To think a part time job should be part time?

[autumnbreez]

Do you work part time and if so how flexible are you expected to be? This is my second part time role since having my DC and I was employed to work 3 days per week (9-5). Since joining I’ve been asked to cover sickness/holidays and just random days my colleague cannot make it into the office. This is an office based job and the second time this has happened to me in a role. I have said yes every time I’ve been asked (mainly because I don’t like to say no) but I am a single parent and the stress of constantly trying to find childcare and not spending time with my child (long commute) is really starting to get me down. Is this normal for part time jobs? This is one of the reasons I left my last job.

If it’s outside your contracted hours and you can’t do it (or don’t want to!) then say no.

It's pretty common for part time jobs to include flexibility to cover, yes. But that shouldn't mean it's compulsory. You need to learn to say no!

Big girl pants on and say no, as long as you've worked your contracted hours they can't make you do anything else!

Just say No. Work your 3 days and that’s it - nothing more. I was part time for years and was always asked to work more, every time I said No then eventually they stopped asking!!

In one hob I went ft to pt and was doing everything I did ft but in pt hours. Everyone kept telling me how handy my days were and I couldn’t tell them I was exhausted and how it was ten times harder.

Tell them no and sorry sometimes op, if you can’t you can’t, then help them out when you can and they’ll at least be satisfied you’re trying. Secretly I think people want ft but put pt because it attracts more people but also to save money

They can ask (as long as they don't expect it for free!), and you are equally fine to say no if it doesn't work for you. Other people may be quite happy with a bit of adhoc overtime covering sickness and would be pleased to be asked - I certainly did when I was a student. The issue is you always say yes when, actually, you don't want to and it is just shifting the problem onto you (workplace is no longer short staffed, but your household now is in terms of childcare).

Stick to your days / hours. They may ask but stop saying yes. There's no obligation on your part! I've not worked 100% full time for years and though I occasionally swap days or do extra, its always my choice, not my employer's.

You need to just say no op.

I joined a company where they then started asking me to be on call overnight and weekends for emergency incidents. It also stressed me out and meant i couldn’t take my DC out at weekends. So after a couple of times, i said i wasn’t doing it any more and that was that.

I work part time, I have had colleagues approach me for shift swaps if they can't get a holiday they requested. If I can't do it, I just tell them I can't do it. It's fine, they move on and ask someone else.

It's never been an expectation of my management to work outside my core hours. We have a contract that I abide to it and that works both ways.

I've worked part time in several roles, my last role was senior in the business. I've never been asked to work and cover someone else in small or larger businesses. That's bad management and not your problem.
Maybe had to take on a bit more on the days I am working yes but not actually go in extra.
Your only paid to be part time, your only contracted to be part time so they can't expect you to have the availability and flexibility of a full time person.
People that work full time can't take extra on either, they may also have childcare or other commitments and you should be treated in the same way.
Your spare unpaid time is yours to do what you want with!

Slightly different (teaching rather than office) but I worked part time for 5 years and have just gone back to full time.

In the end I found pt work to be a bit of a trap unless its a true job share with you both doing 50/50. I ended up with a full time workload but only paid for 60 or 80% of it.

I have a couple of friends in wfh or office based part time jobs and they say its more like condescending their old ft job into less days so it might be universal!

Thank you all! I think the problem is I’ve only been there 5 months so I’m feeling the need to ‘impress’ . During the interview I was told the last person was made redundant because they no longer needed someone full time for the role (they clearly do!). It’s a busy job but I can def get it done in my 3 days so that isn’t the issue, it’s more the fact that they want one of us there at all times so get the impression I will always been asked to cover when my colleague is not in the office. I’m feeling such guilt as I’ve hardly seen my DC in weeks because of this. My days off are so important to me/us.

If you had said no the first time and kept saying no then they would probably stop asking.

You just need to be assertive and tell them you have something planned on your days off so can't cover.

Then just say no!! Say you have plans/ appointments. Or if you cover one day then you can’t do one of your days.

Sounds like they're trying to use you for cover for your flaky colleague instead of addressing the issue as to why they're not doing their job properly (or have a genuine illness, it's not clear from your posts).

Tell them you have to stick to your contracted work days due to childcare arrangements and they'll have to deal with your colleague, which should make your problem go away as they will suddenly be able to make it into the office as expected, or your employer will have to make other arrangements.

Well, they can ask. They might think you will welcome the overtime or TOIL.

All you have to do is say no.

Are they allowing you to swap your days so you still get a day off (although not your usual day) or are they paying over time for you working?

If you don't want to work extra you need to be speaking up.

You need to learn to say no. It's hard sometimes but you don't have to say yes every time. It isn't your responsibility to make sure everything is covered, only to work your contracted hours. They are not wrong to ask and some people would like the opportunity for extra money - but you don't have to say yes.

I'm part time aswell, to fit childcare around OH's shift work. I do 24 hrs a week. I think the part timers will always be the 'go to' for companies if they need to cover shifts. But as others have said you can always say "no," as you're not contracted to do them. Some staff feel like its unfair of the part timers to not pick up the slack, but there's usually a reason why part time works better for them.

I personally like getting the extra pay, so I'll take the cover. But then its nice to go back to my normal 24 hours again. It gives me more free time in the week & more time with my child.

I've also been back at work part time after being a sahm. Work hours are FTE 0.6, and I started three days a week, but now I'm allowed to do 2 days and 2 half days wfh. I'm expected to be in the office if there's an board meeting, even if it doesn't fall on one of my office days but this was agreed at interview and should only be 8-9 times a year. On the flip side, I warned them I have a child with SN and will need time for appointments/if there's a bit of a crisis at school and they said they would be flexible with this. So far, they have been.

I haven't been to all the other meetings that have been scheduled on my non working hours, I've just said it's not possible because of the DC.

Check your contract though, mine says that I work 25.5 hours a week and which exact hours are decided after discussion with my direct boss and the business needs.

What happens the days when you're off? Or for the extra hours you've been working, do you get that back as time off or pay?

Do you get flexi days back when you do the extra? So is there any consequence to them of asking you to cover? Any inconvenience? If not, they’re onto a good thing - at your expense!

Crucially, how was the job advertised and what does your contract say? Simple PT or PT plus flexible cover?

If simple PT, own that professionally. Imagine you have a second PT employer who ‘owns’ your other hours during the working week. You have equal obligations to that employer.

Being a pushover does not ‘impress’. It’s useful. You will be used. It does not convey professionalism, seriousness or reliability though. You will not progress with that attitude, because you won’t be seen as taking yourself seriously. You will be seen as useful, malleable, a follower and will be kept in a place where you’re useful to them.

I work part time and I never agree to work outside of that. Mainly because of childcare and I just don’t want to. Have an excuse ready next time you’re asked

I remember when I went PT and my line manager was incredulous that I wouldn't be around to cover her annual leave (she expected me to go back to full time hours when she was off!!)

She had no say in my PT working request, which had already been approved much higher up the chain. She just seemed to think I'd be available as and when?

I've been PT for a decade now and I do occasionally shift my days to make important meetings / work extra days here and there (get them back as TOIL) but it's never asked or expected of me.

I don’t mind doing the occasional day if they are short staffed, but I happily say no when it’s not convenient. Just say no!

I am a teacher and do 80% so there is no chance of being required to do anything on my "day off". I do normally work most of it but at least I can do so from home. My school are decent and pay in full when I occasionally have to go in on that day, for example, for a trip or open day, and I could say no and have.

But in an office situation where I had to arrange extra childcare? Absolutely not!!!

Just keep saying to yourself "poor planning on their part does not constitute an automatic emergency on mine" and be very good on the days you do work.