To think this is fine?

[SunsetsInVenice]

Working for 9 hours just twice a week with hour commute there and back.

It is nursery work.
Was surprised when someone said it was too long a day for them and turned down the job role when told they would need to do that.

I mean, it depends. If it’s nursery work it’s probably for quite low pay and therefore maybe not worth it. Especially if the person needs to pay for childcare.

Let me get this right, they should just graciously accept it, right?

What's the hourly pay?

That would determine if 2 hours a day commuting is acceptable

They do not have kids of their own.

We pay above the normal rate so £13 an hour which is good for nurseries.

Do you know why they turned it down?

I wouldn't work a nine hour day with a two hour commute on top for £13 an hour.

Not worth the hassle.

Right … but that’s still pretty low pay. I wouldn’t want to be out the house for 11 hours to earn £117 before tax, before travel expenses.

^^ unless I had no choice, of course.

That's a long day for not a huge financial return once you factor in fuel etc.

I wouldn't fancy an 11 hour day twice a week for about 250/week.

But if they don't want the job, they don't want the job. Are you the person offering the job? If so, maybe recruit to find someone who is looking for those kind of hours, rate of pay and maybe who lives a little closer?

I'm not sure what the relevance of them having children or not is but I presume you're saying that someone without kids would want to do an 11 hour day?

That's an extremely long commute. I'm an early years practitioner and would jump at 13ph - but two hours unpaid every day? Is this a 8-6 nursery? That might mean 6am wakeups and 7pm getting home. No amount of money would persuade me to do that tbh.

People without children are perfectly entitled to set work-life boundaries.

And we're the hours and rare of pay not stipulated in the job description or are you just putting that it's 18 hours a week?

I meant she doesn't have to factor in childcare costs which is why I made the point of saying she has no kids. We can't recruit for love nor money unfortunately. She was one of the few who came to interview who was actually qualified.

Are you a day nursery? Is the job only two days a week? Is there room for career progression or further hours as a qualified practitioner? Honestly even if I was looking at jobs I wouldn't consider something like this. The pay is good but you have to consider progression, training, future hours, etc. Good luck!

To be honest, I assumed she would have realised that she would have to work some longer shifts. Most people know nursery hours are very long and that 10 hour shifts throughout the week are the norm.

the 9 hour day wouldn’t be a problem, but I wouldn’t want a 2 hour round trip twice a week for that money, I’d go to a more local nursery if that was the career I wanted.

The fact you think its fine might be why you can't recruit.

Have you looked at whether you can split it into two 5 hour shifts a day and recruit two people?

Yes we are, there would be the need to do 2 or 3 longer shifts with perhaps smaller shifts inbetween.
Of course, lots of opportunities for training and progression.

If there is such a shortage of skilled staff, they are likely to be in high demand and she's probably been offered a job elsewhere?

But you're advertising for 9 hours, no? With, I assume, an hour's unpaid lunch? Just because it's standard doesn't mean it's right. I would expect a shift like that from a chain nursery like Busy Bees - not a private nursery with the ability to pay £13 per hour. Your business practices would massively put me off.

If you can’t recruit you’ll have to up the pay or the benefits?

You don't think 2 hours commute is a bit much?
The candidate presumably knew how far away it was when they applied. So I guess they got a bad vibe from the interview or the hours or rate of pay weren't described in the advert.
Job interviews are as much about the candidate deciding if they want to work for you as you choosing them. Paying more or improving the culture of the workplace should go some way to fixing it.

So you advertised 18 hours without stipulating that it is over 2 days?

Many people who want to work 18 hours (part time) are those who have young children, or are winding down to retirement.

They probably expect shorter shifts on more days.

It depends how much someone needs £250pw and whether they have any other marketable skills.