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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Should I do this overtime for an extra £100?

65 replies

snowygreyness · 28/01/2020 10:23

I reduced my hours in 2018 from a 5 to a 4 day week.

This was partly due to my health conditions - both mental and physical. I have ME and spend most of my Friday sleeping - probably from 10-2 which fits with school runs. It helps me keep on top of my fatigue and keep on track with life really.

Someone in my dept (there's only 2 of us office based) is off. My Boss has asked do I fancy some overtime - to work the next 2 Fridays.

It will earn me approx £100. I lost £200 a month when I decreased my hours but we could afford this as a family.

If I say yes it means disappointing my son. He loves our Friday morning walks to school and that I pick him up. It's the only day we get to do that and there is no rush to get to/from school on that day. It also means rearranging plans with my Mum on Friday (Taking her to ikea). But it means an extra £100 in my wage.

If I say no, I worry it will be seen as a mark against me. I don't work in the kind of place that offers overtime so this is a real rare situation.

So WWYD?

YANBU - Say no. Money isn't everything and you have plans.
YABU - Take the extra cash.

OP posts:

Winter2020 · 28/01/2020 11:04

I think you gave up that day each week because you didn't want to work it (or couldn't manage it) - so why would you want to work it now?

If I do an overtime shift at work I earn £110 and see £60 difference in my pay packet (after tax at ordinary 20%, pension, NI and student loan deductions.

When I work as well as putting myself out my husband has an extra day with the kids without my support (or Grandad in his 70s helps if my husband is working) and we are all more knackered/grouchy and less organised so I find for the £60 it's not really worth it and just do my core hours of three nights a week generally.

If you want to appear helpful you could say no you don't want it (so if your colleague wants it great) but if they don't want it either you are willing to do one of them to help out.

GetUpAgain · 28/01/2020 11:05

I would do one of them but not both. Just explain you already have a commitment on x date. That way when you need a favour from work in the future you have not pissed them off.

Scattyhattie · 28/01/2020 11:07

Would you not need to sleep more at the weekend to catch up & therefore miss more family time than just the Friday school run?
Potentially it could mean you also go off sick if proves too much with CF, which would land them in a greater mess.

If you really want to help out maybe only offer few hours than full day if know that is manageable.

Lanaturnerssmileagain · 28/01/2020 11:08

If it’s only for two weeks why wouldn’t you? Explain to ds it will be going towards a holiday if he’s upset.

20viona · 28/01/2020 11:09

It's 2 single days out of 366. Do it and upgrade your holiday it's a no brainer.

DoctorTwo · 28/01/2020 11:17

If you think you're not going to run out of spoons and you think the reward is worth the extra work then do it. Then look forward to your holiday upgrade.

Lockshunkugel · 28/01/2020 11:18

It’s unwise to set a precedent where you manage to cover extra work after recently reducing your hours. The most important thing is that you stay well.

JeezyPeeps · 28/01/2020 11:21

What is the main reason for not wanting to do it - health, or time with your child - or are they fairly equal?

I ask, because if it is the time with your child, could you agree, but start later so you can still take him to school? Say to your boss you have nobody to do that on a Friday?

Happityhap · 28/01/2020 11:26

Don't do it.
It'll affect your health more than you expect and won't be worth it.

dootball · 28/01/2020 11:27

I can't believe how many people would do it. If you don't need to then don't - it's not worth it.

Original poster

snowygreyness · 28/01/2020 11:27

@DoctorTwo There speaks someone who knows of ME.

@JeezyPeeps A little of both I guess.

I've bitten the bullet and said yes. And as I know it's for this once in a lifetime thing for us all, it's worth it.

OP posts:

Beautiful3 · 28/01/2020 11:28

You went part time for a reason, to manage your ME. So in that basis I wouldnt do it. Money isnt everything, your health comes first. Of course if you are living on the bread line, desperate for money then that's another matter.

Mummyoflittledragon · 28/01/2020 11:30

I have ME. I’m far to ill to work. Yabu. Don’t push yourself. You’re lucky enough to have it mildly.

Inherdefence · 28/01/2020 11:34

For me it seems simple. You dropped your hours to 4 days a week because it was necessary for your health. If you then work 5 days 2 weeks in a row it will be bad for your health. It might also send out a message to your boss and colleagues that you can actually manage 5 days so the switching to 4 days was just a lifestyle choice . That makes it very likely they will expect you to do this again in the future.

NekoShiro · 28/01/2020 11:39

If its just a one time thing which means you get to upgrade an amazing holiday with your family then good on you for accepting, i'm sure your son will understand if you tell him you're busy one time so that you can all have more fun on holiday

Kdee52 · 28/01/2020 11:47

Hi Snowygreyness, I went part time recently too, and regularly get offered overtime. Weigh up your options and check how much it is worth in terms of adding a little extra to your pension. I do pick some OT up, but usually when it suits me. Make sure the employer knows your position, that you dont want to do it all the time and it may be a one off. That way they know to ask, but not to presume you will do it, or rely on you doing it.

Ijustwanttoretire · 28/01/2020 11:50

Would they then use it as a stick to beat you with? i.e. 'you can't be too bad if you can work overtime when offered money so we need you to do this on a regular basis' I would definitely say no, and cite your ME as the reason - I would be suspicious if someone was too ill to cope with a full week - until it suited them. Sorry but that's how I would feel.

Brazi103 · 28/01/2020 11:53

I dont get what the handwringing is about. Its 2 days. Just two. One two. The benefits outweigh the perceived costs. Sleep on the weekend. Your son and mother will cope if plans change.
Absolute no brainer.

Ellisandra · 28/01/2020 11:55

How much of an upgrade can £200 really be? 🤷🏻‍♀️
I wouldn’t do it for that, as your illness is debilitating enough that you need a 4 hour sleep every Friday.
Your son’s disappointment wouldn’t bother me - it’s just 2 days. Could his father take a short day on one of the days - I’m sure your son would be more than happy to have a drop off or pick from him, if it’s that big a deal that he’ll be disappointed.
Taking mum to Ikea wouldn’t even register as an issue.
You’ve already agreed to do it, so I’d just say make sure your weekend plans are adjusted to give you extra rest time - your son’s dad making sure you get extra hours to sleep.

Jellybeansincognito · 28/01/2020 11:58

I wouldn’t do it.

caperberries · 28/01/2020 12:02

what is the upgrade for?

inwood · 28/01/2020 12:06

What sort of upgrade are you getting for £100?! very nosy

InglouriousBasterd · 28/01/2020 12:10

As someone with ME I wouldn’t, because the knock on effects would be hideous.

drivingtofrance · 28/01/2020 12:15

I would do it.

It's only two sessions - but would show your commitment and team work. A bit of extra effort which would work in your favour when you want to take a bit of time off or change your hours again?

See if you can start later so you can still take your son to school?

INeedNewShoes · 28/01/2020 12:19

If you feel that your Fridays resting have been keeping your ME in check I really really wouldn’t want to risk this for the sake of £200.

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