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)

Sorry if already answered but can I ask.. do you mention they can take all school holidays off cos you're not as busy at that time, or because you think it'll make the job appeal to more people? When I was running a business I wanted employees working in the holidays so I could spend more time with my own children. You will find the right person regardless of whether you commit to saying term time only or not. Make sure you are making it work for you first and foremost xx

Overpaid - try £12ph. I’ve you’ve added on pension and employers NI it will cost you far more than £12ph.

I run my own business and have to say the rate is high. But have you factored in your costs? Employer NI costs, pension costs both employee and employer, sick pay, accounting payroll etc?

Sounds like the holy grail of job opportunities.

Based on a full year of employment, you must give 28 days paid leave (which in most jobs means 20 days + 8 bank holidays). If you are going for a term time contract then that means 39 weeks (195 days) working. School holidays are 13 weeks (65 days). The 195 days includes 5 “Baker” days for teacher training when children are not in school. An employee’s leave still accrues during unpaid leave as they are still employed so the 28 days still applies.

As all bank holidays are during school holidays they don’t cause extra problems. You have to decide how many days leave you wish to allow your employee during term time. Legally, you don’t have to allow any, so their working year would be 195 days paid working plus 28 days paid leave, with all leave to be taken during school holidays (195/0/28). It is probably more reasonable to allow at least 5 days leave at a time of the employee’s choosing (to cover the “Baker” days) so the year becomes 190 working days paid plus 28 days paid leave (190/5/28). You could allow them more leave if you wanted, so your options could be 195/0/28, 190/5/28, 185/10/28 or 180/15/28 etc.

One further aspect you need to consider at the outset and make clear to potential employees is what happens if you need your employee to work extra hours (such as until 1:30pm at busy times of the year). It is normal with this type of part time contract that the extra hours (Mon-Fri) do not attract any premium pay so they would still be paid £20 per hour.

Like most others in this thread, I would think your biggest problem would be the sheer number of applicants you would attract, depending on the qualifications you require.

Id apply in a heartbeat

Definitely set some clear parameters in the job description OP, otherwise you’ll have far too many applicants.
I know several really lovely, bright Chartered accountants who would love a job like this to fit around school hours. I would require candidates to have a financial qualification if you’re paying £20/hr.

You're in Sussex so forgive me if hrtht is there an opportunity to work remotely OP?

If you are going to get a lot of interest, better to offer less. This builds in the ability to reward them monetarily if they are good.

Sounds great to me!

This sounds like the most ideal job! I'd do it in a heartbeat!!!

Now considering moving to Sussex

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

I think you'll find there are many, many "someones" out there for you!

Me, me! *jumps up and down waving CV in the air...

Ooooh Sussex...I'll be watching the ads! Seriously though, £20 per hour is a lot. You could hire for less than that. I'm in West Sussex and work freelance in admin, finance, IT and social media for half that.

£20/hr is a lot. Even £15/ hr sounds quite generous for what is essentially an admin job with non-specific qualifications, to be honest. Don't forget you'll have to pay their National Insurance and offer a pension on top.

In all honesty, if you offered at £10-£12 / hr you would get a lot of suitable applicants. There are so many working parents or older semi-retired people who just want a few hours' work a day. Most who apply will be well-educated.

You can always offer a pay rise / more responsibility to the right person after a trial period (I would always recommend a probation period or else it's hard to get rid of someone if they're not a good fit).

I employ people for similar hours (school hours, term time only) at minimum wage and we had over 100 suitable applicants last time we advertised. Most had strong A levels, many also had a degree.

Consider your terms carefully. Will you offer sick pay or just statutory? Same with maternity pay. Annual leave entitlement is around 5.5 weeks (including bank holidays) for someone working full-time. For a part-time, term-time employee the leave entitlement is a bit complicated to work out.
We do our leave entitlement in hours as it's easier and also pay the same wage each month by calculating their annual pay and dividing by 12 to avoid them getting no pay in August. ACAS website and helpline is great for advice. If your accountant offers a payroll service it's worth paying for!
The only negative to employing someone for a job like this that's likely to attract a mum is that there will likely be a relatively fair amount of absence due to poorly children (especially in the current climate). My employees are rarely ill themselves but often have to stay home to look after their kids of they're not well enough for school / nursery. If they can work from home on such days, that will help. Mine are allowed to make up their hours later.

I also think it's way too high hourly rate, where I work an admin job which usually requires a degree is about £9, I've been in my job (next level up & paid well compared to my peers and I'm on about £15 per hour).

We all have degrees, have to be financially competent etc

You'll be flooded with applicants - those are perfect hours/holidays for a mum with primary aged kids who wants a bit of extra cash - fantastic hourly rate, too!!

When I was doing supply teaching agencies were getting away with paying experienced teachers £100 a day in London - so same hourly rate but tougher job, not evry day guaranteed, job could be anywhere (travel costs) and no work on school hols.
I onlt did it to gain experience but a lot of well-qualified people who need childcare etc would jump at your job!

@MeredithGreysScalpel

Oh come on, you can’t genuinely think no one would be interested in that.

I don't want to piss on OP's chips, but I have literally advertised roles like this and got nothing in response.

And whenever we offer roles with flex (minimum hours and term time only possible, up to full time), every single application goes for full time. A couple of people enquired about the minimum hours, but decided it would be unaffordable.

It's very irritating that none of the major job boards have filters for term time, as I'm sure there are people to fill the roles - but you'd be surprised at how few people go for term time only.

I would apply. That sounds amazing.

I'll take it! When would you like me to start?

There are loads of parents who need school time / term time jobs.
You say it’s a high hourly rate because of low hours ... people don’t expect to earn more because they work part time. But if the job warrants that wage then great! Sounds like a great job offer!

Only thing I’d suggest is adding one hour somewhere; 16 hours minimum of work a week is a cut off for a lot of top up in work benefits.

As a full time TA I earned less than that 😂

This job sounds great! I agree with PP about lowering the wage. I also think that if you're advertising at £20Ph you'll get a lot of time wasters who aren't suitable (I know that happened in every job) but for 20PH I think you'll get more than most!