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Original poster

Job offer - want to reduce hours

25 replies

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 11:59

I've been made a great job offer. Yay!! I currently work 27 hours per week and the new job is full time. I need to start a bit late (15 mins) for the first month due to a childcare issue. I could avoid this but it would mean pulling DS out if school early for a month. I'm happy to work a shorter lunch to cover this.

I'd like to finish 30mins early. When I mentioned this during the call to offer me the job they didn't sound too sure. I'm meeting them this week.

I don't know what I'm asking really. I've asked for the T&C of employment so I can see if there's flexibility to start early / reduce lunch but I've not been sent them yet.

I'm really thrilled about the new job but going full time again is making me even though it will make little difference to the kids in terms of how much I see them.

Plus the summer's a childcare nightmare, my current employer was very flexible as long as I did the hours but I don't know what the new place will be like!! So I'm stressing about that too!!

Anyway, any tips for how I can approach possibly asking for reduced hours? It's the sort of job where's it's feasible to catch up on email etc in the evening. I only want to reduce by 2.5 hours.

OP posts:

Snoopedontoo · 04/05/2015 12:08

I know if you were offered job in my work you would have had to sort this at interview stage. Would not go down well with boss at all. I would just say to them I'm delighted you offered me the job , have you agreed to my working hours ?

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 12:22

Really? There's a right to request FE after 26 weeks anyway. Also all the advice I've seen said get the job, then negotiate the hours!

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AgentProvocateur · 04/05/2015 12:37

Ditto what snoop said. They'll have thought about the job spec and advertised the hours they NEED someone. To start negotiating coming in late and leaving early before you've even set foot in the office and found out what the general ethos is, will not go down well. The time to discuss that is at the interview stage (or before).

Brandysnapper · 04/05/2015 12:44

Surely you need to make them see now much they need you first?
For the late start can that be sold as a difficulty "in the transition period" of starting the new job?

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 12:45

Really???? That's is contrary to any advice I've ever seen!!

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JemFinch · 04/05/2015 12:47

It wouldn't go down well at my work - they have advertised the hours and you want to change them before you even start??

You need to make yourself indispensable first, otherwise they will just off to someone who can do the hours they want.

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 12:48

I guess I'll just play it by ear when I go to see them. It would be easier if I knew the T&C first, hopefully they will send them on soon.

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Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 12:49

The hours were not actually mentioned on the application info come to think of it.

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TakeYourFinalPosition · 04/05/2015 12:50

Yep, it'd be the same where I work. I've seen the advice about waiting until you've got the job offer too, but I've never understood how you'd negotiate from that position without annoying everyone!

How much do they already know? Just that you'd like to finish 30 minutes earlier, or that you need to start 15 minutes later for a while too?

Also, could you shuffle the hours so that you can work full-time, or do you not want the job if they won't compromise?

Seen as their reaction hasn't been good so far, and it won't affect how much you see your children, I think I'd just arrange the 15 minutes late thing and then try and prove how much they need you. Then raise the topic again in September?

elelfrance · 04/05/2015 12:55

This happened to me a few years back, from the recruiters side - the hours were specified in the ad, spoken about in the interview, we made an offer to the most suitable candidate, all fine. As soon as he arrived in the job, he requested a meeting to try and negotiate different hours ... he was quite pushy about it, said he would go elsewhere if we didn't change to suit him. It was one of the main reasons he was let go before the end of his trial period.
However, I can see that you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, cos had he said he could only work different hours at the interview stage, he wouldn't have been offered the job in the first place, as the advertised hours were the times we needed someone present...

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 12:55

I'll take the job either way, but would be "happier" with the reduced hours. I've mentioned both and there is a good reason for the 15 minutes bit and it's only for a few weeks. But if that won't work then it will have to be the alternative of pulling him out of school a few weeks early.

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Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 12:57

It's not 'client facing' so I can't see how you'd have to be present. Hours were not mentioned in the interview, just notice period.

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Brandysnapper · 04/05/2015 12:58

If there are core hours you can be flexible within then taking a shorter lunch would be fine. Unless they actually need you at the later time. You aren't actually wanting to reduce your hours, just compress them. I have applied for a job and stated on the application I wanted to job share - thought it was worth a shot, I didn't want to do it ft anyway. Although I was interviewed I didn't get it, can't tell how much the request was to blame.

Brandysnapper · 04/05/2015 13:00

Do you mean your ds would miss a month of school?

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 13:02

A month of reception. It would be ok with the school though.

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Kerberos · 04/05/2015 13:33

All the advice I've seen on it suggests you get the job then discuss hours of work. It all depends on what the job is and whether you must be there.

For ages I was about the only "part timer" mainly because I don't think anyone had asked to be able to leave early to collect their children.

flowery · 04/05/2015 14:52

IMO when to mention this type of thing depends on what change you are hoping for and whether it's a deal breaker.

If you want a significant change and/or you would absolutely not take the job without, then enquire upfront to avoid wasting people's time and getting their backs up.

If it's a minor change, you think you can put forward a good case and you would take the job anyway, then wait until they are keen on you before raising it, so you have something to negotiate with, and do so carefully.

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 17:32

Thanks flowery was hoping you'd see this. I think it's fairly minor, but until I see where the are in terms of flexi / shorter lunch etc it's hard to work out a strategy. I've gone throug two interviews so I think they want me / I want the job.

Was it ok to ask for the general T&Cs? I wanted to see re pension etc and there was mention of salary sacrifice for more AL etc.

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MrsCampbellBlack · 04/05/2015 17:37

Very much depends on the employer.

Good to mention I think during this 'negotiation' period. I had someone ask for this during his induction which did make me .

Kampeki · 04/05/2015 17:54

Hmm. I've seen advice on here telling people to wait until they have been offered the job, but as someone who is often on the other end of the recruitment process, it really pisses me off when people do this. Why waste my time if you know you can't do the hours I need?!

If it's a reasonable request and you ask at interview, I will say yes and respect the fact that you've been upfront about it. I might still say yes to a reasonable request if you asked me after you had been offered the job, but I would feel let down and suspect that perhaps we had chosen the wrong person for the job. It's not great to annoy your boss before you even start the job!

FwIW, I would be much more likely to try to accommodate any requests from a good candidate at the application or interview stage. Indeed, I have bent over backwards to be flexible in such situations before. I certainly put myself out to accommodate someone who had deliberately hidden the fact that they couldn't do the job as advertised.

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 18:11

I can do it as advertised. I'm asking for some flexibility.

I've been a recruiter too and no one ever asked about hours at interview. I'm not sure but it's been drummed into me don't ask about hours/money/salary at intrrview!

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CharlesRyder · 04/05/2015 18:22

I've negotiation hours down from full time at the off-set twice now but I have always done it at application stage- so said 'I would need x, please only consider me if this would be a possibility for the right candidate'.

Now I think you need to leave it a few months, prove yourself indispensable, and then make a flexible working request.

Are you suggesting delaying your DS's start to Reception in September? I would think really carefully about that as if it is the sort of school that has them all in straight away I think he would be quite disadvantaged by missing all the settling down stuff. Maybe you could aske for flexibility for that period- might be a good way to broach the idea/ prove it works.

CharlesRyder · 04/05/2015 18:24

If you are saying you will pull your DS out of Reception at the end of this term expect to be fined for it!

Original poster

WipsGlitter · 04/05/2015 18:42

Not in England - different system! Luckily!!

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Blistory · 04/05/2015 18:51

Nowadays it's such a normal request that I'd be pissed off if you didn't raise it at interview. Part of selling yourself is being honest and upfront. Not your fault given the advice.

Generally if full time hours aren't standard mon. - fri, 9-5, there would be mention of it in the job spec.

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