AIBU dissapointed with work

[Parkermumma07]

Can anyone tell me where I stand, there are 10 of us that work in our department, a few months ago whilst our line manager was off sick they asked for applications from us to act up as line manager,
A few of us interviewed for it and one was chosen, he was a great choice and did a great job, unfortunately the stress was too much and he has since left.

Now he has gone they have asked for someone else to apply for the line managers role on a temp basis as the original manager is still off sick.

Now this is my issue, an email gets sent out asking for expressions of interest. But specifically says they only want full time members of staff to apply, there are four of us that work part time ranging from 22-32 hours, my colleague who works 32 hours specifically asked if she could apply and she would be happy to do the extra 5 hours a week to make it up to full time, they told her no she couldn't apply as there isn't enough money in the budget to pay her the extra hours.

My question is can they actually do this. I feel discriminated against as I'm part time, I've been in post for 12 years, thats longer than anyone else in the team, had I been allowed to apply and not got the job at interview (like last time) I wouldn't of had an issue.

Do you think the job can be done part time?

Blimey, full time being an extra 5hrs a week for one of your 32hr part time bods - things must be verrrry tight for your company!?

There must be a business decision for this.

It sounds like there is no budget for additional hours and the role is a full time role, so if one of the part timers applied, it would cost the company more for them to 'step up'

I think as long as there is a legitimate business reason, and the job cannot be done in part time hours, then there is no issue

Call ACAS if you want clarification

It's a national company so no idea why they are being so tight with the purse strings.

They were happy to accept applications from part time staff last time so not sure what has changed.

I just wasn't sure if they could legally say they wouldn't accept applications from part time staff, if they can then fine I accept that.
Just a it fed up of being treated like a lesser member of staff because I'm part time!
Got a few interviews coming up soon so will hopefully be offered one of those...

But do you think the job can be done part time?

If the job can't be done part-time then it's a full-time role. Remember they will be paying for the sick employee as well as the cover so it's already an expensive role for that team.

They aren't paying for the other line manger anymore as he has been off for over 6 months and is now on stat sick pay.

Do you think the job can be done part time OP?

Can you propose a job share with another part time worker? That way there should only be additional minimum expense

They can do this if the job can’t be done part time. I feel they’re on slightly dodgy ground refusing a PT worker an increase in hours to full time to take it on though

Flowery I believe it could be yes, full time is 37 hours and two of the part time roles are 32 hours, both work 5 days a week but finish at 4pm instead of 5pm

What will be the key requirements of the line manager role (duties, skills)? Have they issued a role profile?

If you are determined to pursue this, you could ask them for a role spec and drop an email to the person managing this temporary replacement giving them a brief summary of why you believe you have all the skills they need. It might force them to have to take you seriously.

I did a team leader role on part time 32.5 hours.

In reality I ended up doing a full time role and being paid for 32.5 hours.

I wouldn’t do it again.

Who would take responsibility for things as a manager in the times the part timer wasn't there?

Could be that with the last one leaving with stress they realise the job is full time plus hence only wanting full time. Did the original manager go off sick with a stress related illness ? It may seem unfair that they allowed part time applications last time but not this round, but it could be that lessons were learnt from the last manager.
There are some jobs that for whatever reason just don't work part time or job share. It's crap but it's true.

I agree with @DarkMutterings. It's very possible they have come to realise that the role requires full time plus hours and that's why they don't want to advertise it to part timers.

Agree with some other posts, especially if they offered it to part-timers recently, they have obviously come to realise that it needs full time dedicated to it. However, a little unreasonable not to interview someone prepared to step up to full time, unless they plan this as a temp to perm situation and feel the part timer will only do it temporarily

I would be looking to leave such a company ASAP and not worry about the nitty gritty. They sound awful.

They can’t tell you you can’t apply.

They can say that this is a full-time role and advertise it as such.

They can say there are legitimate business reasons not to change your hours.

Did the original boss go off with stress too? That would make me avoid it.

Just as fluffygreenmonsterhoody says.

They can absolutely advertise it as a full-time post that is only eligible to those in a f/t contract

Yes, this means you can't apply. That isn't unfair.

If the original boss is off sick with stress and the stand in boss left because of the temp management role then I would not bother applying!

As a side note
Employers can no longer claim back ssp so that will be an on going expense