What is my position if they can't find another job sharer....

[stickytoffee]

I work in one of the professions and my job share is leaving, having resigned a while back.

I've been there for 8 years but in a jobshare for 6. I am on 3 months notice.

They have to use reasonable efforts to find a replacement but if not can "terminate" my employment.

It's not long now until my JS goes and they don't seem to have found anyone yet and even if they did now, it is unlikely they'd be able to start before September.

If my employment is "terminable" so to speak does that mean if they draw the line in the sand and say they have used reasonable efforts to find a JS and have not found anyone, that I would have to go when my jobshare goes or is there some sort of redundancy /notice process which would need to be followed for me. My contract is silent on that aspect.

They are "looking into it" (ie might accommodate me without the need for a jobshare ) but I'm interested to know where I'd stand and what the bottom line is if we don't sort something else out...

Thanks for your help

PS in case its not clear, the alternative is for me to go full time which, due to lots of reasons, I can't do.

Your notice period would have to be honoured. Ie they would have to give you three months notice.

Could you be proactive and make suggestions about how the job-share role could be altered to allow you to continue with your current hours? Are there parts of the role that could be assigned elsewhere? or put together to make a cheaper part time role that could be advertised? Do you know if (in general) they are looking to increase or decrease the head count?

Are you a teacher?
In our school they shuffle you into another job share in whatever year a job share is needed

Have they made 'reasonable efforts'?

Thanks everyone.

I'm not in teaching no and a particularly unfriendly towards women type of profession.

Whether they are using reasonable efforts or not I can't say. They've done some interviews but according to them the calibre is "rubbish"....I am not involved in the process but I know quite a few women who would jump at the chance of being able to do the job part time and with someone else for your "off" days so you don't have those down sides of fully part time.

I've given them some "suggestions" as alternatives to getting a job share, told them no to full time and I'm waiting to hear but as they are taking so long I was interested as to, were they to say that as I've turned down full time and they can't find a jobshare and are terminating the position, when I'd potentially be off...

If they'd have to give me notice, I suspect then that I might be able to hold out for the summer and as my childcare is all wrapped up for then and I have two weeks hols then that might work....

Let's see !