HELP- unsuitable work hours.

[Asvan]

Hi

I just need some advice please.

I currently work in a school as an ETA. I've worked at the school for 5 years and have always tried to be flexible with my days and hours. My contract is for 12 hours per week. The school I work at finishes at 3.30 but as I've got four children that go to another school, which finishes at 3, I've always managed to negotiate early finishes so I can go pick my children up. This has never been a problem and there are plenty of staff who start later or finish earlier to suit their personal circumstances.

Anyway, from September, I have been asked to work in nursery (which I wasn't happy about- but that's another story), which I've agreed to do, but the line manager is insisting I finish at 3.30. I've spoken to her several times about how inconvenient this will be for me as I will have to pay after school club fees, which will be over half my wages gone, but she is still insisting that i have to do those hours. The reason being that the children will get confused if their key worker isn't there until the end of the nursery session.

What are my rights in this situation? The whole thing has really stressed me out. I told her I am happy to work mornings and any other days and hours as long as I can finish at 3. There are plenty of other staff who can finish at 3.30, but for some reason I have been put into this position. What can I do? I'm considering handing my notice in, which I really don't want to do.

Please help.

Sorry no real knowledge about your rights, are you a member of a union? Id be contacting them if so and if not might be worth talking to ACAS.
Does your contract only say 12 hours but no set start finish times? Tbh 12 hours isnt much so you are unlikely to be there the whole time the children are anyway. As you have worked their 5 years is there anyone else you can talk to? The headteacher perhaps. I would keep my eyes peeled for another job too.Good luck!

Are there any other issues? Are they trying to get rid of you?

Anyway after so many years, you may have an implied contract that finishes by 3pm. I would state that in any correspondence you have with the school. I would also ask if there is any other reason that they're trying to potentially manipulate you into hours that you can't do.

I've already spoken to my manager and he says to speak to the line manager. She's the one that is insisting on a later finish and I feel like I have no one else who I can talk to. I've repeated my situation to her several times but she just doesn't seem to listen or care. It's been so soul destroying.

I really don't have any other major issues at work but because of all this my morale is at an all time low. I have been keeping an eye out for other roles but it could take a while before something suitable does come up. Also, in the current climate I really can't afford to walk away from a job with no other offer on the table.

Could it be due to ratios? Especially at home time with young children you need all your staff to ensure children aren't just running out the door, have all they need etc!

It could very well be due to ratios, but the problem is that there are other staff who could work until 3.30 to cover this, without having to compromise on personal commitments. Why have they chosen me to work this shift? When they know it's totally unsuitable for me.

Do you hold a particular qualification or experience that impacts on the ratios? Maybe it is simply your turn to work those hours this year? Maybe you are being managed out?

The best advice as to your "rights" will come from your union. It may depend on the wording of your contract and the type of school, e.g. maintained or academy.

If this cannot be resolved then your options would seem to be:

1. Put your children into after-school club
2. Find someone else to collect your children and supervise them until you collect them. This might not be easy, given that there are four of them.
3. Combination of 1 and 2, so you're paying for fewer ASC places.
4. Move your children to your school.
5. Move some of your children to your school and use option 1 or 2 for the others.
6. Ask to be re-deployed (Unlikely unless you can make a good case as to why this benefits the school)
7. Request more working hours to off-set the cost of after-school club
8. DP/ DH/ DC's other parent request a change in their working hours to do some or all of the pick-ups
9. Hand in notice

Think you have to find another job. Your childcare issues are not fitting in with your employment.