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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Give up every Saturday for an otherwise perfect job

60 replies

Roundhole · 08/02/2020 14:34

Name changed

I left my previous job as we moved house to another part of the country and I was pregnant with my 3rd child so have been a stay at home mum since then.

I am keen to get back to work part time. I have seen a job which is part time hours doing what sounds like a very similar job to my previous role which I have a good few years of experience in. However the job requires I work every Saturday 9-5. I have spoken to the named person and she says there is no flexibility on this you must work every Saturday.

I am very torn now as to what to do. I feel like with three young children I would miss a lot of the fun stuff and my husband would have to deal with the many sports and social events that often fall on a Saturday meaning all three kids being driven around all over the place.

We are very lucky in that we don't desperatly need me to go back to work just now so I am worried I will end up resenting it every Saturday.

OP posts:
Original poster
Roundhole · 08/02/2020 14:35

The job is also 2 other days a week.

OP posts:
Original poster
Roundhole · 08/02/2020 14:37

Sorry also meant to say we would be able to have grandparents help us with child care during the week so that won't be an issue.

OP posts:
DICarter1 · 08/02/2020 14:37

I would apply and see what they think and evaluate when it comes to being offered it. We have three kids and I would prefer not to work Saturdays but I’d apply even if just for the experience.

MrsStrangerThing · 08/02/2020 14:40

Hard to say really. I choose to work most Saturdays because we don't need childcare that day so its easier, plus I get an enhanced rate of pay at the weekends. I usually do 0730-1330 though so it isn't the whole day anyway. Personally I like working weekends, there's less traffic and the shifts tend to be a bit less pressured too in my place. Its impossible to say if any of those things would be of benefit to you.

Are there likely to be other similar jobs coming up that don't involve weekend working?

IndigoHexagon · 08/02/2020 14:40

Personally I wouldn’t take a job that required EVERY Saturday. Even before I had children, I actually left a job when the owner suddenly decided to open the office on Saturdays as we were struggling with the workload. He insisted it would fine and that the Saturdays would be shared between the office girls. Except I was the only office girl and the reason I was struggling with the workload was because I was doing the job of 2.5 people and he kept loosing staff because he was so awful! When he insisted that I work a 6 day week I handed in my notice.

HirplesWithHaggis · 08/02/2020 14:40

Well, you could give it a go and leave it if you don't like it. When my dc were young I worked evenings and weekends so we didn't have to pay for childcare, dh simply stepped up and did the required parenting. I would say it actually improved his relationship with the dc, as well as giving him some insight into my day to day life.

Newfloorlamp · 08/02/2020 14:41

It does sound like you might resent it. Is it something you could do to get you back into work and then apply for jobs that don't need the Saturday hours when you have been there 6/ 9 months or so and you could give the weekend working as a reason you're looking to change roles. You could just wait for a job to come up that doesn't need Saturdays or look for a part time job in a different sector it depends on how much work there is near where you're living.

Copperas · 08/02/2020 14:42

What does your DJ think? It would give him the chance to talk to the kids while ferrying them about on Saturdays. And you could make Sunday the family day. Also what about holidays? You must be able to take some Saturdays off ?

picklesdragonisawelshdragon · 08/02/2020 14:43

I would do it. I think it's helpful in the family dynamics for men to have a day to themselves with the children.

LorenzoStDubois · 08/02/2020 14:43

Nope.
I would bin it on that grounds alone.
Fuck that.

BarbedBloom · 08/02/2020 14:43

I wouldn't if I had another choice as we don't have kids but my DH works during the week and Sundays, so we wouldn't have a day off together without using annual leave.

Also, I would sound out how willing your husband would be to drive the kids around everywhere. A friend ended up having to cancel some of her kids activities as her husband was exhausted after running round with the kids all day Saturday (they used to 50 50 activities before) and so quite often refused to go anywhere on Sunday.

You said you don't really need the money just now. Are there other opportunities likely to come up?

AhoyMrBeaver · 08/02/2020 14:45

It's a bit of a bind, but if Saturdays are generally taken up with ferrying the kids around, I wouldn't feel like I was missing out on much. Sundays would be free for days out etc, and you get another day at home in the week when it's harder to get childcare.

Wilmalovescake · 08/02/2020 14:45

If it’s only three days a week total I’d do it; to get it on my CV, but a) I’d have a rule that Friday evenings after school and all day Sunday had to be family time, and b) I’d keep looking for another job that didn’t require it.

If it doesn’t work out, leave. You won’t know if you don’t try though.

Newmetoday · 08/02/2020 14:47

Millions of people work Saturdays. It’s just another day.

drspouse · 08/02/2020 14:50

Are your DCs all school age? If not, you'll get more time in the week with the preschool ones.

I would suggest that if possible you can do all the DCs activities on a Sat and you can have time with them in the week and then Sunday will be family time.

XXcstatic · 08/02/2020 14:51

I would apply and see what they think and evaluate when it comes to being offered it

Please don't do that. It is shitty to other potential candidates, some of whom might desperately need the work, if they don't make the cut for interview because of the OP. If you aren't likely to accept the post, don't apply. It's also incredibly annoying as the employer and a bad idea if the OP would ever want to work for them in the future.

acocadochocolate · 08/02/2020 14:52

I work some Saturdays or Sundays (and very occasionally both) @Newmetoday and my teens don't like me doing it because they hardly see me during they week and then don't see me at the weekend either.

Nonnymum · 08/02/2020 14:54

My DD works weekends and hates it so is looking for another job. Like you she has 3 children and find sit just cuts too much into family time and eveyone ends up stressed.
It depends really how much you want the job. And how you feel as a family about working at the weekend. You could always try it and see how it goes.

GrumpyHoonMain · 08/02/2020 14:54

I agree that if you are only doing 3 days per week to fit around your childcare needs then you should be offered the weekend shifts that fit the employers needs. I presume this shift pattern allows colleagues working full time to also get some kind of family life - by reducing their Saturday working.

ElloBrian · 08/02/2020 14:57

Having a plan to get back into the workforce is a good idea. Is this job particularly rare / specialist, or is there some other reason why similar opportunities will be scarce?
If it’s a scarce chance then I would apply and give it a go, if there are plenty of other similar roles then I would look for one that better suited the household routine.

Maryann1975 · 08/02/2020 14:59

Personally, I wouldn’t want dh or I to work on a Saturday or Sunday. I really value the weekends. I am always looking at the jobs pages, but both dh and I are sticking with what we do now, because generally, the hours suit and the holiday patterns work really well for us. Dh did used to work a 24 hour shift at the weekend and I hated it. I felt completely on my own, no groups to go to, no friends to meet as they were doing family stuff.

I do kind of agree with @picklesdragonisawelshdragon that it would may benefit family dynamics for dh to have to do a day by himself with the dc, but I’ve never pushed for it for us.

Littleshortcake · 08/02/2020 15:06

I would go for it. It will get you back into employment and great for the cv. I would have no issue with your dh doing the Saturday social runs. Plus you have days off during the week. Also you can have wine on a Saturday night and do nice stuff on Sundays as a family.

Drabarni · 08/02/2020 15:11

No, I wouldn't do it, especially if we didn't need the money.
I'm the far end of the spectrum though and never used childcare and value as much family and free time as possible.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 08/02/2020 15:12

IMO working leads to more working options

I would do it and if offered commit to it for an agreed period of time - 6 months/a year. Then review.

Your OH should be able to cope with their own children! and you all have Sunday together. Also it's not every Saturday presumably as you will have holiday entitlement?

Durgasarrow · 08/02/2020 15:12

Are any of your children school age?