Childcare costs for working days not contracted to work

[sayitwithme]

Can anyone help? My contract says I work days A, B and C, but my employer wants me to work an extra day one week and to take it back in lieu another week. This means I have to find an additional £80 for childcare costs that week. I don't really mind going in for one extra day every once in a while, but feel a bit disgruntled about being out of pocket for this. Any guidance or advice please?

And of course taking it back in lieu does not mean I get the money back as I have a childcare contract saying that I still have to pay half the fees for any planned holiday, so I'm still down by about £40.

No, they can't do this without your consent. Of course you could ask for a £50 per week increase to cover your costs.

No - unless it was specifically agreed as part of a flexible working request or whatever that you would be flexible on days.

I would point out to them the issues (if you haven't). TBH, many of the male managers I've worked with have stay at home wives and it doesn't cross their minds the implications of swapping around like that.

I agree, you could say that you would be willing to help out and swap the days if they are willing to pay the additional childcare costs, otherwise you will just stick with your contracted hours.

This happens to me all the bloody time. I work we'd, thur fri but am on nights this week mon -fri. I also get but on mandatory courses on my days off. AND I DON'T even get days back in lieu, I probably should but it is expected that I don't and it is impossible to find time to take them.
This is normal in my profession (medicine) but I am seriously thinking of standing up to be counted soon!
Not much help but wanted you to know you are not alone!

Have you actually raised it with them and said you are happy to do it but are significantly out of pocket so would they be prepared to reimburse you?

It depends on the type of job you do I think - I very often have to ask my nanny to do "overtime" - this is because my job is not a 9-5 job. I don't think I would get very far if I tried to ask for the cost of overtime back. I would go on your gut instinct with this one as to whether it is a reasonable request given the type of job you do.

I've been through this recently with my employer. They keep scheduling important meetings/training on days when I'm not in, then asking me to swop my days around. I ended up having to show them my nursery contract and fee sheet, and I think they were actually quite shocked at how much childcare costs and the inflexibility of it - as neither boss has small children it hadn't occurred to them.

They agreed that if I have to pay nursery fees, they will pay me at my standard hourly rate. In return, I've offered to to the 'swop' option if possible without incurring childcare costs (DH is a teacher, so there are times when he can cover childcare).

i don't think they can ask you legally, especially with all the parental rights these days - i work 3 days too and never work extra or swap days and they know i won't so have stopped asking!. I also only attend meetings on my contracted days and send my apologies otherwise! You can't be expected to swap and change but it will help relations with them to explain why. They legally need to give you 3 months notice to change your contract on a permanent basis i.e your working days

I used to do this all the time for my work because I felt in a relatively weak position as the only part timer. Now I feel more secure in my position there and so I usually say no unless it is something that is clearly in my long term best interests. Tbh since I've started saying 'no' it has never become an issue and it is now generally assumed that I can't work on my non-work days. I wish I'd started saying 'no' sooner.

My employer will cover any extra childcare costs if PTs need to do extra days for trainingcourses etc. I work in the public sector.