Compulsory Overtime vs Lack of Childcare

[smashmash]

Apologies if someone else has already brought this up - I searched through the threads but couldn't find anything.

I have been offered a 6 month contract by an airline. This job will be a great experience to help with my studies as I am currently doing a related degree. From all accounts by ex-employees (and even current ones), the company is not brilliant at being flexible, especially with childcare issues. I understand that, as the nature of aviation is sometimes unpredictable and I have sorted out arrangements with my partner so that I can do the contracted hours.

However, I have heard that when there is a flight delay, staff are expected to stay until whatever time it takes to sort the problem. My stance on the matter is, I don't mind working out of my contracted hours as long as I have childcare sorted, but if I do not, well, unfortunately that's tough. I will give 100% to the job with all reasonable provisions, but not if they want to enforce compulsory overtime even in a case of a parent being unable to arrange alternative care.

I can't see this being such an exceptional situation, but I have discreetly asked other people who are familiar with the company and they have no clue what would happen if I said point blank, Sorry, I am unable to stay any later as I have my child to collect from nursery.

The situation has not arisen as yet, obviously, as I have not started, but I am making a commitment to them once I start and even though it's only for 6 months, I do take a job seriously. If the situation did arise and I was informed I'd have to stay late despite me telling them I had a child to collect, I would like to know my rights.

Can anyone help?

Thanks.

I have no legal experience but remember when I was interviewed for my current job I was told that there would be times when I had to stay on to get work completed and then asked it this would be a problem. Of course I said no. Cue frantic phone calls on a number of occasions to friends to do collect DC from school

If you are fully aware of the terms of the job beforehand, it's up to you to decide whether you are able to meet them.

Do you have a feel for how often such things arrive and how many days a week would you be covered if they did?

Eg if DH can get home early any day except Thursday, can you find a friend (or three!) for emergency standby and cross your fingers you only call on them once, if at all, in the six months?

If the job hours are unpredictable, you either need a dp with a flexible job, live near your grandparents/relatives or have very flexible childcare.

I rely on a live-in aupair to cover the times I have to be home late. It works well. What do you currently use for childcare? If it is a cm, is she near and flexible enough to take up any emergency slack?

I worked in travel for 8 years, when we were on a flight delay or had any kind of situation outside of normal working hours (ash cloud for example) we stayed till we were relieved, childcare/appointments/pre arranged plans etc were never taken into consideration.

I once worked in a job where at the interview i was told that we would be needed for occassional overtime. I said that this was fine as it was only occassionally. However occassionally turned into regularly so i left in the end coz it wasnt what i had signed up for. We were expected to work early sat norning with only 12 hours notice. As a single parent with not much family available i struggled to find te childcare because when i took the job it was advertised as school hours.

I forgot to say that we were not paid for extra hours, it was expected. Needs of the business....