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.

That's a lot over a short time period OP! You have my sympathies. I'm a bit younger than you and have been studying PT for the past few years with OU. The study load is 600 hours per year (typically Oct-Jun), but I don't work, I don't have a dog, I don't have elderly parents and I still find it quite hard to juggle everything.

But if you want/need to stay in your career until retirement then there's no getting around it and you'll just to manage for five months. Will the other members of the household pitch in to free up some of your time? I think realistically and given your schedule, most of it will have to be done on the weekends, because you're looking at what - about 12 hours a week of study? Something like that. It's shit

Hi op , for me this would have to be done in works time .

Agree that hopefully you shouldn't need to do anywhere near that amount of studying unless there's a huge change in systems, procedures etc.

Will this new qualification require ongoing recertification and CPD? If so, your employer needs to increase staff or drop clients or other work now to make time to fit this in. It's part of your job so should be done in work time.

But in a household of 5 adults, your share shouldn't take much time at all. If it does, you're doing too much of it. Family meeting to agree the division of labour and just do your share. Leave everyone else to do there's.

I second this.

I recently took a Level 3 qualification in an area I had five years of experience in. I got 80% on the first attempt, narrowed down my areas of study, retested at 90%, then got 75% in the exam (which had very different qs to the practice papers).

That was based on dedicating a few weekends over six weeks, plus refreshing my knowledge on the answers I got right.

OP - I'd go for it asking management for 8h study time a month (easier to swallow than a fixed number a day) plus two days before the exam, then try a few a week yourself. Target your weak areas, and accept that you might need the extension and resit.

You need to ask for study leave - paid days off where you can stay at home, or indeed come into the office if you prefer, to read the material and study. I think 1 day a week would massively help

Agreed. How do your colleagues feel about it? Could you all request this? Otherwise you're going to be spending your weekends studying for five months.

I'm not surprised you're annoyed by this.
350 hours study over 5 months (152 days - including weekends and any holidays) in your own time is completely unreasonable. That's 2.3 hours each and every day.

They need to factor in substantial study time.

Otherwise you're going to be spending your weekends studying for five months.

I've just done the calculation ... if I've got it right, it would be just over 8 hours 2 days a week over 5 months so it would be literally all her weekends.

They've not thought it through, OP, or else they don't really think it's going to take you 350 hours.

I think someone at work has screwed up and that as a previous poster said, this was supposed to be rolled out for September, hence the rush!

I worked in a school once that suddenly started requiring large amounts of staff training having previously offered little. It was because their qualification provider had noticed staff weren't trained and put their foot down.

If it's a situation like that, and there's a deadline (for the organisation) you can probably push back regarding needing time ringfenced in work time to do this because speed is of the essence. It would be good to get colleagues on board.

Have you actually looked at the course materials? I agree that it may not take you the time. I am an experienced teacher. I did 5 "hours" of e-learning in 30 minutes once. If you know the answers to the questions, the studying part is more of a quick browse/check for any regulatory updates.

Does having the L3 qual make it easier to change job in future?

It's not outing

People can't give the best advice without the correct information

Anyway, it should not have to be in your time if it takes you under min wage

www.acas.org.uk/getting-paid-for-mandatory-training

However, I don't think that compulsory training of 350 hours (which for some is 10 weeks!) In your own time

Your company must have things in place to cover time off for holiday, sickness, maternity, paternity, emergency leave

So your company should add some time off work for study. Or pay you for the time that you study

Quote: sometimes wonder if this sudden media focus on the menopause really does middle aged women any favours.

It's right up there with discussion about menstrual leave for younger women. Some women are affected and I don't think it is a disservice to them to have some understanding. It was a reality that in my teenage years I had to take a day a month off school I was in so much pain. If this had continued to the workplace, some understanding and support would have been good to enable me to participate.

I myself plan to be walking up mountains and active till I'm at least 70. It doesn't change that some life stages are more challenging than others due to changes going on.

Anyway, I think OP will find she will blitz her way through the study and do really well. If there are any medical conditions to be considered, her employer needs to cut her some slack by giving her some study time during work hours (which they should be doing anyway).

Quote: sometimes wonder if this sudden media focus on the menopause really does middle aged women any favours.

I agree with this, actually. It only a thing for some women. Some of us barely notice. I'm glad those who need help are getting it, but I don't think the big focus is healthy for us.

sometimes wonder if this sudden media focus on the menopause really does middle aged women any favours

Yes. This

If there is a legal requirement to get this qualification to continue to do what you do following a change in legislation... refusing to do this is going to result in you doing yourself out of a job. Not just with this employer, but all the employers in your field.

In my line of work, the best employers have always given study leave and the shit employers have always expected you to study in your spare time. Would another employer also expect you to do this qualification, but give you paid study leave to do it? Although, if you've been with this employer for a while, resetting your length of service clock is not something I'd consider lightly if avoidable.

I'm currently doing a Level 7 qualification in my own time and I'm knackered, so I do understand why you don't want to study either. You might have the practical knowledge to do your job standing on your head, but the exams will probably require you to be book smart and learn a bunch of stuff that doesn't apply to real life, so there will be stuff you need to learn. And studying is hard.

In your shoes, my first call would be to use annual leave as study leave. Work may be busy, but they can't deny holiday all year round.

My second call would be to consider whether there were any reasons I couldn't study in my own time that I could link back to sex, age or disability, and then take the reasonable adjustment route to force paid study leave with HR. Assuming you have at least two years of service and you're pissed off enough, it is a route you can consider. Might mark your cards, but you also might not give a shiny shit at this point.

If your employer has an employee assistance plan, give them a call. You may be able to get some free legal advice through them without your employer finding out (it's anonymous) and use this free legal advice to assert your legal rights at work. Household insurance is another good call for free legal advice.

you have to decide if your job is important enough to you to make some adjustments to your life for the next 5 months or so.
What are the actual consequences of not doing the qualification? less money/responsibility? or you lose the job?

In my case it was the OU and entirely my decision. But i sat with my family and outlined how i thought i would gain the hours to do my study. This involved doing no more ironing (they all took over doing their own). I switched my 1 hour each way car commute to a 1.5 (minimum) train commute and used that time to study. I committed to one evening a week family meal followed by games night (it was flexible to account for all our commitments, but we made it work)
Then I outsourced cleaning. The deal was either a cleaner, or the DCs would pick it up (I did some, but not all) at the same rate as the cleaner. Of the DCs only one was interested, and they did it, and did it well. (they still do a bit now if they visit, for extra cash)

DH took over all cooking. I did all supermarket shopping unless he was off. Our shopping list is in the kitchen we all added to it - not on the list? doesn't get bought. I made my packed lunches on the night before, or as much in advance as possible. More time efficient and left me lunchbreaks to study

It is a commitment, but only you know if it is a) worth it and b) your family will support you in it

I'm very surprised at the comments on here, would you want to pay and receive a service from someone who is 30 years out of date compared to the rest of their colleagues?

Adding to @Brefugee 's post - your children are grown up, @21stcenturyboy . In your case, this is less a choice to do something, and more something you've been forced to do to keep your job. As your children are adults, I don't see why you can't be as blunt as 'if you don't step up, I will lose my job, and then I don't see how I afford for us to do X, Y or Z.'

It's not fair to say things like that to tiny kids, but older kids who are of an age to move out but who are getting very good deal living with their parents are old enough to hear the blunt reality of it all.

I'm very surprised at the comments on here, would you want to pay and receive a service from someone who is 30 years out of date compared to the rest of their colleagues

The issue is that employees are being asked to complete it in their own time.

Well continual study is standard in many industries, perhaps some study leave might be given but surely not 350 hours. OP has had a pretty good run if they've done nothing in 30 years tbh! 9 weeks over 30 years is pretty reasonable to me

Not the same but I've been in my job many many years and to get a promotion to the next pay grade I need to get a GCSE equivalent grade C in Maths.

I'm shit at maths. Always have been. But I can do - and so daily - the tiny amount of maths involved in the job I do. Basically working out a weekly payment, that's it.

Going to have to do it but it feels like box ticking for a job I already do that won't change even when I have the maths qualification.

My team and I are currently studying a module that is relevant for the role we are in.

I have approved 2 hours per week for release to attend the college where the training is delivered.

i have also allowed 2 hours per week additional private study time. Any extra needs to be covered by each of us.

All funded - the value of CPD to each employee is immeasurably greater than the short term commitment in work and home time.

OP it's a first world problem, and a nice one to have. Once it's done it's in the bag and you can add it to your CV.

Sorry I meant to add - ask your decision-makers for paid release for the training and a further 2 hours study leave per week of the training. And 2 hours exam prep time.

If you don't ask you don't get!