That I HAVE to do another qualification in order to keep my job.

[21stcenturyboy]

I’ve been in my job for nearly 30 years but despite the whole team knowing the job inside out we now have to sit a level 3 qualification in order to provide the service that we do.

Im 52 this year, haven’t properly studied for 30 years, menopausal, working full time, running a large house with an husband and 3 adult offspring at home and I’m TIRED.

this course requires 350 hours of study and a 3 hour exam at the end of it.

AIBU to be bloody annoyed about this? It’s not negotiable, we have to do it.

worth finding out if the study materials are available on audio so that you can listen on your commute?

Agree that if there are five adults in the house, why do you end up with the meal prep, housework and dog walking?

For a level 3 qualification I would expect you to have 1 day a week to study (in work time). They are normally done o we a year and a day a week covers that amount of study.

Ask for study time to be allocated in work time, or paid if they won't provide work time.

I think the employer should give you some study time to achieve the qualification. But as everyone learns at a different pace, some learning will have to be done outside working hours.

Can't you form a study group with your fellow employees? Then go to your employer and ask for say Wednesday or Friday afternoon as study time or have an extended lunch 2- 3x a week?

I don't think your home life should stop you from doing this course. It's 6 months, surely everyone can chip in a bit more for the time being. Get DC / DH to cook dinner, get DC to see their grandparents (depending on their needs of course!) 1x week, DH to walk the dog... make sure everyone knows hoe and when to use the hoover, duster and dishcloth. (and if it isn't done, don't worry about it!).

Absolutely agree!

The other thing you could do is continue in your job and not do the course due to personal responsibilities at home/with parents. If they dismiss you then I’m sure it would be illegal. Check your contract. Work should be providing the time to complete this qualification.

Ok
deep breath
You may find that it isn’t actually going to take you 350 hours because you have the experience under your belt. Sit down with the material, then look at where you can flex in your day, where you can carve out a few bits of time.
Get a study partner/group in work. If you all have to do it then partnering up will help make the work lighter.
Talk to the 4 other adults in your house.
I bet your kids have studied recently, what techniques did they use, can they help you?
You can do this. You do not have to be a martyr.

I could not be arsed with that, op!! Especially at this age and especially in my own time. I've been to 4 unis and done other courses and CPD, but right now my plate is full too. I would definitely be contacting my union about there being no study time allocated. This would make all the difference.

Also ask if can be done over a year. 5 months is too short. One work day a week studying over a year would be enough.

I can totally understand your feelings. I have recently experienced similar and the resentment I felt towards having to do it was a real road block to me actually sitting down and getting the work done. I have no advice... just wanted to step and say 'Yup.. I get it.'

Yes, sometimes people DID do them in their own time. But usually because it was their own idea, after an appraisal were CPD was discussed, to improve their own experience and employability. Employers often paid because it benefited the organisation. It also brought with it the risk that the employee would up and leave and take the qualification elsewhere. Sometimes there was a stipulation that you had to pay back the cost if you left within a certain length of time after gaining the qualification.

Employers are more easily able to take the piss these days because of online learning available 24 hours a day. Years ago there were some evening professional courses but many were during the day and the only way to do them was to leave your place of employment and go and attend. So employers had no choice but to let you go and do it in work time. Some studying and revision would have to be done in your own time, yes.

Except when teachers do CPD, they get til me off to do it! I’ve been on myriad courses over my 30 year teaching career. Without exception, every one of them was on a school day. I completed a PGCE SENCo award in my 50s, I had 10 days out of class over the course of a year plus study time to complete my assignments which equates to 1/2 day every fortnight.
The OP has been told she has to complete 350 hours study time in 5 months which equates to 2 1/2 hours per day! In her own time!!!

join the union if you aren't already a member.

compulsory study has to be in work time or Time Off given In Lieu if there are specific evening sessions. if the study has to be out of and in addition to work hours, then the course has to be voluntary.

Is this phase one in a plan to manage out the highly experienced staff and replace then with cheaper?

but it's true that you are doing far too much work at home. with a full time job, you should only be doing a modest share of the household tasks.

Yanbu.
But with your husband and 3 adult children in the house you shouldn't be doing very much house work and cooking at all. Shared out thats 1/5 each. Or all chip in for a cleaner.

That sort of thing is alright if the study time comes out of work time, then it is just part of the job.

With your experience it won’t need 360 hours. But collectively you need to push back and demand study time, they may need to add one to your team on a fixed term contract to give you that time. Generally if an employer wants to give me training I’m all for it and will work extra hours. 5 adults to share the load, but maybe get a cleaner for 6 months if it’s really a problem.

52 year old women are definitely capable of studying and passing exams.

As others have said. If it's compulsory training then it has to be done in work time.

Stop pandering to the other four adults in your house.

Good luck!

350 hours over 5 months is 15 or 16 hours a week. I think they are going to have to give you at least a day a week to get it done in. I think most people would struggle to find that amount if time every week.

I did far more work related further study after I changed career and left teaching. No, it wasn't always the result of appraisal. Often the funding became available and employees all had to do it. We were given time within work to meet with assessors.

The level 6 qualification I did came about as we were subcontractors at the time and our prime contractors funded it.

None of the learning in my experience took anything like as long as the guide hours stated.

As I said I regarded it as a normal professional expectation. Work should be flexible time wise in terms of supporting the study but some use of one's own time is inevitable.

Have you looked at the past papers?
maybe you will be able to do more than you think and so perhaps not go through all the information you have been given.
For example if they’re always asking the same range of questions use this as a basis to begin your studying and then any extra time you have go through the other material.
If you enjoy the job I would give it a go and do what you can rather than find something else.
good luck 🍀

350 hours is a lot - that's 10 weeks full time work!

I'd propose to your employer that if they're unable to offer time off work to study, or TOIL, then they pay you for the time spent studying so that you can pay a cleaner / dog walker / some extra help for your parents.

I'd be happy to do the qualification in principle but they can't have it both ways!

Yes I know. I'm the one having to deliver it while people object (even when it is not only paid, but in place of teaching hours)
That's why I think the OP may not have the full information yet. On the face it, although it's perfectly reasonable and a good thing for staff to be brought up to date on new legislation (which is what the OP refers to) it would normally be as part of a weekly CPD session or with TOIL etc. The 350 hours is misleading as it's what "in general" a level 3 qual would need. As others have said, that's the average time needed, not a blanket rule. (unless of course it's a actual course which consists of 350 hours, or a work placement type scenario- doesn't seem to be though from what the OP has said)

I wonder if you were supposed to be told about this last September? Can you suggest that you have 'missed' this year and will be happy to do it next year so that you can have time to get your head around it and develop new household and study routines.

Thank you for saying this! I am in my mid, heading to late fifties and I don't feel ready for the scrap heap yet. I've still got lot of living and learning to do!

I sometimes wonder if this sudden media focus on the menopause really does middle aged women any favours. Please don't assume you are incapable just because of your age, it is a self defeating approach to life. Seize the chance to learn and grow - and make the rest of your household step up to 'keeping house' (whatever that means...)

But are you doing a qualification at the moment? I am. I often read something, get excited and make notes then realise that they are the same notes I made previously! It is very frustrating and my brain just won't work the way it used to.

3 adult children
Husband
Dog
Elderly parents
Suggest that you find ways to make your home life easier
All the chores cannot be on your shoulders
Allocate chores to other people

How are other people at your company fitting in their studying ?