Work help

[newbiemum13]

I am on maternity leave, 18.75 in one nhs trust and 18.75 in another.

I need to finish an Msc in one job at 18.75. The other job is a 2 hour commute each way.

I've asked to go to 12 hours, they won't go bellow 15. I really don't know what to do because I actually can't do it.

I'm not entirely clear, you can't leave one job because you are doing a Masters through it, is that right? And you've put in a flexible working request to reduce your hours, is that in one job or both? They've compromised on 15 rather than 12?

They don't have to agree flexible working requests, as long as they follow the procedure and give appropriate business reasons for the refusal.

Presumably you were doing these hours before, and they are reducing even if it's not quite as much as you like. Why can't you do it?

A two hour commute for a part time job isn't great, can you leave that job and just stick with the Masters one?

I don't understand either. You're on ML now, and trying to negotiate reduced hours for when you go back? Obvious thing is to drop one PT job, and ask the other to reduce time. You don't want to do more than 12 hours total? MSc job won't do fewer than 15 hours. Even if the 2hr-commute job offers 12 hours, you'll make that up to 15 hours ++ with travelling? Or are you asking just the commute-job to reduce to 12hrs/week, and sticking with 18.75hrs at the MSc job?

If it was a choice between 12 hours at the commute job or 15 at the MSc job, I'd say the MSc job every time. Similar time from home, but paid for 25% more hours, AND the MSc.

If you're trying to get both employers to cut your hours, you'd probably have more luck ditching the commute-job and asking for a few more hours from the other to make up the difference.

Sorry if that's answering a completely different question

Hi thank you, I wasn't really by clear was I? The Msc job is my lowest paid job. I haver reached the top of the pay scale and there is no progression. I found out pre ,at leave that the promotion job it was leading to now doesn't exist and I'd be left with my old job at the top of my pay band. I need to finish the Msc because any higher lying jobs in my sector all ask for an Msc anyway. Plus they've paid for the course. So I finish it and then I am free to leave, or obviously stay at the top of my band there.

My other job pays me mor by a few thousand and I can still go up the pay scales. However it is a 2 hour commute each way, I just can't do it, not with a small baby. I need to drop to at least 12 for at least the 18 months until I finish my other course.

I found it ridiculously hard before I had the baby, I just now I can't do it.

I'm the main earner so that's a sticky point too, can't afford just the Msc job wage.

Sorry, the wonderful autocorrect has "helped" in that message and I don't know how to edit the post!

It sounds like your options are to either manage with 3 more hours than you want for 18 months, or look for a comparable job nearer.