Would you want a job like this? (Part time, term time)

[AnonymousAuroch]

I'm tentatively thinking about taking on an employee but I keep going back and forth between thinking someone out there would love it or that no one would.

Job details:

3 hours per day, Mon-Fri, 9:30-12:30
£20 per hour (£1,200 per month)
4 weeks paid holiday per year but can take all of school holidays off unpaid if desired
Mostly admin but would need to pass background checks as would be handling sensitive info
Must be very good with both numbers and people (especially people!)
Potential to progress

I know it's a decent hourly rate but because it's only three hours a day it still only amounts to £1,200 per month, so I'm not sure if many people would want (or could afford) that. I need someone with qualifications too due to the nature of the business. Is it crazy to try to find someone for this? Or should I wait until I can take on a full time employee?

YABU: It's crap
YANBU: There's someone out there for you (maybe)

You'll get loads of applications. Lots of them will be from wildly unsuitable candidates (note how many people on this thread have ignored the bit where you said it requires specific qualifications - that'll happen with actual applicants too) - the hours are so attractive and unusual, and the current job market so bad, that you'll get loads of timewasting applications, so you need to be prepared for that.

Dream job for me.

That sounds like a perfect job for someone!
You will indeed be inundated.

I work for a much, much lower salary than I could get elsewhere because I get to work part time and term time only. It’s not for everyone, but the people who are looking for a job like that will bite your hand off and be very loyal. At least till their kids leave school anyway 😀

What are the required qualifications and what part of the country?

Depending on this, you may be over paying.

Demand for jobs with this level of flexibility massively exceeds supply,

It would depend what qualifications you're asking for?

Sounds amazing, especially with that hourly rate.

Oh thank goodness, I stepped away to eat dinner and honestly thought I'd come back to everyone tearing me apart. Lots of people have made great points, I'll try to respond to them all:

Re: consolidating hours. It really has to be just a couple hours every day because the hardest part for me is answering the backlog of emails every morning and also invoicing, which means I don't have time to do the actual work. So having one or two long days doesn't work, plus I leave at 1pm so they'd be on their own.

Paid leave: I did the calculator for PT work and came up with 28 days paid leave (4 weeks), but I could be wrong about this. Will check.

Qualifications: I basically just need someone with strong A levels or ideally a degree. It's financial work so although admin, it still needs a certain level of competency, especially if they wanted to train and take on more responsibility in future.

Progression: yes, £40k per year would be profitable if they had enough work to go full time. In an ideal world I'd find someone who excelled at not just admin but would also be interested in/capable of progressing in future.

Working from home/remotely: very possible but I would like to have someone in the office eventually. It makes things so much easier.

I think there were some more good points but can't remember off hand!

My main concern is finding the right fit. I'm so relieved to think I might have more than just one or two people apply! I'm really nervous about taking this step, but I think I have to.

@Hardbackwriter

You'll get loads of applications. Lots of them will be from wildly unsuitable candidates (note how many people on this thread have ignored the bit where you said it requires specific qualifications - that'll happen with actual applicants too) - the hours are so attractive and unusual, and the current job market so bad, that you'll get loads of timewasting applications, so you need to be prepared for that.

Plus people have to apply even though they know they won't get the job or face benefit sanctions (although these may be suspended atm)

Anyway... what qualifications? I'd apply in a heartbeat. Although agree that flexi hours would be even better, I'd prefer to work afternoons a couple of days.

Absolutely perfect for me. Have done admin all my working life, been a SAHM for the past 5 years. Youngest due to start reception in September and I'd love something like this.

£20 an hour seems generous! That's more than I earn hourly in a skilled trade...

But yes, I think nearly every parent around would be interested in a job like this! Good luck op

I'd love that sounds great 👍

Id leave a band 6 nhs job for this

Unless, is it a toilets croupier in a casino?...

When can I start...?! :D

Loads of people would love this! Where I worked previously we offered this kind of contract and we got some amazingly talented people, over and above what we were paying to be honest, because the flexibility and the hours were so attractive.

People are constantly asking for jobs like this on a local Facebook group.

@AnonymousAuroch, the 28 days paid leave is correct but that is 28 days of what would be their normal working days so only five working days a week which means they are entitled to 5.6 working weeks as leave in total.

Is this faux naivety? You are paying more than twice the minimum wage for a job that will suit working parents. Why would you think that that would be a problem?

Yes , when can i start?

Now you've clarified that the qualifications are just a degree rather than anything industry-specific it sounds like you'd be massively overpaying

How do I apply?
I would work my butt off for an employer like you.

Where are you? I'm in Essex and a chartered accountant and I am looking for a job like that.

@MichelleScarn

Unless, is it a toilets croupier in a casino?...

That was meant to say 'topless' not toilets...

you mentioned the part time hours working out at 28 days paid leave - is that not for a FT role & you will need to apportion the leave entitlement back based on the FTE of it all (my accountants brain talking here - you dont want to get this into a contract & then not be able to retract the leave clause) eg when I used to work 30 hours not 37.5, I had a 80% FTE role so any leave reflected this also
I moved on to work in another role from this one here & when asked what my salary expectations were I gave them a $$ annual salary sum - expecting it to be apportioned back to my 30 hours per week - but no silly them. I ended up with a wonderful salary package over 4 days a week - so super nice for me, prob not so good for their cashflow.