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.

Yes, but when the OP needs flexibility, it might well be in a crisis

The OP has already offered to help one day a week more...she has proved her willingness to be flexible, just not what the manager was hoping for...

The manager bringing her children into it was deliberately manipulative and unprofessional.

I'm actually astonished to see that a vast majority of posters think it's entirely right to dig your heels in here. We're virtually all mothers, and there must have been any number of times when we've needed that extra favour or bit of flexibility from our employers or colleagues when family shit hits the fan.

But that isn’t the same as your boss demanding favours from you. Favours are things we do for people we like and respect. The OP has just started and they are pushing her hours already, for perfectly predictable issues.

YANBU for saying no. That’s your choice.

YABU for thinking your manager choses to put her kids in nursery full time and wants to work full time when this could be due to her personal circumstances. And for thinking £32,000 is a lot when in the grand scheme of things it’s not.

I know you said you’re not arrogant but that is how you come across.

Me personally I understand your point about being done with Saturdays,

I’m the same however, in this scenario I would still offer to do one.

It shows flexibility and I’m a great believer of if you want the business to be flexible with you than you should be with them.

I am also a manager and have to arrange last minute cover for overtime shifts it happens. They’re are times where I have gone in or stayed late to cover. They’re are times where I’ve not but it’s how you go about it - which by the sounds of it you’ve not handled it well.

No wonder employers get away with treating people badly and paying rubbish wages. Some responses on here seem to imply that the OP should be falling over herself with gratitude that she has a job.

Dealing with annual leave, sickness etc is standard part of management.

And OP's manager's choices for her life (kids in full time nursery) due to circumstances or whatever should have absolutely no bearing on OP's decision. Complete unprofessional for manager to bring it up. OP isn't a charity. OP chose her job and contract, as did the manager.

The manager bringing her children into it was deliberately manipulative and unprofessional.

But the OP brought it up first didn't she?

But the OP brought it up first didn't she?

Fair point, you’re absolutely right.

I guess I meant the manner she did it I.e talking about how long they were in nursery etc.

Are people not realising that OP offered to cover a day during the week, or is that insufficient supplication to the manager's much more important private life?

OP explained to manager that she didn't want to work the weekend with a valid reason. She took her job and contract because she doesn't want to work Saturdays. She offered a compromise (the weekday).

The manager guilting her because her kids are in full time nursery is unprofessional and manipulative. How could it not be?

YANBU. If you told her when you took the job which hours you wanted to is and the job is for 2 days a week you are not obliged to do extra hours. Don't feel bullied into doing something you don't what to do

You are both in crap money - of course you don’t have to but to share the load would be a nice gesture.

£8.50 is above NMW, even if OP says it's "low paid", also the managers £32K is just under the full time average of £35K.

Personally, I'd do one of them and make it clear it's a one off but my work environment is where everyone does a bit extra at certain points because they know that if there's a prize giving/sports day/nativity/party etc. then it will get covered.

The wage is irrelevant. Although given NMW is £8.21 ph the OP is hardly raking it in.

The manager is a manager and therefore has to manage. If she doesn't have the resources to do this, then she needs to take it up with her manager. Not guilt trip her staff.

YANBU. It’s not even about ‘good will’ or ‘being a team player’ brought up by some corporate-speaking previous posters. It’s simply about economics. You’re not available on Saturdays, because you’re looking after your kids. Not because you just fancy some time with them - but because they need to be looked after. If you did offer to cover the Saturday, I assume you’d need to pay for childcare, which is not cheap and with your hourly pay you’d certainly end up out of pocket. No manager can expect their employee to effectively pay to come to work. So unless they offer you £25 or more per hour, which might just about cover the childcare and leave you a bit of cash after tax for all the hassle, you cannot financially afford to work on a Saturday. Simple as that. Tell that to your boss.

If you say yes to working Saturday you will be asked to do it again. You made your position clear at the beginning of the post and they are not paying you much. Find a way of tactfully telling the other woman you cannot work on Saturdays. The point is right about possibly needing a reference in future so be as diplomatic as you can but stick to your guns.

Absolutely not your responsibility to do this. It was never mentioned before hand and you were VERY specific about what you were prepared to do before you started and agreed the job.

Part of that agreement was the employers side of the deal, to pay minimum wage. People accept v low pay like this BECAUSE the hours/days agreed suits their specific needs in life. They can't have it both ways !

I am on a higher salary than the OPs manager - and with that salary comes a degree of 'team playing' - I will step in and cover urgent jobs, weekday overtime etc but WILL NOT work weekends unless the financial recompense is worth it to me, and the decision to do so is entirely mine with no expectation or pressure. After all , I took this job because there was no obligation for weekend work. I will hold my employer to this part of my contract. If the 'business' needs weekend work , then senior management need to find people who ARE obliged to work weekends, or get in agency staff. The 'problem' isn't yours and just because your manager has made certain decisions like , how many children to have, to work full time and pay for childcare... it isn't your responsibility to help her out at a detriment to your own family.

You DONT work full time , don't miss your children as much and don't get paid as much. All decisions you made and were very clear about. Nothing to do with being a 'team player ' everything to do with a manager who hasn't prepared holiday cover and expects you to pick up the slack.

I’m in the stick to your position OP camp.

I’ve been the helpful-put-myself-out-for-the-team employee and it has not benefitted my career one jot. Never been mentioned in reviews, got me a bonus, promotion or helped with a reference. But the managers who have got me to do the extra stuff have reaped the benefits of being great managers who keep the costs down for the company- and they got bonuses etc!

Be polite and firm but giving in will not get you any benefits and ime they will keep pushing you for more. What if the receptionist goes off sick after her holiday? What if she does a Shirley Valentine? Will you be expected to carry on with the goodwill arrangement?

Don’t feel guilty and btw I think you come across just fine. You know your worth and have a sensible plan for returning to the workplace.

Sorry but you do sound unreasonable

£22k is not a big salary, esp if she has childcare, the ladies children are in full time
Childcare.

I would personally help out this time but make it clear you aren’t usually able to do it

I personally think by saying no you’ll be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Your manager will be unable to help you in the future

Have you checked if there are any enhancements to working Saturdays? There are in my place of work. Even so, I think YAB a bit U to not even consider it. When your kids are ill on your workdays do you have cover in place for childcare or are you just assuming your colleagues will step in and cover you?
I do understand that you may feel like agreeing to weekend working as a one off may be that start of a slippery slope to doing it regularly but it doesn't have to be. What does your contract state? I had one job where it was explicit that I worked 9 - 5 Wednesday and Thursday, but my current one says 30 hours a week to be worked over 5 days, aligned to the needs of the service (which runs 7am to 10pm 7 days a week).
Also I think you're being a bit unkind to your boss and "her choice". She may not be able to provide for her children in any other way than working full time, I can't see that this means she doesn't deserve to spend weekends with them as you seem to think??!

It's not a great look for people to keep telling OP what a low wage 22k is when it's likely around a third again as much as her full time salary would be. I dont see it as riches either, but it isn't that shocking that someone on barely above NMW would think 1.3 x their salary is significant.

You’ve only been there 1 month I wouldn’t be surprised if your not there next month with that attitude

I would say no. You were quite clear that you were applying for this job because you didn’t want to work weekends. If you cave in now the expectations will have been set.

When I applied for my current job I was clear that I wanted to leave my previous job because it involved weekend working. So when the subject of Saturday overtime came up I declined. Nobody said a word.

@fuzzyduck1 just wow. As I said earlier, no wonder employers get away with treating their staff badly and paying them crap pay. OP is hardly at the top end of the pay bracket. With bigger earnings come bigger obligations and expectations. OP is most definitely not in that category.

If the employers want a more flexible workforce then they need to word the contracts to that effect and reflect it in the pay.

And her manager is on 32k not 22k. OP corrected her typo

Yanbu, dont do it. Cant believe all the dogsbodies on this thread who would happily let themselves be taken a loan of. No wonder companies treat their staff poorly when people let them. You clearly said no Saturdays at interview, they agreed to it, so no Saturdays it is, you dont even need to justify it. And teamwork doesnt mean what a lot of people of this thread think it means.

Is this hotel work or similar OP? If the nature of the business is 24hours it may be written into your contract that weekend work may be required.

Personally, if I had 5 full days with my kids and someone else only got 2, I would offer to do the shift. If you're prepared to work an additional day, you still have 4 full days with your children, does it really make much difference if it's a Thursday shift or Saturday shift?
And please don't judge parents who work full time. For some of us it isn't a choice.