Drop a days work?

[Kate123cl]

Realise I'll probably get a load of stick for this post about being lazy but that's not the case! I currently work as an office administrator in a private sector company. For over a year now I have been a makeup artist on weekends doing wedding/ festival/ prom and evening makeup and an opportunity has just become available to work in a local salon (rent a chair). I can definitely work there on a Saturday but most get requests for Fridays and I thought it'd be brilliant to be able to work in the salon both Fridays and Saturdays! I wondered if anyone knew anything about being able to drop a days work? If I came to my employer and requested to work Monday - Thursday would this, in general, be something that can be done? Just looking for some advice! I really dislike the administration job and makeup has always been my dream career so I'm really looking for an escape!

Of course you can ask - just put in a formal flexible working request. Think about the impact it would have on your role and try to come up with a solution for your employer - if you can think of a way so that doesn’t impact the business then i I think it could be difficult for them to refuse.

Acas have some good info on this

m.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1616

Thanks for that, @coffeeforone ! anyone else?

It would definitely be considered where I work and they'd do it for you if they could if it was just that you wanted to work fewer hours.However, I think the second job would cause some concern. We have to ask permission to take on another job, mainly I believe to make sure we're complying with the working time directive and not doing more than 48 hours per week/getting the right rest days.

@passportto that makes sense! Thanks for your reply. I don't think the other workplace situation would be a problem as it's a complete different sector (makeup and engineering) and also, it would never be a full days work in the salon as it's only rent a chair and would only have a few clients. I don't HAVE to be there 8 hours a day is what I'm trying to say lol thanks!

Check your employment contract to see what it says about declaring the intention (or any preexisting arrangement) to working for another organisation or having other business ventures while in the employ of your current company. There is often a protocol about working elsewhere, not so much about working for a competitor, rather it's ensuring your focus is on delivering value to them, first and foremost without diluting your energies elsewhere.

Think about the impact it would have on your role and try to come up with a solution for your employer - if you can think of a way so that doesn’t impact the business then i I think it could be difficult for them to refuse.

Requesting flexible working is hard enough as it is. I sense if coupled with having to make a declaration of the intention to be working on another business venture on the 5th day (eg the Friday) could meet with resistance. It wouldn't be at all difficult for them to refuse, they could easily justify it as having a negative impact on business productivity, if they chose to be awkward.

@daisychain01 thanks for your reply! I agree actually, something they'd do is make it awkward! Would it be a bad idea to not mention the other workplace to them? Just say for personal reasons?

I am not a HR bod but I would imagine you will certainly have to convince them that you could still complete the work

I dropped a day but still kept my total hours unchanged. Is that an option?

@GasLightShining hey! Thanks for your reply. I don't really have work to complete if that makes sense! There's 3 people in the admin team, the other 2 are part time (mums) I literally just answer the phone and pick up bits of work others don't have time for. Friday would be a good day to drop as it's the only other day, apart from Wednesday, that both other admin staff are in together.

If you don't ask you don't get

I expect the conditions in contracts about second jobs has a lot to do with employers not wanting you to be up half the night working in a night club and then dragging yourself into work completely knackered

Kate I would advise you to check your contract before deciding what to say when you apply for shorter hours. If your contract explicitly states you have to let them know about other business ventures you would be in breach of contract if you aren't honest. And that would be irrespective of whether you apply for flexible working. If there is nothing stated in your contract then you are reasonably safe to apply for the extra day but be wary of telling any inaccuracies if they directly ask you about it.

Also don't talk about any of it with colleagues. You cannot guarantee they will keep it to themselves.

@daisychain01 Hello! I had a look in my contract and it doesn't state anything about working for other companies. I recently worked in a bar on a Friday and Saturday night and everyone at work knew and weren't bothered :)

Hello Kate - based on no mention of other work, then it looks like you can at least submit your request. Fingers crossed they don't ask any specific questions, but you could say something bland like you want a better work life balance (if that's a plausible explanation.

Focus on creating the case for your shorter hours not affecting your efficiency, and the fact that you do not anticipate any adverse effects on the day to day operations of the business. Based on your update you could point out that there is adequate coverage of staff on the Friday.

Good luck!