To think my new boss is just being an purposefully awkward and ruining everything

[ichiichi]

Long story short...I have been working in the same job for the last 5 years! It's a great job and I am great at what I do etc etc

My dh works shift and does 4 days on 4 days off in rotation so
Week 1-mon-thurs
Week 2-Tues-Friday

When I got my job I was given the Saturday and Sunday shift and then I alternate my other shift between the Friday and Monday that my dh is off.

Cut to this week... and we have a new manager (she started 2 weeks ago). She has suddenly announced that she wants me to pick the monday OR the Friday and stick to the shift as she can't be bothered trying to keep up with "what shift is ichi on this week?!

I mean it's not that hard to understand that one week I do fri, sat sun and the next week I do sat, sun and Monday
So technically I do 4 days in a row and then the following weekend iyswim

Aibu to think she is BU and just can't be arsed and she is just causing issues where there isn't any!?
Also how the hell am I supposed to find childcare for 1 day every second week!!!

Is it written into your contract?

Not the days specifically no...

Even if it isn’t written in if you have been doing this for a while this may count for something. Disclaimer: NOT an HR expert but was in a similar position a while back. This was before Covid in a better job market though.

I would seek union / HR / ACAS advice.

Does she have a business case for fixing your days, does someone else have to fill your role for example? I think she would need to show a good reason for the change, not being bothered doesn't sound like one!
There can be an element of custom and habit in days worked, no guarantees but I would say it is worth fighting.

Does she know the reason you work this pattern?

Do you work for a large organisation, I mean is there someone above your manager you can take this to?

Seek advice.

I would not accept the reasons given and quite frankly if a manager cannot device a system for knowing who is at work when, that they can easily refer to, I would not think well of said manager.

@Whitestick yes she knows the reason

@LizzieMacQueen it is a small organisation but a branch of a larger government funded organisation...I don't want to get too specific as it is outing I suppose. There is someone I could go to but I want to leave that as a last resort as I don't want to cause issues at work with her even though it's her doing really!) if our dynamics at work is ruined then there's A LOT at risk...she should know this too unfortunately.

@nosswith my thoughts exactly

Go to the other person before she sets this in stone.

It may be difficult to solve without causing issues. I had to get the union involved, it took months and my boss hated me. On the plus side she also learned quickly that I wasn’t a pushover.

@Beentherefonethat 😭😭

Also how the hell am I supposed to find childcare for 1 day every second week!!!

have you even tried? I know a few CM who would be able to accommodate this. But it doesn't sound as if you put the feelers out yet. I a way I see where the manager is coming from as that your DH's working pattern and childcare is not something for your employer to sort.

@TooStressyTooMessy I am in at 3 today until 11 but she won't be there.I won't see her until Friday so I'll have to call in to talk to her tomorrow while the dc are at school and napping. Ah this is going to get messy and I REALLY wanted to avoid that.

Put in a flexible working request to have your shift set in your contract at what you are currently doing, giving reasons and how it currently works etc. They could choose to reject this, but then it would need to be on a legal basis within the specific criteria and they'd need to give an explanation as to why.

By the sounds of it, this will be more hassle to her than learning your working days.

Yes absolutely put in a flexible working request. This needs to be your top priority.

I really sympathise - if she is changing stuff for the sake of things and / or to stamp her authority then that is not a good start.

Lots of guidance online for flexible working requests

@Pumkinseed no I haven't yet...and I will if I really have to I suppose.buy it will be awkward to be honest. If you knew my job then you would understand why I don't hand my dc over to just anyone very easily.

go to the other person and make sure you get your shift pattern carved in stone. What does your union say?
(i know i know - you aren't in one? join one)

@Brefugee yes there is a union

The system has been working for all. The new boss is the only one that it doesn’t work for.

Speak to the other person and see how they feel. If they still want to do what’s always been done. If she does fight for it as there is no good reason to change.

The new boss probably doesn’t know why you work this way and would perhaps reconsider if she knew.

Tell her why you do it this way, childcare.
And if you could come up with a way to make it easy for all to see who is on what shift then she will be able to see quickly and easily what the position is. Which solves her problem. Use online calendar entries? A spreadsheet? A wall planner is you are physically in an office.

You have years of evidence of the practice working well and this should surely stand you in good stead for a formal flexible working request but I’d look on a acas website and see what they say on that about such things first, as the fact you’ve been doing this for years may help you.

Are you a member of the union? If so I would contact them ASAP. If not, as Brefugee says, contact them anyway and see if you can join and if they would help with an existing problem. You have nothing to lose by contacting them and getting some initial advice.

You need a flexible working agreement for work parents they can refuse ,if it doesn't fit with the business needs .
But unless anything has changed the fact they have accomadated for a while with no negative impact you should be fine.
HR and union get it done properly .

Set up a spreadsheet that shows what days you work and don't work.
Send her a calendar message with your days off so that she only need to check her outlook (or whatever email system you use) to see if you are in or not.
Or go old school and mark it on the wall calendar beside her desk.

good to hear there's a union. I'd sound them out first before doing anything else.
Good luck. Arsey new managers are the absolute pits.

I'm not one who will keep on existing systems "because we've always done it like that" but change just because you get a new manager is not good either

Agree with PP - this is one for the Union to help you with.

You should have got the previous agreement formalised with a Flexible Working Request but you can still do that now.