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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I will have to give up work

53 replies

Rosebel · 01/10/2020 21:56

I'm on maternity leave and due back in January. Wrote to my manager about changing hours and days.
He finally got back to me (well I got in touch with him) and he said those hours are fine at the moment but don't forget I can change your hours with 4 weeks notice.
He can because the contract says you must be fully flexible which was fine when I started but not practical now.
Son is booked in to nursery for certain days and if they just change my hours there's a risk I'll have no childcare?
I know I'm screwed as I signed the contract but do you think the contract is unfair? Would you go back to work and risk having no childcare? Trouble is it's really unlikely I'll get another job the way things are at the moment.
I don't really think anyone will be able to help but needed a rant.

OP posts:
ivfbeenbusy · 01/10/2020 22:02

It depends on the job as to the fairness of it but an employer shouldn't have to work around you because you've now had a baby (not being harsh - I get it - I'm a mother and also pregnant) .
If the job requires flexibility then unfortunately you have to be flexible - 4 weeks notice should be enough to agree with nursery perhaps changing days/hours. I'd perhaps try and compromise with your employer though and say that if you change hours then you need to stay on them a certain amount of time so you are not constantly messing the nursery around.
Failing that I'd move to a childminder who tended to be much more flexible with shift working

ScrapThatThen · 01/10/2020 22:08

I wouldn't leave over this. You could probably sort something out.

Stompythedinosaur · 01/10/2020 22:12

You could put in a request for flexible working which included a longer notice period for changes. They wouldn't have to agree it, though, but they should consider it.

GreenLeafTurnip · 01/10/2020 22:12

What about your baby's father?

underneaththeash · 01/10/2020 22:13

OP no need to give up now, you can also leave with 4 weeks notice, nurseries have 4 week notice periods too and generally employers do not want to lose good employees.
You could also put in a flexible working request.

mindutopia · 01/10/2020 22:16

Do you have a partner? What sort of flexibility does your partner have to work around these changes?

I do work that requires me to work away or long days some days but can work from home other days (in normal times, I mean). Some days I leave before everyone else gets up and am not home until dc are going to bed. On those days, dh works shorter days to do the school runs, sometimes brings dc with him to work (he's self employed so that's obviously easier), switches days around as needed and works a weekend instead. I can be flexible other days, but there are days I can't. Then he picks up the slack so we both have time to focus on work and dc have someone around who can focus fully on them.

SqidgeBum · 01/10/2020 22:18

I was in a similar position to you and my nursery had me book DD in for a full week so I had all days covered, and then then I knew my days I just amended the days to part time with the nursery. I did give them 4 weeks notice. I felt like you, completely panicked as my DHs job has absolutely zero flexibility. His shifts are 7-7, random days. They were very understanding and it all worked out in the end. Just talk to the nursery and see what they say.

Username7521 · 01/10/2020 22:22

Generally speaking all flexible working request which are approved end with a contractions change to mirror the agreement.

Has this gone through HR?

Original poster
Rosebel · 01/10/2020 22:23

No flexible working because of the job type. My husband works full time and earns more than me and even if I went back full-time he'd still earn more.
I don't want to give up work and it's my own stupid fault for signing the contract (although the choice was sign it or leave). I'm just worried they'll change my hours and the nursery might not be able to cover those hours if they are full.
I do have the option to work weekends and have offered to do Saturdays but I really need to work 3 days a week.
Its not my managers fault and I know I agreed to it but just worried about not being able to sort childcare.

OP posts:
SqidgeBum · 01/10/2020 22:29

Do you expect they will change your hours even when you start back OP? Like it would change regularly? Or once they give you the days say in December they will be your days?

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 01/10/2020 22:31

Did your hours/days change much before your mat leave? If they didn't before, is it possible your boss is happy for tthe new arrangement but just noting it to cover himself, just in case?

Mixingitall · 01/10/2020 22:34

I think your manager is making a point. Could you find a childminder? I have one who is very flexible and doesn’t need much notice.

PersonaNonGarter · 01/10/2020 22:36

Sorry OP, but this is your job. That’s what you get paid for.

Don’t leave. Just decide to be flexible. And also, so what if your DH earns more. He needs to help organise childcare for his child.

islockdownoveryet · 01/10/2020 22:36

They could change your hours but if you can't do them you'd have to leave . I suppose he was giving you a heads up to say yes I agree but I can change them if I want with notice .
You signed the contract because if you didn't you'd have to leave .
So my advice is just see what happens if you get notice to change hours and they aren't workable then you can give notice . The thing is your hours may not change or not for some time anyway .

Original poster
Rosebel · 01/10/2020 22:39

My hours didn't change at all before maternity leave but we have a new manager so he may do things differently. They can change my hours as much as they like as long as I have 4 weeks notice. I'm sure they won't change it all the time but I suppose the worry is they could.
Unfortunately not many childminders and they are all full, but one did say she'd be in touch if a space came up.

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 01/10/2020 22:42

No flexible working because of the job type.

You have the right to request flexible working in any job. They might not grant it, but they have to give a business reason why it isn't possible.

Maybe join a union if you arent in one already?

IndecentFeminist · 01/10/2020 22:43

He's probably just warning/reminding you as against planning on doing it. I'd go back and cross that bridge if it ever comes.

JunkCrumpet · 01/10/2020 23:07

You could just get a different job? No reason you need to give up work altogether because this job has a term you don't like...

Original poster
Rosebel · 01/10/2020 23:14

Get a different job!? I don't think it's going to be that easy. I think I'll just wait and keep my fingers crossed they don't charge.
Thing is I can't just be flexible, I have to have childcare. As long as I have childcare I'm not worried about my hours changing.

OP posts:
Sisiwawa · 01/10/2020 23:16

I always had the threat of this hanging over me at work, it's quite stressful. But, ride it out, see what happens. Any changes may be do-able.
I rode it out for 13 years, showing a little flexibility where i had to!
Try and make it work i say.

SandyY2K · 01/10/2020 23:20

I suggest you go back to work and see how things go. If it transpires that they end up changing your hours frequently, then you can deal with it then.

I'm not sure what work you do, but you should also have the right to put in a flexible working request.

Would the change in hours be to meet service demand?

I find this kind of thing is likely to impact on women more and can make it really difficult for women...indirect sexual discrimination.

Jent13c · 01/10/2020 23:24

I work on a ward where we change shifts every week and there is always a solution around childcare. For example I found a nursery with my first where I just had to give my shifts for the week ahead. A lot of the girls have managed to negotiate specific requests for childcare by picking their time to have the conversations...one girl handed in her notice just after 4 people had left and management were offering her pretty much whatever she wanted to keep her. I wouldn't worry about it and leave just yet...wait and see what happens, they might never change it and worse case scenario you can hand in your notice.

Techway · 01/10/2020 23:25

Go back to work and deal with the change IF it happens.

Your employer always have the ability to change terms but usually negotiable. If it happens you are likely to find childcare because if your employer wants to keep you they will be flexible and extend the timeframe.

Are you hoping not to return?

HerRoyalNotness · 01/10/2020 23:28

You’re worrying a out something that hasn’t happened and my not happen. Deal with today, get back to work and adjust your care needs if/when you need to.

Notnownotneverever · 01/10/2020 23:30

I don’t understand why you would quit now before even seeing if they changed your hours. They may not. But if they do, unless your notice period is more than 4 weeks then you would just hand in your notice when they told about a change in hours if they wouldn’t work.