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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

4 days working week trial - AIBU?

59 replies

PanettoneMoly · 10/05/2022 17:31

I think I might be but here goes…

Work are trialling a four day working week during August, email came out with the wording “you have all worked hard and we hope you enjoy the bonus time off”.

All well and good except I don’t work Fridays so am feeling a bit hard done by, missing out on bonus time off and also being paid 20% less of my salary for working the same hours as everyone else for a month.

I don’t know if I’m being a bit of a knob feeling sniffy about it, and should be grateful for the flexibility given to have Fridays off every month of the year, or whether my righteous annoyance is valid.

OP posts:
BuanoKubiamVej · 10/05/2022 18:27

I think you can politely point out to your employers that it is discriminatory for part time employees to be treated less favourably than full time employees. Full time employees are getting 4 extra days off for free in August. Your reasonable pro-rata benefit would be to have an additional 3 days off in August, or if not then you should be paid extra in leiu because it is obviously unfair that you should be paid 80% of a full time wage for working 80% of the time whilst other employees of the same grade are being paid 100% of a full time wage for working 80% of the time.

Original poster
PanettoneMoly · 10/05/2022 18:29

SierraSapphire · 10/05/2022 18:13

Here is the Government guidance about treating part time workers fairly, are they aware of this? www.gov.uk/part-time-worker-rights

Thank you, really helpful, I’ll peruse the details and formulate my email to HR

OP posts:
RandomMess · 10/05/2022 18:30

Ask to go full time! Or over 5 days.

Go to HR seeing as though your manager hasn't understood that you are asking for the same equivalent not "special treatment"

CottonSock · 10/05/2022 18:31

I'd expect to get equivalent hours off but pro rata for part time.

RausageSoul · 10/05/2022 18:31

Are you sure the 4 day week doesn't include weekends too?

Beepbopblop · 10/05/2022 18:32

Well I would be asking for my full time equivalent salary for that month and I would be taking it as far as I could

Sharrowgirl · 10/05/2022 18:38

My company gave staff some random days off like this during the pandemic. It amounted to 5 days over the year and being a part-timer who doesn’t work Fridays, I asked for the pro-rata equivalent and was given it.

Popskipiekin · 10/05/2022 18:46

For “working hard throughout the pandemic” my work gave everyone an extra couple of days annual leave, which fell on my normal off days. I took this up with senior management and was told tough sugar, they weren’t offering other days in exchange as that wouldn’t work for the business … I was pretty miffed, not least because during peak pandemic I was working an extra 5 hours a day unpaid. So, I attempted to essentially claw back the extra annual leave due to me by going awol before and after everyone else’s special leave, but there was so much work on in the end I wasn’t able to …

I think someone’s suggestion of presuming that your salary will go up to 100% for august is a good one. Let us know how it goes!

Colourmeclear · 10/05/2022 18:59

Go straight to HR. You could also call ACAS for some guidance. I believe they also have a mediation service but not sure if it would be relevant in this case.

Oblomov22 · 10/05/2022 19:11

Can I just confirm that 'there’s no special treatment for those working PT' because I was going to request I finish at 2pm on Thursdays for the month of August.

Rowantree76 · 10/05/2022 19:16

Why will you get 20% less?

MrOllivander · 10/05/2022 19:20

Rowantree76 · 10/05/2022 19:16

Why will you get 20% less?

Because OP works 4 out of 5 days and is paid for 4 days
The other staff will work 4 out of 5 and be paid as usual so for 5 days

username109 · 10/05/2022 19:23

PanettoneMoly · 10/05/2022 18:06

I have raised it with my manager, words were barely out of my mouth before she said “no, there’s no special treatment for those working PT”

And I’d be TOTALLY behind a move towards a 4 day week, except it feels like this is being suggested more as a one-off staff bonus l, what with the “bonus time for working hard” vs a valid trial scheme.

I don’t know, I feel like a bit of a party pooper, objecting to others good fortune

Do you have a HR department.

I would say you feel discriminated against for working part time. If the chosen day by the business had been a Monday, for example, would you have then been doing a three day working week for four days pay?

I think they're being very short sighted. I can only assume their aim is to promote flexible working and wellbeing, and they should be thinking of ALL colleagues when making changes, not just full time colleagues who benefit.

I would feel angry if I were you and i'm full-time!

Myleakycauldron · 10/05/2022 19:25

I would go to HR directly on this one

MarinoRoyale · 10/05/2022 19:37

Totally agree with the posters who say they’re on legally dodgy ground, you’re not asking for special treatment, you’re asking for the same benefit as FTEs!

I’d bypass your manager and head straight to HR and pitch it as an enquiry about how it will be pro-rated for part-time workers and include a link to the .gov website info. Someone hasn’t thought this through, they either need to up your pay in August to 100% FTE or let you drop 20% of your hours for no loss of pay in August. But they can’t say “everyone works 20% for the same pay except part-timers who get nothing” as that’s special treatment for the FTEs!

PortalooSunset · 10/05/2022 20:33

I'd be peeved too. Ask for a 20% rise for the month so it's fair!

stuntbubbles · 10/05/2022 20:39

Ugh, my work did a similar thing last year: you’ve all worked so hard, so we’re doing a bonus Friday off! Great, I don’t work Fridays so shall I take my bonus annual leave day as a Thursday? No, it’s a Friday off: enjoy! But it’s already my day off? That works out well, then!

We went round in circles like that and eventually I dropped it as I was new, but reading this thread I’m fuming at the disparity.

MajorCarolDanvers · 10/05/2022 20:40

there’s no special treatment for those working PT

You don't want special treatment, you want equal treatment. So if the full time staff are getting a 20% reduction in their hours, then you should get a 20% reduction in your hours.

Its only what you are legally entitled to.

You could always give ACAS a call. They will be able to advise on the best way to approach this with work.

WimbyAce · 10/05/2022 20:51

Yes definitely push this as you are entitled to the pro rated equivalent time off or increased pay for the period. I find employers can be a bit discriminatory against part time staff as if we are all just chilling out on our "days off" and don't deserve the same benefits as full time staff.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 10/05/2022 21:34

Is your industry quiet in August?

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 10/05/2022 21:39

A friend of mine works 30hrs and not the full 37.5 and they made arrangements she could work 20% less (6 hours less a week) so she now does 3 days of 8hrs so 24 hours a week for 30hrs pay so does half an hour longer the days she's in and has 2 days off a week which also saves her another days childcare and is one less day to negotiate in the holidays - perhaps you need to moot this idea ?

withacherryonthetop · 10/05/2022 21:43

Yeah as others have said. You don’t want special treatment you want equitable treatment. I would email and say that you agree part time workers should not receive special treatment and therefore can they advise how you will take the 20% reduction in hours. Would they like you to drop a morning or finish work at an earlier time each day to meet the percentage that is presumedly offered to all employees. But use better English because I’m zonked and can’t write well tonight!

Daffyaboutdaffs · 10/05/2022 21:44

YANBU I work 4 days a week and don’t work Mondays. When bank holidays fall on a Monday then I get the pro rata equivalent of extra annual leave across the year. This is the correct way that it is supposed to work.

cleolayne · 11/05/2022 13:12

If i were you, I'd assume you were doing 3 days for a week

cleolayne · 11/05/2022 13:15

Does anyone else work 4 days? If so, encourage them to write to HR too

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