Give up every Saturday for an otherwise perfect job

[Roundhole]

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.

I would not be happy with this arrangement ,and in fact have turned down working on Saturdays in the past .It is a big chunk of family time that you will miss out on and you will never get that time back .If you dont need the money ATM then why worry ? Have a look around and see if there is something more family friendly .

I think there is too much pressure on women to return to work and be seen as "doing" something Fine if you want to, but with jobs like this it is a big part of family life being sacrificed .When my DC were small we looked forward all week to the W/E and days out as a family .

It’s really hard. I work every Sunday. Wasn’t told this when I started my new job. They said it’s a 6 hour contract but I work up to 20 hours a week, and always a Sunday.

Having been there a few months now, I’ve seen that favouritism exists and the manager rotas in her favourites to avoid Sundays. Some staff refuse work Sundays, .... and they don’t.

If I refuse, I’ll lose my job.

I am 50 with two kids age 10 and 12. I hate not having the whole weekend with them. Sunday is homework and relaxing day, but on the Saturday I don’t get quality time with them as I’m rushing round doing all the housework, school laundry and drying, food shop, school lunches shop, etc because I won’t have a chance to spread this over the whole weekend.

When the weather gets better it’s going to be even worse having to work Sundays when we could be going out as a family.

Managers may say it’s compulsory to work a weekend day, but if they can’t recruit someone who will, and other staff refuse to, they have to work it themselves. Someone has to keep the shop open after all.
In retail anyway where I am. My manager just allocates Sunday to whomever hasn’t got confidence enough to refuse it, in this case me and a 19 year old! As I’m only contracted 6 hours she can reduce my hours to 6 a week if I refuse Sundays so I’m kind of stuck with it for fear of losing hours or my job.

@XXcstatic It's fairly standard to apply with a view to making a decision about whether you would take it if they actually offer it to you. Suggesting the OP (or indeed anyone else in this situation) should only apply if she's certain she would take it is shocking advice.

I work every Saturday sometimes Sunday too. Not by choice, we need the money and cant afford childcare. If our circumstances were different theres no way I'd willingly work all weekend as I hardly ever get any family time

@Roundhole I’d take it. In the long run it’s likely better financially for you and your family for you to get back to work now instead of waiting too long and being phased out of the work force. It’ll also likely help your self-esteem and mental health to be keeping up with job skills and your specific career. You can try it for a few months then decide or look for a new job.

shinycat - weekend working has always been common. Shops, restaurants, etc have always been open at the weekends and needing staff.

Letting agent?

I definitely wouldn’t work on a Saturday with 3 children. Or indeed if I was just in a relationship.

@XXcstatic It's fairly standard to apply with a view to making a decision about whether you would take it if they actually offer it to you. Suggesting the OP (or indeed anyone else in this situation) should only apply if she's certain she would take it is shocking advice

For one thing, I didn't say that - I said she should only apply if she was at least likely to accept. For another, it may be standard to apply knowing you may turn the job down in some sectors, but it certainly isn't in others. It is very badly thought of in my own sector, for example, and no applicant who did this would have a chance of a future job in the same organisation (barring a very good reason e.g. sudden unexpected change in family circumstances).

It is hard enough to find a job or to recruit, without time-wasters taking up the spots that could have gone to someone who actually wants the job. More importantly, from the OP's POV, getting a reputation for doing this would be detrimental to future job prospects in many sectors.

Thank you for all your replies. Sorry it's been a busy day (that's what I'm worried about !) So haven't had a chance you reply.

I appreciate all the different points of view it gives me more to mull over.

To answer a few questions I can remember

DH can is happy to be in charge on a Saturday and more than capable I just worry it will make for a more stressful weekend and currently often one of the kids has something on so we would normally take turns doing that and the other person would have the other two kids. Our youngest is a toddler so it's no fun sitting with him at the side of a pool or at a party he can't take part in.

The two older kids are at school and DH is at work Monday to Friday so I wouldn't see them much midweek on my days off.

To the poster that guessed yes it is library/heritage so not the most common sector but there are some other jobs about but not lots.

I had thought about applying and then seeing what happens but I think I need to make my mind up first and only apply if I would accept.

The job is a 2 year contract so I feel like I don't want to take it and leave after 6 months as I know that can be a pain to recruit short contracts. But I also feel 2 years is a long time if I hate it !

I feel reassured that in not the only person who feels it's a lot to give up as I was worried I was being to sensetive. I think it will be a shock to the system as it is going back to work !

I think I might phone and have a chat with them to find out more about the job and ask about holidays as I am worried it could also be hard to get Saturdays off if they say there is no negotiation on working them how will they be covered for holidays.

Thank you all for mulling it over with me.