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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To withdraw from this job offer……

85 replies

Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:30

Gutted to have to do this but think I may have to walk away from a job before I’ve even started !

I’m self employed but due to the pandemic business has been badly affected so I’ve applied for a part time job and been offered it .

The job is within a large company and I’ve been given no details for HR but rather an app from an outsourced company where things like holiday requests etc are made .

My agreed hours are 24 a week and it’s on a shift basis. I was told it was however a zero hours contract although at the same time made clear to me I am expected to work 24 hours a week and three weekends in four . At the time of interview I wasn’t asked about booked holidays but did mention I was getting married in April .

At the time of acceptance I told my line manager that I was getting married and asked if they’d honour that . She replied
that she would “accept that absolutely “ in an email but said I had to request this leave via the HR app.

I start straight after Christmas and after submitting the leave request on the app it’s come back as denied and my line manager is now on annual leave for three weeks so I feel that I’ve no choice but to withdraw from the job or … worse …cancel my long awaited and all paid for wedding .

My other option I wondered .. is if it’s zero hours contract , then I believe I’m not obliged to accept work ? So legally could I actually say that sorry I’m not available to work the days that fall when I’m getting married ?

OP posts:
WatchoRulo · 21/12/2022 17:32

YANBU to either quit or just say you can't work.

romdowa · 21/12/2022 17:34

I'd quit and find a different job. No way would I cancel my wedding

Greensleevevssnotnose · 21/12/2022 17:36

Just sort it out after the holidays.

Sonyrecording · 21/12/2022 17:36

I'd take the job and email the manager reminding her of when you need the leave and telling her what's happened. If it doesn't get sorted after Christmas out you dump the job after finding something else. You're over-complicating things.

Aprilx · 21/12/2022 17:37

I wouldn’t be cancelling my wedding over a part time zero hours job (actually I wouldn’t over any job). Maybe you could start the job, discuss it with your manager when they are back and take it from there.

As it is zero hours, yes you can turn work down without being in breach of contract. The trouble is the employer might take umbrage and punish you by not offering hours in the future. But it would deal with your wedding situation.

Smidge001 · 21/12/2022 17:38

If its an app its probably been automatically declined - maybe because it doesn't think you'll have earned enough holiday by then or something. If the person hiring you said it would be fine (And you've got that in an email) I wouldn't worry about it at all. Just start, and speak to your manager when they are back from hols. I'm sure it will be fine.

NotMyDayJob · 21/12/2022 17:39

Sonyrecording · 21/12/2022 17:36

I'd take the job and email the manager reminding her of when you need the leave and telling her what's happened. If it doesn't get sorted after Christmas out you dump the job after finding something else. You're over-complicating things.

This. And absolutely do not cancel your wedding! Congratulations OP

EATmum · 21/12/2022 17:39

It might be automated in the app if you've not started yet - speak to them in the new year before deciding to quit, surely. I can't think there are many workplaces that would suggest you cancel your wedding because of your job!

wlepaj · 21/12/2022 17:41

Sonyrecording · 21/12/2022 17:36

I'd take the job and email the manager reminding her of when you need the leave and telling her what's happened. If it doesn't get sorted after Christmas out you dump the job after finding something else. You're over-complicating things.

Definitely this, sounds like it just needs a bit of communication between your manger and HR once your manager is back.

LlynTegid · 21/12/2022 17:41

I'd guess unless it is the Easter weekend you will be able to have the time off, just have a conversation after Christmas. Indeed if it is not and you can swap with someone, you'll probably find someone bites your hand off.

Teensandfuture · 21/12/2022 17:43

Aprilx · 21/12/2022 17:37

I wouldn’t be cancelling my wedding over a part time zero hours job (actually I wouldn’t over any job). Maybe you could start the job, discuss it with your manager when they are back and take it from there.

As it is zero hours, yes you can turn work down without being in breach of contract. The trouble is the employer might take umbrage and punish you by not offering hours in the future. But it would deal with your wedding situation.

In effect there's no commitment from their side with zero hours contract,so having holiday when you want is within your moral right.

OP,If they value you, they will accommodate your request,if not you can leave any time.Id start the job and discuss with line manager after they are back,ignore HR for the time being as they are not aware of local level agreement you have with your line i

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:43

LlynTegid · 21/12/2022 17:41

I'd guess unless it is the Easter weekend you will be able to have the time off, just have a conversation after Christmas. Indeed if it is not and you can swap with someone, you'll probably find someone bites your hand off.

Sadly it does fall over Easter !

OP posts:
Albgo · 21/12/2022 17:45

Sonyrecording · 21/12/2022 17:36

I'd take the job and email the manager reminding her of when you need the leave and telling her what's happened. If it doesn't get sorted after Christmas out you dump the job after finding something else. You're over-complicating things.

Yes this. Let your new manager sort it. You've got the email chain.

TheUndoing · 21/12/2022 17:47

I think quitting without at least discussing it with your manager would be a bit of an overreaction! It well be they can sort something out or you can arrange a swap.

Merryoldgoat · 21/12/2022 17:47

I wouldn’t work somewhere there weren’t people fir me to talk to about this stuff.

ClareBlue · 21/12/2022 17:48

The apps do leave on time accrued so it will refuse if you haven't accumulated enough work hours. Managers can over ride this. If you haven't enough hours then it's unpaid. If you have it's paid leave. Either way notice for April is fine in any organisation and especially on a zero hour contract and when you have been told it is ok. Take the job and talk to the manager on their return.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:49

It’s given me a lot of angst as I’ve already accepted the job and naively assumed that pre booked leave Would be honoured but a bit of research informed me that wasn’t the case .
It’s been nearly 20 years since I was an employee and that was as a nurse and I’m now in my fifties so I worry that finding something else wouldn’t be easy hence posing the question and I’m not sure where I stand when I’ve formally accepted the job then choose not to start 🤔

OP posts:
Aprilx · 21/12/2022 17:51

Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:49

It’s given me a lot of angst as I’ve already accepted the job and naively assumed that pre booked leave Would be honoured but a bit of research informed me that wasn’t the case .
It’s been nearly 20 years since I was an employee and that was as a nurse and I’m now in my fifties so I worry that finding something else wouldn’t be easy hence posing the question and I’m not sure where I stand when I’ve formally accepted the job then choose not to start 🤔

You area overthinking this now. Just start the job, talk to manager when they are back in the new year. There are no issues here.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:52

Sonyrecording · 21/12/2022 17:36

I'd take the job and email the manager reminding her of when you need the leave and telling her what's happened. If it doesn't get sorted after Christmas out you dump the job after finding something else. You're over-complicating things.

I haven’t received a contract but assume on zero hours I’ve got a fairly minimal notice period ? I was erring towards this but she’s actually regional and I noticed as soon as I accepted the job she was a nightmare to get a response from before she went on annual leave

OP posts:
wlepaj · 21/12/2022 17:53

Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:49

It’s given me a lot of angst as I’ve already accepted the job and naively assumed that pre booked leave Would be honoured but a bit of research informed me that wasn’t the case .
It’s been nearly 20 years since I was an employee and that was as a nurse and I’m now in my fifties so I worry that finding something else wouldn’t be easy hence posing the question and I’m not sure where I stand when I’ve formally accepted the job then choose not to start 🤔

They've told you they would honour it in writing. You just need to wait for your line manager to be back to get it sorted.

"At the time of acceptance I told my line manager that I was getting married and asked if they’d honour that . She replied
that she would “accept that absolutely “ in an email"

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:54

Aprilx · 21/12/2022 17:51

You area overthinking this now. Just start the job, talk to manager when they are back in the new year. There are no issues here.

Show quote history

It’s what I do 😂 but on a serious note I’m having to put a lot into place to accept this job due to family care issues so it’s going ti be an absolute headache to then have to walk out of a job after five mins

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 21/12/2022 17:55

It sounds like they want someone doing 24 hours a week with them dictating the shifts/days, but none of the responsibility, which is why they've offered a zero hours contract. Companies do this as zero hours workers have fewer employment rights I believe.

On a zero hours contract you can decide if you want to take work or not, so you can choose not to take work when you don't want to, such as your wedding.

If the company want a 24 hour a week employee with the ability to dictate when the employee can have leave, they should have recruited a part time member of staff with a 24 hour a week contract.

Hidingawaytoday · 21/12/2022 17:55

Aprilx · 21/12/2022 17:51

You area overthinking this now. Just start the job, talk to manager when they are back in the new year. There are no issues here.

Show quote history

This. Just start the job after Christmas and speak to your manager then. If it does turn out that you can't have the leave quit and find something else, but my bet is it was declined automatically as you haven't started yet/haven't accrued enough yet and your manager can sort it out.

Original poster
Rockschooldropout · 21/12/2022 17:55

wlepaj · 21/12/2022 17:53

They've told you they would honour it in writing. You just need to wait for your line manager to be back to get it sorted.

"At the time of acceptance I told my line manager that I was getting married and asked if they’d honour that . She replied
that she would “accept that absolutely “ in an email"

Show quote history

Thank you , sadly HR aren’t contactable by email , it’s all an app with no form of contacting them directly , the app is a company based in Vancouver !

OP posts:
Flamingogirl08 · 21/12/2022 17:58

You'll be fine, it'll just all be automated. You'll be able to sort it when you can speak to your manager in person