Working and being shomer shabbos

[clarabellabella]

Right. I have been considering becoming more observant about shabbos (at the moment I don't do anything I consider work, but not what is considered work halachically).

Are there any mnetters who are shomer shabbos and working full time? How did you approach this with your employers, or were you shomer shabbos when you started working?

well, you could try working for a Jewish organisation

failing that, i would suggest you go for a flexi working option for Fridays etc as it is really only in winter where you have to leave work very early

do you usually have to work on a Friday/Saturday?

Not on Saturdays. On fridays for the last couple of weeks I've managed to run out at five before shabbos came in, but after the clocks go back ... that's when the problem arrives. My other idea was to move to TA, but I think that's a bit extreme (though the food, sunshine, beaches ... ahhhh)

I think that you are entitled to ask about flexi working or perhaps work from home on a friday and that way you can start a bit earlier and pack up later than you would need to if you had to travel. I guess if you do that then you need to be the one to offer to cover the christmasses and bank holidays if they need someone.

Hi clarabellabella - I really hope you see this as it is a late resposne.

i started keeping shabbos abotu 10 years ago as a laywer in teh city - I have since had 3 or 4 positions and it has never been a problem.I have always offered to make time up on weekends and regularly do. Since the advent of blackberrys adn laptops and remote connection it is a whle lot easier as you can be online and avaialbe until literally 10 mins before shkia.

Where are you in te county?

I'm so curious what it means?

dutchOma it means observing the Jewish Sabbath, so have to be home, lighting candles, and following the rules of shabbos from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

Thank you

Hi. I approached this when I first started working and never had a problem. I made a schedule for my boss of how much time I would miss over winter and I'd do a bit of extra work each week to make up the time I'd miss overall - I think I started early a couple of days a week because pretty much everyone stayed late anyway. I never had a problem and had even less of a problem when I moved to a new agency (I work in advertising). My boss has been really understanding because she knows I take shabbat seriously and don't just use it as an excuse to get out of work early.
My husband moves around every year or so within the company he works for and has to go through the process of explaining each time and he hasn't had a problem either as they know he's observant and takes it all seriously - although sometimes he's cutting it fine when he walks through the door about 5 mins before shab!
Hope this helps - I guess it depends on the industry you work in...

I'm not Jewish, but in academe huge numbers of us work from home on a Friday, which would make a decent Sabbath do-able. It might be something to consider as a medium term plan ...