Is this cheeky to ask in new job?

[Cheepcheepchirp]

Nearly 3 months into a new job. I’ve almost completed my training and so far feedback has been very positive. I’ve been a SAHM for last decade and I’m dreading school holidays and not being able to spend it with my kids. I didn’t realise they’d still want to spend as much time with me!
I do 3x 8-5.30, plus 6 hours (when kids are in bed). I’ve planned eldest DC doing their own thing and youngest in holiday club those 3 days but I’d much rather work 2 long days, just for the summer hols.
I would take it unpaid (prefer not) and only have a couple days AL left.
Am I cheeky to ask and if not, what can I suggest?

I think it's really cheeky tbh. If they are much older, then you should have had the conversation with them before committing. Or could they change their minds again? It sounds like you have a good p/t role which can be like gold dust, especially after a big work gap. Huge amounts of us would like to have more time with older kids or like me at the moment, trying to juggle work and where kids need to be and how to get them there etc. But I've just started a new full time job with quite inconvenient office hours to being with. However, my kids are aware of the situation. They know I've committed, that's what happens with a job and why. I don't think it sets a great example if your kids think you can just swap and change on an employer whenever you want. You still have 4 days with them and a flexible p/t job. That's amazing! They (and you) probably just need time to adjust as well. You can't really have your cake and eat it xx

I’d be thinking about the impact on your clients tbh, I wouldn’t want to be the last client you’re seeing on a 10 hour day.

cheeky fuckery post

i feel sorry for your colleagues

Agreed. It sounds unethical.

Suck. It. Up.

This is kind of how life is. I don’t think your kids will be seriously damaged. :-)

Yes it is cheeky after 3 months

I do four shorter days in term time and then three long days in school holiday time which my employer was happy to facilitate, works well and saves a lot in holiday club fees. I had been there a good few years before I suggested it though, and with a lot of notice before I wanted it to start. I don’t think three months in with a few weeks notice would have gone down well at all. (And from the timings you’ve mentioned I’m not sure how possible it would be without dropping hours anyway)

Honestly OP, no I wouldn't ask unless it was a desperate situation - which it isn't. It will not reflect well on you. It shouldn't work like that, but it does.

Should have looked for a term time contract if you wanted to do this. Most of us have to work school hols.

Read the post…she said she will take it unpaid

@Cheepcheepchirp

not sure the nature or grade of your work, but if it isn’t something highly paid or highly skilled then look at places like Amazon who offer term time working

Don't take the piss and do your job.

Someone at my old work tried to ask for similar. But they asked for every school holiday of unpaid. But they were part of a 3 person team. They had no answer as to who was going to do their work 13 weeks of the year. They obviously got told no, then started calling in sick every school holiday. They were let go eventually.

At tea break this morning it came up in conversation what everyone’s summer plans are. I explained what I’d love and the centre manager suggested I work my hours over the year! I was happy to take it unpaid (I earn very well indeed) but now don’t need to.
It’s true that if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

Excellent result, I’m so glad it worked out for you!

I would see through that immediately and be very unimpressed. Bring cheeky and asking is one thing. Lying is a whole different moral category for me. If I was a manager who experienced this it would affect my judgment of that person and I’d reflect it in redundancy decisions and pay reviews.

Or another dad hey? 😉

Am I wrong in thinking that employers can’t refuse a request for flexible working?

They must consider it but the can refuse.

You can ask but they may say no and then what are your options? You need a viable Plan B just in case. I wouldn't bank on Hufflemuff's advice as a Plan B that wouldn't back fire.

No wonder it’s so hard to get a counsellor these days! How does this work for your patients?

Yes. Very wrong.

Yabu. You took the job knowing the hours so to try and change it so early on is unacceptable imo.

For the sake of 6 annual leave days, I’d just book them off - if you can that is! It’s really not worth risking your job for.

Depends also if your place has a limit as to how many people can be off at any time - everyone wants time off in summer holidays when they have kids so don’t be that person who thinks ‘more entitled’ to it than members of your team who don’t have school age kids

We have a maximum of 2 of our team allowed off at any time although we have a 2 day crossover next month where 3 of us are off