Work keep asking me to come in for an extra day and it's getting on my t**s!!

[Northerner]

I work 3 days a week. It is soo busy here at the moment and everyone is really stressed. For the past few weeks my boss has asked me to work an extra day, but I've made excuses and not done it. She's just come in and asked me again if I can work tommorrow - I said I'll see if I can arrange childcare.

Thing is I really don't want to. 3 days is enough for me, but they are acting like I'm really letting them down.

What would you do?

Asking you to come in for a fourth day is no different from asking somebody else to come in on a Saturday. If that isn't happening then I think your boss is being really unfair. However, even if others are being asked to work overtime, not sure why anyone (full or part time) should feel obliged to agree. Stand your ground - maybe give an idea of when you will be wanting to extend your hours?

To be honest, if it's a job you like, if there were any way I could arrange childcare I would do it.

I was at my old job for 6 years. I worked very hard, often going above and beyond, and I know that I was one of the key people in the department. And what goes around comes around. When I needed them to be flexible, after my first daughter was born occasionally needing days off or to leave early, and especially after my husband died, they were very accommodating.

I think they are doing the typical thing of having granted you 3 days, now wishing you were doing 5 days and harassing you to do it.

You have to be very careful about checking whether this is a temporary thing, or an attempt to trap you into full time permanently.

How much do you like this job? Would it be a tragedy if a year down the line, you lost it?

Why don't you tell them that you appreciate how busy they are and you would of course help out if you could but it is impossible to arrange childcare at short notice. Maybe you could offer to start or finish later on the days you do work, or work through lunch (for extra pay of course!) - then you would at least show that you are prepared to do what you can to help.

imo flexible working works both ways, my boss (a woman) is fantastic with me but I've done the odd day in return and even changed my days to fit in with the differing demands of my job. do you get the impression it's a one (or two) off? or that it would set a precedent and you'd be made to feel that you had to do it often?

I agree with jamiesam on this. You have agreed hours and that shouldn't make a difference whether you are full or part time. You presumably took (and agreed) those hours because of your circumstances, why should employers automatically think that you will or even can, rearrange your life to do 'overtime'.

It's definatley not a one off. The project we are all working on will net be finished until mid December.

What we actually need is more staff, but that's not going to happen.

It wouldn't be a tragedy if I lost my job, but Id prefer not too IYKWIM!!

I feel bad for my collagues who are all working overtime, but they are mostly single and none of them have kids. I must admit I've lost all motivation as far as works is concerned, I used to jump at the chance to do more but now I want to do my 3 days and go.

why don't you suggest you do say a set number of extra days between now & christmas but that those hours plus those your colleagues are doing are part of an evaluation to see if (of course there is) a need for an extra team member.

That's a good idea bundle. I like your style!

and get it written down properly by them so that it doesn't float off into the ether. it'll show you have initiative but aren't willing to be trodden on. also deep down employers realise this kind of long-term pressure causes stress related illnesses and they have a duty to protect you from that or at least reduce the risk.

It gets worse.

They asked me this morning if I can help run an overseas event this weekend. I'd need to fly out at 7am Friday morning and fly back at 7pm on Sunday night.

I feel like they are really pressurisimg me on this one.

ffs