Part time pay

[MadHouseUpNorth]

I came back from maternity to 28 hours a week/4 days of 7 hours. On the day off I’m often finding myself answering phone calls or replying to emails, especially at the times that we’re busy. I try to do the bare minimum but there’s something of urgency most weeks. There’s nobody else able to deal with it, we have no on call system in place and I’ve always just got on with it thinking such is the nature of the bussines that a quick reply or action is often needed. We have a flexible system in place which in theory allows for taking those couple of hours off the following day. In reality though it’s rarey possible. Would it be unreasonable to demand a full time pay for part time hours? I don’t mind doing the work but it’s frustrating as it’s unpaid most of the time.

You need to be more disciplined about ignoring work calls and emails. If you're not working that day, you simply don't respond to anything. They'll have to sort out any pressing issues amongst themselves back at the office.

I know exactly how you feel - I have a similar situation but instead of having a full day off I have two afternoons off. I do feel like I do as much work as the full timers as I’m often sorting things out while I’m out of the office, or doing extra in the evening, but I just let it go and don’t feel bad when home creeps into work time. Depends how much flexibility you have really

I’ve tried doing it and only ever reply to the high importance emails. I mentioned it at my last year’s appraisal as did many other members of the team and for that reason the flexible hours were put in place. But there’s simply no easy to take all that time back when we get busy.

Answering calls on a work mobile? Turn it off when you finish, same with email access.

You won't get the time back and you probably wont get thanks for it either.

Is it a matter of life or death you are receiving calls and emails about? If not then it's not really urgent at all. Turn your phone off if it's a works phone and ignore your emails.

Not life and death but things could go very wrong if I don’t. It’s a very niche industry and our clients work long hours too and often find themselves in a situation that requires urgent attention. There’s no option of not answering a phone if that happens.

So either ask for overtime if you take calls at home, switch the phone off and tell work you won’t answer or do your 28 hours over 5 days

I had this. Work upped my hours from 25 to 27 to cover 2 hours overtime per week. Over that I just suck it up, some weeks it none, others more, but it pretty much evens out over time.