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Original poster

So family unfriendly! Working hours have been pushed

155 replies

Lana07 · 18/11/2021 22:39

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!!!

OP posts:
Obsidiansphere · 19/11/2021 02:18

I don’t think counselling is for you…

TreeRoad · 19/11/2021 05:31

OP, you come across as a bit demanding.

You don’t like your current job, fine, but it seems like you have already written off getting a new one because of previous lockdowns. Go look, there have been no lockdown measures recently and it’s incredibly unlikely that there’ll be any more.

You won’t work nights, might work in teaching but don’t like too much paperwork, you’ll work in female-friendly IT but not coding. Honestly, your attitude is off, in my opinion.

I do understand that the situation is frustrating fact of the matter is that 9-5 Monday to a Friday roles are quite rare now.

Evening, weekend, overnight and unsociable hours working is standard and although you might be annoyed about that, you’ll probably either have to accept it and change your family life a bit or be a bit less stringent in your criteria for work you’ll consider.

Madworld26 · 19/11/2021 06:28

If you won’t leave your job, won’t put in a flexible working request, and have written off all of the careers you might like because you don’t want to actually do the work they involve then what exactly do you want people here to advise you on? Confused

Hesma · 19/11/2021 06:35

How are the hours stated in your contract? Are you able to say ‘no’ to these extra hours due to family commitments? If you did, what would happen?
If you’re really this unhappy and angry you should forget about the shares OP, your mental health is more important. Hope you can get things sorted and soon feel better

aubergineface · 19/11/2021 06:41

How long have you been paying into your Save As You Earn share scheme for already?

traka · 19/11/2021 06:53

What is your question?

AnxiousPixie · 19/11/2021 07:23

I understand that you think the hours they are asking you to work are crappy. That sucks that it affects your family life, but presumably you signed a contract that enables them to ask you to work them. It sucks but it is what it is of you can't change jobs. Just for the Christmas period though?

Platax · 19/11/2021 07:33

Any chance of applying for promotion or a different job with your current employers?

andpeggy1 · 19/11/2021 08:17

So sounds like you're in a share saver scheme, so you don't actually have shares yet, but are putting in an amount monthly for you them to buy them at a discounted rate. If you have the role so much cause of these "demanding" hours (it's retail, I don't get why you are shocked) I suggest you leave, and take the money you've put in the share saver pot ( before you snap back, yes you can do this, from ALL share saver schemes) and reinvest it in to being a float till you get another role, or for retraining.

Musmerian · 19/11/2021 08:37

OP - I really don’t think teaching will be right for you. You have to be good at communicating and problem solving and de-escalating.

picklemewalnuts · 19/11/2021 08:52

You could consider being the IT technician in a school- it's much more family friendly, and probably easier to get into. If you are good at retail, customer service etc you may well be good at working with the staff and students keeping the IT equipment running smoothly.
It's not hugely well paid, but it's probably easier to get into.

Spiceup · 19/11/2021 09:13

You sound very angry

Have you actually tried to change your job?

I have a number of positions to fill atm and very few candiadates. There's never been a better time to be looking for work.

You're worried that you never see your son, leave it another 2 years and it will be too late.

SuperbOwls · 19/11/2021 09:27

The share thing really comes under the sink cost fallacy. If you really hate your job then your mental health is worth more than the potential shares.

How about IT in some sort of FE role teaching/supporting adults? I'm not sure the pay is all that great but might be more flexible than a traditional school.

DameMaureen · 19/11/2021 09:50

Do you work at the Co- op?

Bookworm20 · 19/11/2021 10:03

You work in retail? The hours are shit, but surely you know this is you've been working there for 16 years.
How many hours a day are they having you work?

Also you said 6 years ago they have changed it that flexibility is a must.
So you've know for the past 6 years that you were expected to be flexible, why not try to get out then?

Totally get why you are pissed off at the hours, but surely you're not doing until 8.30 every day of the week? Will the hours go back down after christmas do you think? Or have they changed them to this permanently?

Ducksareruiningmypatio · 19/11/2021 10:24

I do kinda get this
I worked in Retail for years and they push push push you are a number and loyalty is never rewarded.
The share saves are the only perk. I made 11k profit on one, which when you are minimum wage is an incredible windfall.
I got out, went into admin and now work sensible hours.
I got made redundant a few years ago and the prospect of having to go back to retail was actually giving me panic attacks.
It's pretty horrific to work in retail at the best of times
You are treated like absolute scum by your employer AND the public. It's extremely hard to then have your home life eaten away too.
One thing I will say though OP is that you're incredibly lucky to have any weekend time off. We'll done for managing to fix that.

P.S. everyone saying to request flexible working? That doesn't really exist in retail. It's nearly always refused due to business needs.

HeartRainbow87 · 19/11/2021 11:00

@Lana07

Do you think it's so easy to change it, especially after lockdowns in a town of 150 000 and get a permanent job?

For 2 years and 2 months, I depend on my shares in this job.

@Lana07 nobody is going to want to help you when you’re being so argumentative. Calm down.
VanGoghsDog · 19/11/2021 11:06

@Ducksareruiningmypatio

I do kinda get this I worked in Retail for years and they push push push you are a number and loyalty is never rewarded. The share saves are the only perk. I made 11k profit on one, which when you are minimum wage is an incredible windfall. I got out, went into admin and now work sensible hours. I got made redundant a few years ago and the prospect of having to go back to retail was actually giving me panic attacks. It's pretty horrific to work in retail at the best of times You are treated like absolute scum by your employer AND the public. It's extremely hard to then have your home life eaten away too. One thing I will say though OP is that you're incredibly lucky to have any weekend time off. We'll done for managing to fix that.

P.S. everyone saying to request flexible working? That doesn't really exist in retail. It's nearly always refused due to business needs.

Yes, we know that, but the first step is to make the request, not be so determined to be downtrodden!
Original poster
Lana07 · 19/11/2021 13:52

@Ducksareruiningmypatio

Thank you. You understand me from within the actual job running around and doing your best, trying to achieve your best in certain circumstances.

What other job options would you consider except retail?

Do you have any after-school education background?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lana07 · 19/11/2021 13:57

@HeartRainbow87

Yes, keep calm and carry on :).

I practise that occasionally but sometimes I need to show my true side of emotional feeling and feedback as a lady (hormones can rule sometimes and I am only a human) and as an Eastern-European honest and open, not overserved mentality.

So at least occasionally I want and need to be myself without having a friendly mask on, smiling and pretending everything is fine when truly it isn't and it's not how it makes me feel.

Cultural differences lol :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Lana07 · 19/11/2021 14:01

What can sound rude to you is a need to express my true feelings and is totally acceptable for me.

Everyone loves me. I am nice and friendly to everyone in real life but with some life & work experience, I've learnt to set my boundaries on how I allow people to treat me at work and in life generally.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lana07 · 19/11/2021 14:02

*not over reserved mentality

OP posts:
Original poster
Lana07 · 19/11/2021 14:04

@Spiceup

You sound very angry

Have you actually tried to change your job?

I have a number of positions to fill atm and very few candiadates. There's never been a better time to be looking for work.

You're worried that you never see your son, leave it another 2 years and it will be too late.

What industry are you in and in what area?
OP posts:
Dozer · 19/11/2021 14:05

Grin ‘What can sound rude to you is a need to express my true feelings and is totally acceptable for me’

CloudPop · 19/11/2021 14:06

What do you mean by female-friendly IT role?