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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to feel annoyed about this work situation

27 replies

user140917392 · 21/05/2021 15:39

I recently spoke to my manager about reducing my hours at work after returning from illness and struggling to get back to my hours after a phased return. I found that I wasn't able to cope with a 9-5 day and asked to work 9-2.
He agreed and told me that once he returned from his holiday (this week) he would change my contract.
He called me up to his office today to tell me he can't change my hours. One member of staff has handed her notice in so we will be short and some members of staff are complaining because I won't be working Saturdays as two staff are needed all day on Saturdays and I can't work a full day.
AIBU to feel annoyed?

OP posts:

anniegun · 21/05/2021 15:57

Quit - then he will be even more short staffed

Mydogisagentleman · 21/05/2021 16:02

@anniegun helpful.
OP, do you have a union or HR department who could mediate?

PuffinPeter · 21/05/2021 16:04

Can you get a doctors fit note to say you are only fit to work part days, and are not able to work full days?

Merryoldgoat · 21/05/2021 16:16

YANBU to ask but if the business needs you for longer hours then that’s just the way things are.

It’s great when employers can be flexible and they should be to a degree, but if it’s a job that is required for 9-5 then I can understand why they’ve refused.

ThatIsMyPotato · 21/05/2021 16:21

Could you get a fit note for reduced hours?

Sittingonarock · 21/05/2021 16:25

I agree totally with @merryoldgoat. I'm sorry to hear you've been unwell but it's not your employer's problem if they hired you 9-5 and the work still needs doing 9-5.

If I was your colleague and I had to work extra Saturdays to accommodate you I'd be pissed off too.

Original poster

user140917392 · 21/05/2021 16:25

[quote Mydogisagentleman]@anniegun helpful.
OP, do you have a union or HR department who could mediate?[/quote]
no hr department or union

OP posts:

Original poster

user140917392 · 21/05/2021 16:26

@PuffinPeter

Can you get a doctors fit note to say you are only fit to work part days, and are not able to work full days?

I don't know if a GP would give me a fit note as its a long term problem, recovering from cancer and my consultant told me that the fatigue could last for a few years.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 21/05/2021 16:27

Surprised at the early responses. You’re not unreasonable to be annoyed but your employer is not unreasonable to say no because of business needs.

NoSquirrels · 21/05/2021 16:28

What phased return have you been on, how long were you off, what are your hours usually - FT or PT etc?

Can you compromise on the Sat shifts if your other days are shorter for a while?

Musicaltheatremum · 21/05/2021 16:30

You can get a fit note saying reduced hours but if an employer can't make the changes then it becomes a sicknote so you stay off completely. A GP can't force an employer to change the hours.

Itwontstopraining · 21/05/2021 16:30

At our work, we can request different hours but employers can refuse if it doesn't fit with business need. That's the case across the public sector. Your boss isn't wrong for refusing, they were wrong to tell you it was ok before looking into whether it's actually feasible.

In my dept a request like that would be refused, but they would look into whether we could be redeployed into a part of the company where the work is less time pressured

NoSquirrels · 21/05/2021 16:31

I don't know if a GP would give me a fit note as its a long term problem, recovering from cancer and my consultant told me that the fatigue could last for a few years.

So you do need a change to a different working pattern, then.

Can you discuss with your employer what the long-term plan is - temporarily you may need to cover more but if they are hiring to replace the person who left perhaps it’s not going to be an issue for too long?

Chloemol · 21/05/2021 16:31

If his business can’t cope then he doesn’t have to change your hours, ( and I would be miffed if I was the other members of staff and suddenly had to work more Saturdays)

You have asked, he can’t accommodate

So either you carry on as you are, or find a new job elsewhere tha5 can accommodate what you want

Original poster

user140917392 · 21/05/2021 16:32

@NoSquirrels

What phased return have you been on, how long were you off, what are your hours usually - FT or PT etc?

Can you compromise on the Sat shifts if your other days are shorter for a while?

I was off for 18 months and had a 6 weeks phased return. I'm full time. I did suggest that I could possibly work a full day Saturday as I would be off on Sunday so would have a day to rest but he told me if I can do a full day on Saturday then why can't I do full days the rest of the week.

OP posts:

NoSquirrels · 21/05/2021 16:34

I think you need to formally request a change to PT.

That’s probably not what you want to hear, but they’re saying as a FT member of staff they cannot accommodate the pattern you can manage, so PT longer days but fewer shifts would probably allow them to manage the staffing better.

Soontobe60 · 21/05/2021 16:40

I did suggest that I could possibly work a full day Saturday as I would be off on Sunday so would have a day to rest but he told me if I can do a full day on Saturday then why can't I do full days the rest of the week

Shocking response! Tell him that maybe if he had an ounce of empathy, he’d realise that recovering from a life changing illness isn’t exactly a walk in the park.

MrsAudreyShapiro · 21/05/2021 16:42

If he said that being able to do a full day on Saturday must mean you can also do full days the rest of the time, then he has no understanding of fatigue or long term health conditions.

Why don't you go to the GP and ask for a fit note? No harm in trying.

Dyrne · 21/05/2021 16:43

Did you formally request it?

Cancer can be considered a disability under the Equality Act. That entitles you to request reasonable adjustments from your employer in order to support you in doing your job. Reasonable Adjustments can include changes in working hours to accommodate fatigue.

An employer can still refuse it but they must have a good reason - and a temporary situation (member of staff leaving who will presumably be replaced) isn’t a good enough reason.

Write an email/letter clarifying that you are requesting Reasonable Adjustments as covered under the Equality Act.

Original poster

user140917392 · 21/05/2021 16:48

@Dyrne

Did you formally request it?

An employer can still refuse it but they must have a good reason - and a temporary situation (member of staff leaving who will presumably be replaced) isn’t a good enough reason.

Write an email/letter clarifying that you are requesting Reasonable Adjustments as covered under the Equality Act.

I just spoke to him about it, I told him I was finding the afternoons difficult to cope with. I will write a letter requesting reasonable adjustments. Thank you

OP posts:

NewMatress · 21/05/2021 17:15

I think it's perfectly reasonable for you to feel disappointed and annoyed, but ultimately all they have to do is consider your request.

As a former cancer payment though, they do have to consider your request as reasonable adjustments under the Equalities Act rather than a standard flexible working application. Have they done that?

ElderMillennial · 21/05/2021 17:18

If it's a request to change hours then they don't have to agree.

If you can't work full days due to illness then speak to your doctor.

They should take into account your circumstances but it is difficult if the work needs to be done.

cupsofcoffee · 21/05/2021 17:26

Your GP should be able to give you a long-term fit note saying you can't cope with working full days. Fit notes aren't necessarily just a short-term thing.

But your managers' attitude is pretty shocking. Would you perhaps be better off elsewhere in the long run?

Original poster

user140917392 · 21/05/2021 17:34

@cupsofcoffee

Your GP should be able to give you a long-term fit note saying you can't cope with working full days. Fit notes aren't necessarily just a short-term thing.

But your managers' attitude is pretty shocking. Would you perhaps be better off elsewhere in the long run?

I think in the near future I will be looking for a new job, just need to work out what hours I can work before committing to a new job.

OP posts:

Elouera · 21/05/2021 17:38

If your colleague only just handed in their notice, surely they are there for another month at least, possibly another 3mths pending their notice period? I know its early days, and their resignation should have no baring, but do you think you will ever be able to return to full time hours?

If the colleague leaves in 1mth, could you do part hours this month and increase them whey they leave? Pending you being well enough of course. Would a job share work at all?

Your boss doesn't sound understanding, but he/she also need a way to get business done. I'd have a few plans B and C as options to give them.

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