To think my boss should have replied (long and boring!)

[furious27]

Hi

Been in bed 2 hours but got up as cant sleep as feel really stressed.

I have posted before - I am on mat leave and my boss called me on Friday, 3 weeks before Iam due to go back to tell me that the days I will be working have changed. There had been no indication of this before - indeed when I wrote to her in march with my return to work date, she replied with a meeting scheduled for my first day back - which is a day I know dont work!

Anyway I had organised all my childcare around the orginal days I work. I have a 2 year old and 10 month old plus a sick mother to look after and a husband that works shifts.

Anyway I think I have managed to change the childcare to the days he now wants.

But she also mentioned that my days may again change in September.

I sent him an email later on Friday saying that I would sort out childcare but would not be able to change it again in Sept.

I still not had got one back - so I have tried to call him twice and sent him another email today asking him to confirm my new back to work day etc by today. Still no reply.

I am really wound up and worried I wont get a childminder sorted out and the days I need in nursery. The nursery has a waiting list for some days. AIBU to think she should have replied, even if only to say he had got my email.

I can only work if I have reliable childcare in place surely she must realise I cant organise that at the drop of the hat. I know lots of staff rely on their parents for much of their childcare which is of course flexible but I do not have that luxury.

I can see how frustrating and worrisome this must be for you.
Is your child care provider still the same one you had to begin with, before you had to re arrange the hours? Would she/he be willing to have the children as arranged and be open to a schedule change in September? That seems like the best solution.
I can't really say about your boss being unreasonable, as it seems you have been given 4 months advance notice, so you can arrange it. I would be concerned if they plan on any more changes.
She should have replied, I would be stressing too. Hope you will be able to get some sleep. Good luck.

This sounds really dodgy, and possibly illegal. You need proper advice from an employment lawyer - legally "reasonable" is the key word and changing your days at this late stage without consultation and indicating that they may change again doesn't sound very reasonable to me. Employment law was never my thing though - please seek proper advice before you speak to your boss again so you know what to say. Good luck!

Can you speak to HR, rather than your boss?

YANBU they should have responded I agree w sunnydelight it sounds weird and yes please speak to someone about it

I have spoke to my union - they agree she cant change the days without mutual negoiation. But i do not want to be awkward so I dont mind agreeing to the new days - as I luckly could alter the childcare - but I nursery have told me that if I take dc out on a wed they have a waiting list -so I will loose the place. But as there is more avaiability on other days they can probably be more flexi.

I think it is unreasonable to keep him in on a wed and pay for 3 months when a will not work that day on the off chance I might need that day in September. I simply cant afford to pay for childcare for more days then I work. If that makes sense.

If I remember you're a teacher aren't you? This does make it hard as the timetable can't be arranged around you, especially if you're secondary. Our timetble for next academic year hsn't been finaalised yet.

As for replying to the email, yes, in an idel world I think she should have done. But I also know (as I think you do too) that sometimes emails don't get checked in school as regulrly as they would do in an office environment...I'm chasing forms etc as I m due to go on mat leave in the next few months and it is incredibly frustrating.

Sorry you're so stressed out.

She's probably taking advice or even looking to see if there's anything she can do about the situation. I think you're being a tiny bit unreasonable, but it's understandable.

I have having problems with my 'a' key it seems, sorry for all the typos!

A change in your days would be a change in your terms and conditions so illegal I think.

So stressed still no reply and tried to call him twice.

It is unfair keeping you hanging on like this but in education you are employed for your hours and not your days. This means for part time staff, especially in secondary schools, days can change in September to fit around the timetable.I hope he gets back to you soon as they should have an idea of next years TT by now.