To basically demand super-flexible working hours

[Flatbrokefornow]

I am very privileged in that I don’t have to work to pay the bills (although only just, and not for much longer at the rate things are increasing!), but less privileged in that I’m widowed with no family close by. I’m completely on my own.

Now my DD is in secondary school, I’d like to think about going back to work, to fund a few treats and get my pension and DD’s education fund back on track, and also for my own fulfilment.

BUT, I won’t consider working school holidays. I know people do, and all power to them, but it won’t work for us, yet. (My DD has been diagnosed with anxiety, is being assessed for ADHD and has also lost her father. She’s got enough to cope with) We’ve tried holiday clubs in the past, and the effects on her anxiety are just not worth it for our family. She’s just 11, and while she (probably) won’t set fire to the house, and I’m happy to leave her for short periods occasionally, I can’t really just expect her to stay home alone all day everyday. There really isn’t anyone I can ask. Lone parenting makes forming friendships difficult, I’m an only child and my parents live abroad. I have lovely neighbours, who will do the odd favour, but that’s not exactly a solid plan going forward.

is it a non starter? I was thinking of retraining, but given the restrictions I can work, I’m not sure it’s worth bothering. Who’s going to want to employ me? Especially if any of the interview panel are blokes who never even think about childcare (and it’s common, let’s face it) and just think I’m either coddling her, or a spoilt princess that wants holidays off. I have considered working in a school, but in all honestly I don’t think I could spend all day managing children’s behaviour and then come home and manage DD (who can be very rigid and oppositional) with the level of patience I’d need and enough energy to hold boundaries with her. I don’t think that would be fair on her, or sustainable for me.

I’m currently looking at careers with flex time, working from home, or short term/part time contracts. I wouldn’t mind buying extra leave, or taking a pay cut, but my family will come first and I would leave a position which didn’t allow or follow through on me not working school holidays (in the main. The odd day will probably be doable) without hesitation. Is this even possible? How can I phrase it so that my boundaries are clear, but not sound entitled? How can I reassure an employer that I’ll do my damndest for them in my working hours, but that’s all of the time they are buying from me, and it’s not about money for me. Are my only options very casual, or leaving a job every July?

Realistically you can only look at school jobs. What do you do now?

I guess the obvious suggestion is to work in a school?

Title alone sounds very entitled, if I was your boss this would get a short shrift tbh if I wasn't able to give similar to my other staff.

Could you work from home while DD is there in the holidays?

University?

I really can't think of any job where you'd get what 10 weeks off a year and also be able to claim these at school hols all the time! Self employed?

Secondary schools in particular have lots of support roles that don't involve any classroom time. My friend is a data manager in one and has no contact with the children really.

So you could look into that.

Or set up as a freelancer in some field so you can set your own hours / refuse clients over the holidays but that depends what sort of skills you have.

I totally understand your reasoning, its rare to find employer who would be able to accommodate this, (although I know someone who works for a council term time only) - have you thought about being self employed? I know a few people running businesses who don't work school holidays.

I know people in the civil service and charities who work term-time only. They are normally on 75% contracts (or something like that) but work FT during term time and have holidays off. I don't know how easy it is to get those kind of jobs from the get go or whether you have to prove yourself first.

Some organisations allow for term time contracts, schools and the Civil Service etc. Most employers aren’t going to be interested in employing you given the restrictions on absences.

I'd concentrate on WFH jobs / hybrid jobs where you're not expected into the office every day. Come the school holidays you take 2 weeks annual leave and have a few weeks solely working from home. It wouldn't be a problem where I am (public sector).

Look at part time jobs, and enquire about annualising your hours so you work longer hours in term time and only a few hours during school holidays. Public sector maybe more amenable - civil service known to be flexible (obvs some depts more than others).

And I don't think you're privileged at all - you're bereaved with a young child who struggling with their grief. Most people wouldn't wish that on their worst enemy.

It completely depends what you want to do. I've known plenty of people in the public sector (both NHS and civil service) who work term time only, so it isn't just schools. So whilst it would obviously be more limiting than working full time, it can be done. Probably easier to arrange in some kind of mass recruitment than for an individual role, but lots now advertise part time options.

But definitely don't phrase it as demanding anything...

You could look a job with lots of holiday & flexibility re unpaid leave, wfh. i have friends in civil service & police support who have lots of holiday during school holidays.

Have you considered self employment?

What’s your skill set?

I would absolutely consider employing someone on a term-time contract. We'd make it work.

However your attitude would worry me, to be honest - I'd be looking for someone open and willing to talk about possibilities and strategies, not someone who's going to say on the one hand "I've heard there are people who work all the time, but I just can't imagine it" and on the other hand "well obviously it's not worth trying". And I would be put off by someone who demanded rather than started a conversation, it doesn't bode well for their relationship management skills.

Some jobs aren't suited to term-time working, some it can be done. But it's very dramatic and even a bit rude to make assumptions that all employers are opposed to the idea of stepping outside the 9-5 norm. Having boundaries is one thing, assuming everyone else is out to get you is another...

Nonsense you can only work in schools.

I work in the public sector and loads of staff work term time only contracts and/or WFH. Local council and police back office jobs all have lots of staff on term time only contracts.

Good luck!

How about clerking? Every school has to have independent governance professionals. Semi-remote and term-time only, and a good option in terms of re-entering the workforce as it is limited hours to start.

What skills do you have?

Some in demand tech/coding/data engineering roles as a contractor could potentially be viable to earn a decent living and dictate you take the summer off as they are so in demand

But it's hard to envisage many others except jobs in schools.
Finance roles in a school? Fundraising roles in a private school?
Do you live in a university city? There could be student support roles (eg for students who need additional assistance, scribes, personal assistants) which would not involve working for the summer (but would require half terms)

Your only option seems to be temporary work. You don’t want to work with children but you only want term time, it seems like an impossible ask for permanent work; if I’m wrong tell the others.

You don't need to "demand", just be clear what you are offering and see if it works for a potential employer. I know lots of people who don't work in holidays. They work in education (not just schools also colleges, universities etc), self employed photographer and journalist, civil servant, nursery/preschool, administrators in small charities.

Self employed…..or just stay as you are ….you won’t find what you are looking for

you won’t find what you are looking for

and yet it exists

Think EON have a few wfh options.

id also look at pastoral roles in schools and colleges, support worker. Check out invigilating for exams too - there was a thread about their being a shortage too. Also zero hours contracts in education maybe.