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Original poster

Employer changing my hours to nights when I have my son to care for

42 replies

Pantana90 · 20/06/2020 10:36

I work for a company that basically operates 24/7. I worked evenings and nights for years but ever since I had my son a year ago I was put on days/early evenings (working no later than 10pm).

Now they're saying they're going to put me on 8pm-4am five nights a week (all our contracts state we can be assigned to any shift).

My partner has recently returned to work and her shift is 8am-5pm. This means I'll have to work until 4am and then get up at 7.30am to look after our son every morning and for the entire day. This isn't a very attractive situation and I certainly couldn't do it long-term.

We have no access to childcare, can't really afford it anyway and Covid restricts anyone coming into our house. I've explained the situation to my boss, that due to looking after son, I simply can't do these hours. I said I'll compromise and do two nights a week, and the rest days. A mix of the two. They say I'm making life awkward for them - but this is making life really awkward for me!

Any advice as this is really stressing me out?

OP posts:
MrMagooInTheLoo · 20/06/2020 11:28

Be polite and professional (even though it's hard when you try to offer a comprise) stick by what you've said. Wait for a formal response of them either accepting or rejecting your proposal. Dont complain to anyone at work not even your work BFF about what is said by management it'll always comes back and bites you. And they didn't say No. Just that it made it awkward.. Always a bright side

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 20/06/2020 12:17

I think as you accepted a contract that says you'll work any hours, legality is on your companies side.

You're going to have to try to appeal to their kinder side and negotiate with them. The job sector isnt great at the moment so I dont think leaving the campany is a great option. Unless you leave and provide the childcare....

Viviennemary · 20/06/2020 12:23

If your contract said you need to work nights I don't think there is lot you can do. If you both worked days who would look after your son.

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rottiemum88 · 20/06/2020 12:23

I don't understand. You were previously working days, which you'd rather continue. Your partner has just returned to work, on days. What did you plan to do for childcare? Confused

femfemlicious · 20/06/2020 12:25

But who was going to look after him if you were at work during the day?

PotteringAlong · 20/06/2020 12:26

Well, if your partner works 8am - 4pm and you work days / early evenings then you must have some access to childcare...

I think that you need to read your contract carefully. And then if you can be contracted to any shift, put in a flexible working request.

FelicityPike · 20/06/2020 12:27

Who was going to take care of your child when you & your partner we’re both working during the day?

Original poster
Pantana90 · 20/06/2020 12:28

A key point I should have mentioned - I work remotely. So I am working at home and looking after my son.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pantana90 · 20/06/2020 12:31

I would work 2-10pm usually. Meaning I can look after my son most of the day. My job is very much a "one-man" thing, I am not part of a team.

OP posts:
confusedbymyheritage · 20/06/2020 13:22

The situation really sucks but you signed a contract saying you'll work any hours so legality is on your employers side.

I would absolutely try to appeal to their human nature. But I don't think you can really 'offer to compromise' because it isn't really a negotiation iyswim.

It sucks but I would be prepared to either quit/lose the job if you can't work nights. Only because management may not be willing/able to change you to days if you're contract states you will work any hours as this could be seen as favouring you over your other colleagues.

peachypetite · 20/06/2020 13:25

Who is going to look after your son when you start work at 2?

HotPenguin · 20/06/2020 13:26

How the hell did you manage to WFH whilst caring for a one year old??

HotPenguin · 20/06/2020 13:29

If your employee won't budge, you could try to shift your son's routine so that he goes to bed at 10pm and gets up at 10am?

HotPenguin · 20/06/2020 13:29

*employer

Wolfiefan · 20/06/2020 13:31

What difference does it make to them what hours you do? If it does make things awkward for your employer then you can understand their point. Your contract says you can be asked to work any hours. Unfortunately your childcare isn’t their issue.

LIZS · 20/06/2020 13:33

It does not sounds like you and your dp working overlapped hours was ever a realistic option and this has just crystallised that. While things have been more relaxed of late during lockdown, remote working as well as doing childcare, is not generally acceptable or as productive. You need to go back with a counter offer such as splitting the shift or reducing hours to work around childcare short term , but intend to look for external help longer term. Otherwise you will need to reconsider the job.

Nartl0ngNow · 20/06/2020 13:38

Why can't your partner move their shifts?

Original poster
Pantana90 · 20/06/2020 13:50

@Wolfiefan

What difference does it make to them what hours you do? If it does make things awkward for your employer then you can understand their point. Your contract says you can be asked to work any hours. Unfortunately your childcare isn’t their issue.
I've heard the old "your childcare isn't their problem" thing in the past.

My response to that is "when the same old people phone in sick last minute, don't be turning to me like you always do for the desperate scramble for cover. That's not my problem."

OP posts:
WaffleCash · 20/06/2020 13:51

Am I reading it incorrectly, there's no more childcare required here, just the change in hours means you can no longer work and look after your one year old at the same time. Perhaps your employers are keen for you to not be working and providing childcare at the same time?

Nix2020 · 20/06/2020 13:59

Your entitled to ask for the reasoning behind your change of shift. They have to give a fair reason.

I understand where your coming from with the child care, even if you have child care you still have to get up organise your child and get them there. Your partner can't do it as he starts to early.

I think the best option here is to try and get a compromise with your boss. Employers have been asked by the government to be flexible, they don't seem to be. If you do have to work these shifts nap when the baby naps try and make up for some lost sleep.

Wolfiefan · 20/06/2020 14:17

You’re not part of a team but they ask you to cover for others last minute?
It’s true. You have a child. You have a job. It’s not their fault that childcare is an issue. If they have a legitimate reason for wanting you to work those hours then you need to accept that or start job hunting.

Original poster
Pantana90 · 20/06/2020 14:28

Yeah I can do jobs in many different areas of the company but my main one is just on my own

OP posts:
Sandybval · 20/06/2020 14:30

So I am working at home and looking after my son

Is this why they have moved your shifts?

confusedbymyheritage · 20/06/2020 14:34

@OP you're absolutely right that covering others sickness leave is their problem, not yours. So just don't do it (unless you want to), you can't be reprimanded for it.

But the same applies to them, you're childcare is your problem, not theirs. So they don't have to deal with it if they don't want to and can't be reprimanded for it either (and it may even be that they do want to but can't).

JellyfishandShells · 20/06/2020 14:35

I would be concerned as an employer if the basis of your objection to the new plan is that you would prefer to work days because that would enable you to provide childcare for a one year old at the same time. It must matter that you are ‘present’, even if remotely, as otherwise they would not be setting very definite shift hours, surely ?

I had a remote working job, that involved some undisturbed time for necessary communicating across international time zones , but I had agreed flexibility for how I otherwise worked my monthly quota of hours so could work childcare around that. Some of that could be done at the same time but nothing that involved real concentration.