Just say no politely

Starlight456 · 05/07/2019 12:37

It’s a job . If you don’t want to do it don’t.

My dsis in her last job would moan there was no one else to do the extra so she had to . No you don’t . You have to work your contracted hours.

However I will also put in there the odd favour goes a great way.

Fundays12 · 05/07/2019 12:37

I think you should compromise and do one each. She wants to see her kids as do you so find a middle ground . It will most likely come a point you will want some time off for your child’s sports day or something and your manager is far more likely to grant it if you have shown you can be a little flexible too.

Witchofzog · 05/07/2019 12:38

I am with @sweeneytoddsrazor. You come across as very arrogant. Yes you made your position clear, but really, would it actually hurt you to do one Saturday as a one off?

Snowy81 · 05/07/2019 12:40

I thought you were going to say your previous job was 60/80k the way you made it sound like you were overnight qualified etc.
Just do one Saturday each.

billybagpuss · 05/07/2019 12:41

The problem with agreeing to do 1 Saturday this month, is it will then escalate into 2 Saturdays next month. OP has made her position very clear, she can not do weekends. I worked weekends for years and will not go back to it.

MyNameIsRachelAndIWantAPresent · 05/07/2019 12:41

If you agree, you will have to accept you are then on the hook for all holiday cover going forwards. They knew holiday would be an issue an issue when the gave you the job, so it should have been clarified at that stage, not just assumed.
So I'd say no.

Lweji · 05/07/2019 12:42

As a team player, I think it's fair if each does one Saturday.

You may need some slack later on, change of days, etc and then you may find she can be just as uncompromising.

It would be different if she had asked you to start doing Saturdays constantly.

I'd just make sure it was only once or twice per year.

Even making your position clear, the only way to ensure you don't have to work any weekends is to find a job in a place that only works Mon-Fri.

Original poster

Redrupunzle · 05/07/2019 12:43

I've made a big error,shes actually only at least 32k, oops sorry I'm embarrassed about that. That's for all your replies, seems quite split. I agree with someone who said what thanks will I get and the truth is none. I might have considered it if she hadn't been so funny about not seeing her kids all week, that's her choice. Sorry if I come across as superior, I didn't mean to. I think I was just trying to make the point that I've been in her shows before and worked weekends etc and now feel life is too short

OP posts:

BumbleBeee69 · 05/07/2019 12:44

Of course She wants you to do it, so She doesn't have too...

tell her no, you gave your terms on starting. If you go down this path you'll end up covering EVERY weekend OP. Say No

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