So family unfriendly! Working hours have been pushed

[Lana07]

I absolutely HATE it they force us with their STUPID flexibility to work till 22:00 (for 6 weeks for Christmas, fair enough) and 20:30 in retail.

I used to finish at 18:30 the latest.

Family evening is RUINED when I get home by 21:30/22:30.

Please DON'T tell me I am lucky to have a job.

My post is NOT about that.

And no, I am not in a position to change my job for the nearest 3-5 years minimum.

I originally DID NOT sign up these hours but they they are pushing and pushing!!!

@katieg03

Why don't you train in your time off to do something else?

Yes, I 100% plan to do it.

@KerfuffleShuffle

What is in your contract? Does it state flexible work hours or does it state fixed shifts?

6 years ago they have changed it that flexibility is a must.

I understand that it might be difficult to find a new permanent position especially after Covid but surely that's all the more reason to start trying? The sooner you start, the sooner you might get a more suitable job.

If there is nothing in your contract which prevents flexible working hours then it seems you have a choice. Either carry on working and receive the shares in 2 years, or find a new job which will prioritise family time. You might not be able to have both.

What are you shouting and being rude to people when you didn't say why you 'had to stay' in the original post.
You DON'T have to stay you are making a choice, you choose to work in retail, you would have been very aware of changing times/days etc in the run up for Christmas.
If your child is 14 you have many, many choices but you are choosing to be pissed off, its a job not a prison!

@VanGoghsDog

Put in a flexible working request to work to your original hours?

I doubt it is possible :) because they rule and decide how they want to exploit.

It may be possible to put in a flexible working request, especially if you have worked there over 26 weeks which I presume you have?

They should have a policy about this including steps to follow to submit the application, maybe ask HR?

Thankfully these days there are lots of jobs going, especially in retail, of that's what you want to keep doing.
If not, perhaps check out on line course or training you could do to be able to enter a different field

What sort of work are you interested in OP? Maybe we could help post you in the right direction of training or places to look.

Stop shouting and being rude to people. If you have that attitude and behave like that at work the problem will be solved because they will get rid

You are choosing to stay for your shares, you don’t have to, you can look for a different role now

The hours are what they are, talk to them and see if you can sort something out to finish earlier some evenings, but it still boils down to you choosing to stay because of shares

So quit moaning

@NEbotherpet

It may be possible to put in a flexible working request, especially if you have worked there over 26 weeks which I presume you have?

They should have a policy about this including steps to follow to submit the application, maybe ask HR?

It's not only possible, it's a legal right!

Everything is a choice, this is what you have chosen.
I choose to work nights only with no formal job security. This is what I’ve chosen for my family. Life is hard trying to juggle it all, we just have to find the best situation for our family and suck up the bad parts.

@Frannibananni

Everything is a choice, this is what you have chosen. I choose to work nights only with no formal job security. This is what I’ve chosen for my family. Life is hard trying to juggle it all, we just have to find the best situation for our family and suck up the bad parts.

These STUPID hours have never ever been my choice.

Originally I signed the contract working till 17:00. Then they pushed it 18:30. Now they are exploiting and pushing it till 20:30 and 22:00.

@NEbotherpet

Thank you.

I will ask them to do it for me tomorrow as soon as I get to work.

@VanGoghsDog

Thank you. I will tell them about my legal right tomorrow.

Previously they told me they use and exploit me like this because it is 'operationally required'.

I doubt they would ever care about it to honour it and will get away with what suits them the cheapest way to operate.

Our HR doesn't exist anymore because it's much easier if robots do all the job :).

We have our Teams App on our phones. That's all. Nothing else :)

much easier and much cheaper for them when you are just a number

@Chloemol

Stop shouting and being rude to people. If you have that attitude and behave like that at work the problem will be solved because they will get rid

You are choosing to stay for your shares, you don’t have to, you can look for a different role now

The hours are what they are, talk to them and see if you can sort something out to finish earlier some evenings, but it still boils down to you choosing to stay because of shares

So quit moaning

I Am NOT shouting!

I am talking emotionally!

Of course, I will stay for my shares! Who wouldn't?

Typing in capital letters is the internet equivalent of shouting, which is why people think that you are.

I’d weigh up whether the job itself & X weeks of hours you don’t like are worth the shares at the end.

I'm guessing this is Waitrose or John Lewis considering you have shares. Although it might feel like it, they are not exploiting you. When your contract was renegotiated you had a chance to stay and now work your new contracted hours or you could have resigned and found a new job. You are now just working your contracted hours. That is not exploitation - and to call it such is highly offensive to the victims of illegal exploitation.

If a flexible work request is unsuccessful, you have a choice. Are shares more important or time with your family?

I will ask again, what sort of work are you interested in? Maybe we can help.

Are your shares going to be worth THAT much? Is it really worth staying if it’s causing you this much unhappiness? It’s very rare in retail that you leave on time, whatever your contract states. I did a temp retail job at Christmas a few years ago and finished my night shift on time the grand total of twice.

@KerfuffleShuffle

What sort of work are you interested in OP? Maybe we could help post you in the right direction of training or places to look.

1) Counseling

2. Possibly Teaching IT. I would learn IT for teachers of secondary school if it's not that crazy and demanding. I know many teachers left because they were overloaded with too much often useless paperwork. So I am really not sure about that. I understand some paperwork is needed but NOT the amount it is often unfairly expected.

3. Possibly IT female-friendly options but not coding staring at the black screen all day. I'd like to find out a bit more about Business Analysis if it could be for me.

4. Maybe Marketing

I'll never know what it is exactly that I would like/love until I try and find out step by step, option after option.

@KerfuffleShuffle

Thank you for your wise reply.

@ChrissyPlummer

Are your shares going to be worth THAT much? Is it really worth staying if it’s causing you this much unhappiness? It’s very rare in retail that you leave on time, whatever your contract states. I did a temp retail job at Christmas a few years ago and finished my night shift on time the grand total of twice.

Hopefully yes. They've gone up 5 times my husband told me.

He monitors them for me. I pay 1/5, he pays 4/5 into them monthly.

The good thing about the shares is what you pay stays with you even if you don't make a profit, the money you've paid should be safe. So it's like a saving account. It doesn't get lost as long as the company survives. It has good indications to survive and prosper.

You have my totally sympathy OP.

Consumerism has pushed the retail trade to opening later and for longer.

You're essentially expected to sacrifice your family time in the evening so that other working people don't have to sacrifice theirs at weekends.

It's pretty shitty if I'm honest!