AIBU part time hour job

[intrepidgiraffe]

Job advertised at 18.5 hours.

When I've enquired about when these can be worked I've been told this would be Tuesday- Thursday (fine) but hours tbc between 8am and 6pm depending on business need.

AIBU to think that if you're advertising a job at 18.5 hours, you need to decide which 18.5 hours you will need the person to work before they apply?

It's possible that there will be a degree of flexibility but the information at the moment suggests there could be set hours, they've just not decided which hours yet.

Happy to be told if iabu!

YABU, some jobs can offer set hours others don’t. It’s not unusual at all

Maybe they are looking to find the right candidate and will then work with that person to agree hours that are mutually convenient. Or maybe it's the sort of job where they need flexibility from the employee about which days they work, depending on workload or when work falls (eg customer demands). Unless you are really constrained yourself, apply and then discuss it at interview, or if you get the job.

Very common, unfortunately.
Complete flexibility between those hours will be expected.
Usually hours are decided at the last minute, change constantly and you're expected to drop everything to comply.

Complete normal for a job to have varying hours, have you never come across this before?

Interesting thank you.

No I've always either previously worked full time, or I've had agreed hours part time, with the agreement on both sides to work flexibly as needed, which has always worked well.

How do people with small children have 30 hours of childcare on standby to only cover 18.5 hours of work?

I honestly don't think it's doable with young kids.
I've seen people "let go" for being what the employer classes as inflexible regarding shifts.
I'd keep looking IIWY.

YABU - I’ve just hired someone 20-30 hours per week - the number of hours required depends on experience and the hours worked are largely irrelevant - I don’t care if they want to work 3 or 5 days.

Thanks. This isn't a shift job though. But it sounds like they might just expect me to available as needed within office hours as long I work 18.5 hours overall.

I might do as pp suggested and apply and then try to negotiate if I'm successful, but completely different hours week to week would be impossible with childcare.

@intrepidgiraffe

Sorry - I misread - if they have a specific time they want cover then yes - they are unreasonable to advertise when they don’t know.

Quite standard. I have a 16 hour retail contract. I could be put down for a shift on any day of the week. They know my availability is based around what my DH's shifts are so its a juggle. Its the reason why I didn't go back to work until my youngest was in school. I mostly find myself being given very similar days though as it makes doing the rota easier for management.

Depends on the job/ manager.

I had a vague job description like this. I just set a precedent of doing my hours whenever I wanted.

This would be periodically challenged every few years when a new manager came. I just calmly would say well it’s got to work for both of us so let me know if it’s no longer working for you and I can hand my notice in.

They never asked me to so was a nice little job with the flexibility.

But ‘to business needs’ does sound potentially ominous; but it’s also a standard contract phrasing.

Do people in non-shift jobs also think this is standard? It's an admin role if that helps.

Well it’s common but a lot of people put up with shit.

If it’s admin as in covering phones and reception/ working in a team or job share then you will have to coordinate the hours.

If you’re just doing payroll or something then does it matter when it gets done as long as it’s done.

I would have seen if I could email or call to ask if set hours

Thanks - yes I did ask and was told it would depend and would likely vary each week.

It may be part time but it doesn't sound a suitable job for anyone who needs childcare

This is standard in my industry, we’re not admin. It’s “hybrid” (no online work though), but our on-site hours vary week by week.

This week I have worked 4 days of 10am to 7pm.
Next week I have 5 days of 2pm to 8pm. The week after that it’s 3 days of 6pm to midnight.
Then an 8-day week doing a combination of mornings and nights, including a 10am to 10pm day…

Standard in some industries, but you don’t go into it if you need flexibility with childcare…

In nursing there are loads of part time jobs like this - so the role could be for 15 hours a week but you would be expected to work different shifts each week which could be any time 24/7. Completely impossible for anyone who needs to use paid childcare.
Sounds unusual for an admin job though.

This.

Not everyone has children!

In fact loads of admin/part time jobs appeal to semi retired people

I work 30 hours a week. This relates to 4 days a week 8 hours a day between the hours of 6am to 6pm. I can work different days and different shifts from week to week. This is common in many jobs especially retail when business needs and staffing levels can vary.

How do people with small children have 30 hours of childcare on standby to only cover 18.5 hours of work?

They don't. If they need set hours they don't take jobs with variable hours.