I work PT on a 16 hour contract. I am a single mum of 2 under 5.
I have been upfront on this to employer before I was employed and was told by the recruiting staff that it was a family friendly company. I asked for set days and times so I can arrange childcare hours at nursery, and was told this wouldn't be a problem if I got the job. I did!
I was told I would need to work full time for two weeks for training and then I would be on my 16 hour contract.
After the two weeks training I was asked to do over time. when I say asked I actually mean I was put on the Rota for over time without it being mentioned. I questioned this and said I needed to know my set days and hours so I could arrange permanent childcare. I was told it would be another 2 week's till the Rota was sorted and then I'd get set times and days.
stupidly I carried on and after 2weeks I was still being asked to do over time which I declined and explained that I was a single mum so I was receiving working tax credits based on my contracted hours and pay and that I was worried about doing too much over time as I'd done a months worth already. Manager agreed with me and said they understood.
Nothing changed.
By this point nursery had started filling up and there was one day in the week they did not have any space for my two. I explained this to work and taking the initiative I also wrote down times and days I was able to work as after over a month of planning childcare week to week the nursery insisted that they would need a Rota so they could plan staff ratios and take more children on if needed. I completely understand this, I have a very good relationship with the nursery manager and had kept them.informed of everything that was going on and she's been great at helping and even bent the rules for me.
This method worked for 2 weeks and then it all went pearshaped. I have been put down for the day I have no childcare, asked to start work at the same time nursery starts, which is impossible. I was told I was required to work 1 in 4 weekends, I explained I could do it but wouldn't be able to do any in a row due to childcare, my ex was having the DC EOW at the time this last month I have been put down for 3 Saturday's. and for the next 3 weeks the day I can't work due to nursery having no space. when I explained yesterday I couldnt do this Saturday due to childcare as I'd done last Saturday as overtime I was told my pay would be docked unless I worked the day I have told them I categorically cannot do.
I really felt this was a bid at blackmail and was blamed even though I had said from day one I couldn't do two weekends in a row.
All this and the fact I've been told I can't have any time off for my oldests staggered school starts in September has brought me to this, I must resign?
I've been looking for over a month for a way to cover the school starts but its impossible. I've been to the job centre to ask for advice and was told to resign.
I really enjoy my work and have received top marks in all my assessments. So I can't understand why I can't be given set times and dates. what really annoys me is that a male college who is married has been given set times and days so he can share childcare with his wife!
How do I word my resignation letter to make them realise its for this childcare reason that I must resign but still sound professional.
so long I know but for over 3 months its been doing my head in trying to sort out the Rota each week and it feels like I'm constantly moaning at them about the rota, which could of possibly annoyed the manager enough to do this on purpose, or am I just being paranoid?