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Original poster

Should I take this job?

24 replies

Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:29

I have been offered a promotion at work. I currently work just 2 full days a week (7.30am - 9pm) but this promotion would mean working 4 full days a week (7.30 am - 9pm) and often having to be available to jump in if staff are off sick.
I work in the health sector, hence the crazy shifts. I have a 4 year old and a 10 year old with autism and she is finding life a bit difficult at the moment due to it.
Obviously childcare is hard due to the hours so I depend on my parents who are getting on a bit and starting to struggle.
It's alot more money and a great opportunity but I don't know if I'm being i'm unrealistic here. Should I just stick to part time?
Just looking for some opinions or experiences.

OP posts:
NuffSaidSam · 15/05/2023 13:31

Is it enough money that you could afford some proper childcare? You'd probably need a nanny with those hours or maybe an au pair depending on your older child's needs.

pjani · 15/05/2023 13:33

I think it's the 'having to jump in' that will be the problem.

Also those standard hours are crazy long, is it sustainable long-term?

The NHS are really struggling to find good staff. Is there any way to negotiate the role somehow? No idea how as I don't know the specifics, but if they really want you, can they help make the job work for you? Eg 3 days a week + a set number of potential ad hoc shifts, or 4 days with the understanding that you can't do more. Or if it's a clinical management job, some of the management tasks that would normally come to you, go instead to a non-clinical manager.

(If they have a strong second option, they won't negotiate like this. But strong number 2s are more rare these days!)

Iwrote · 15/05/2023 13:41

I think it would be completely unfair to your parents to expect them to bring up your children 4 days a week if they are older and starting to struggle.
There will be other jobs.

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Moonshine160 · 15/05/2023 13:47

Those are crazy long days… it would be a no from me.

Original poster
Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:47

@NuffSaidSam I doubt it would be enough to cover private childcare and if it is, the all the extra I'd be making would be going straight to paying for childcare x

OP posts:
GCWorkNightmare · 15/05/2023 13:48

Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:29

I have been offered a promotion at work. I currently work just 2 full days a week (7.30am - 9pm) but this promotion would mean working 4 full days a week (7.30 am - 9pm) and often having to be available to jump in if staff are off sick.
I work in the health sector, hence the crazy shifts. I have a 4 year old and a 10 year old with autism and she is finding life a bit difficult at the moment due to it.
Obviously childcare is hard due to the hours so I depend on my parents who are getting on a bit and starting to struggle.
It's alot more money and a great opportunity but I don't know if I'm being i'm unrealistic here. Should I just stick to part time?
Just looking for some opinions or experiences.

If any of those shifts are back to back they are in breach of the working time directive.

Original poster
Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:50

@Iwrote I totally agree with you. They are both heading into their 70s and already struggle. The eldest is at school but unfortunately as well as bring a pre-teen she is also autistic so can be a bit of a handful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:54

@GCWorkNightmare No they will be spaced out, I think one will overlap but I assume they will have a way of working it out. There's an unpaid lunch of an hour each day and possibly also an unpaid break, so I don't know if that stops it breaching. I will definitely look into that and ask.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:56

@Moonshine160 Yeah even doing the two (sometimes 3) of those a week is a nightmare. You're just mentally exhausted by the of the shift.

OP posts:
sillyonehetpes · 15/05/2023 14:02

You are entitled to a longer rest break

GCWorkNightmare · 15/05/2023 14:06

Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:54

@GCWorkNightmare No they will be spaced out, I think one will overlap but I assume they will have a way of working it out. There's an unpaid lunch of an hour each day and possibly also an unpaid break, so I don't know if that stops it breaching. I will definitely look into that and ask.

You must have a minimum of 11 hours between shifts. Finishing at 9pm and starting at 7:30am isn’t long enough.

GCWorkNightmare · 15/05/2023 14:07

sillyonehetpes · 15/05/2023 14:02

You are entitled to a longer rest break

Only between shifts. Legal break entitlement is 20
mins (unpaid) for a anything over 6 hours.

Original poster
Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 14:10

@sillyonehetpes It's currently an unpaid hour for lunch (tbh I often don't even get time for a lunch break, it's a hectic ward) and a 20 minute break at somepoint during the shift...which I'm sure is also unpaid.

OP posts:
Original poster
Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 14:13

@GCWorkNightmare That's interesting to know as the majority of my shifts are back to back. It's currently only two a week and tbh I'm happy to get them out the way quickly and together like that but it's interesting to know that it's actually not allowed.

OP posts:
NotMyDayJob · 15/05/2023 14:13

I'll be honest OP it doesn't sound like you have the childcare as it stands. As your parents get older you probably need to think about how you'll dial down the childcare they provide not up it. What happens if one of them gets ill, or has an accident?

Londontoderby · 15/05/2023 14:16

That sounds like too much work and stress with no further benefit or improvement on the life you have now, so I wouldn’t take it.

Original poster
Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 14:19

@NotMyDayJob That is something I do need to consider as they are both healthy at the moment but things could happen in future. So yeah I need to add that to my list of job "cons" I think.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 15/05/2023 14:24

Is the other parent in arojnd to take up some of the slack? I think if your on your own then it would be too much

WhatNoRaisins · 15/05/2023 14:29

I think you need to be realistic about how much your parents can cope with if you can't afford paid childcare.

sillyonehetpes · 15/05/2023 17:47

@Orangejuice30 unless you have opted out they are breaking the law. You need 11 hours rest between shits

sillyonehetpes · 15/05/2023 17:48

Orangejuice30 · 15/05/2023 13:54

@GCWorkNightmare No they will be spaced out, I think one will overlap but I assume they will have a way of working it out. There's an unpaid lunch of an hour each day and possibly also an unpaid break, so I don't know if that stops it breaching. I will definitely look into that and ask.

It's the time between shits. You need 11 hours to eat, sleep and wind down.

GCWorkNightmare · 15/05/2023 17:49

sillyonehetpes · 15/05/2023 17:47

@Orangejuice30 unless you have opted out they are breaking the law. You need 11 hours rest between shits

You can’t opt out of rest breaks.

Lapland123 · 15/05/2023 17:53

that’s still 48 + hours per week, sounds too much tbh

Mumof1andacat · 15/05/2023 18:04

It would be a no from me. How would the school holidays work? What about the days when you have to cover sickness when you have already worked your hours. I think it's too much to ask of your parents.

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