HELP! If you work part time - how does overtime get offered to you?

[sparkler1wantsaconservatory]

I started a part time job this week (15 hours a week). Today I was given a sheet for an overtime rota for August. They've given me extra hours and some of them are days that I don't work. I wasn't asked if I would be available to do them - just given a sheet with dates and times and my name next to some of them.
Unfortunately, I can't work like this having two young children and am not sure what I am going to do about it. It's a shame as I'm enjoying the job.
I was told at inerview that extra hours would come up from time to time and I accept that. I did mention on my application for and interview that dd2 doesn't start school until September and won't be full time until the end of October and that I wouldn't be as flexible until then.
I thought overtime was optional. Have I got this wrong.

I can't believe they've done it without even asking you first. Initially I thought maybe it was a draft rota and your manager would say it was no problem if you couldn't do them - but from what you say about her reaction it sounds like it's expected. What a cheek! If you wanted to work all those additional hours you would have applied for a job with those hours.

I know it's a nightmare. I'm going to phone early tomorrow morning and see what they say. I may have to give my notice. Don't know if they will want me to work anymore if I do.

Okay I've just phoned up. Asked them if their ovetime rotas always worked with hours being allocated to individuals or if they gave us the option of chosing what we are available to do.
I was told they normally worked as optional but there was so much holiday booked in August that they had to get it all covered.
I also told them that if they were going to move my morning shifts to afternoons this is going to prove difficult for me as I have to organise childcare.
They told me not to worry about it, asked me which of the dates in August that I was unable to do and that they would remove my name from those dates. All she kept saying was not to worry about it and there wasn't much she could do about it until the manager gets back in two weeks time. That's going to prolong things for me.
She also said that I was told at interview that my hours could even double at times - I remember them saying that there would be extra hours but don't remember being told how much.
I ended up weakening and coming off the phone saying okay thankyou see you tomorrow.
I still feel very unsettled about it all and am worried that I am going to come across times when I am unable to work and cover childcare.
I think I'm going to have to phone them back and hand in my notice. I am feeling so nervous about it.

Phoned back again ready to say I'm leaving but got talked into staying.
Just phoned for the third time thinking I've got to be strong and the supervisor is on her coffee break.
I'm crap at this.

I'd leave it 'til tomorrow, go into work as planned and discuss it with them face to face. They need to understand that you can't always arrange extra or different childcare at the drop of a hat.

Extra hours in August will always be a problem by the sound of it and this could be an added problem for you with children off school and wanting to take holidays yourself.

Best of luck with it - I work part-time and always get the shivers when required to work on a day I don't normally because of having to sort out childcare issues or having to say I can't because of the children. Why is it, when we choose to work shorter hours because of our families, we're made to feel we have to apologise for it because we can't always do extras?!!!

I've already spoken to them and told them that I'm going to have to call it a day. Waiting for the deputy manager to call me back - she's out.
The office supervisor was trying to get me to stay saying that she thought that I had done very well in my first week and that she really didn't want me to leave (trying not to get big headed about it - I know she's panicking about staff cover ).
Not sure if they may offer me 15 hours without the overtime. Not sure if I would accept that now - kind of lost my trust of them.

well the ball's in your court now! but to me they sound like they should sort it out!! i've had a few p/t jobs where the hours suddenly change, it really annoys me because i think working mums are the most reliable employees, good luck whatever you decide.

thanks - my heads in a mess tbh. I want to feel comfortable about any work I choose to take on and I don't feel 100% about this one.

Okay all done and dusted. My job has ended, I dont need to go in tomorrow.
They are sending me my P45 and I shall get paid for the weeks work that I have done.
Feeling really good about it actually.

Sorry to read this Sparkler - it's their loss though. They should have made the issue clearer at interview and when they offered the job. Glad you are feeling OK about it though - back to being a lady of leisure then?