Please Help Me

[Carla1979uk]

Hello I am New here, I am feeling really really Low and I am so Worried.
I have been working at a Big Company for 20 years now and have been so loyal and rarely ever had days off etc. I have 3 Children and they dont live with dads and the shifts have been perfect so i can work part time and still see my kids.
My Boss has told me i have to work different hours and as stated in contract, my hours are 24 a week and can be changed to suit company needs. i get paid so well and cant survive on lesser pay, but with the new hours i wont see my children and i have no one to look after them at the new stated shifts. The Union has also backed the new shift pattern so i really do have no choice but to leave ? i have a mortgage to pay to and i really dont know how i am going to survive

is there any help available please ?

Have you spoken directly to the Union rep?

Maybe speak to ACAS? and have a look at this on flexible working

archive.acas.org.uk/media/3923/The-right-to-request-flexible-working-an-Acas-guide/pdf/The-right-to-request-flexible-working-the-Acas-guide.pdf

When I was in a similar situation, my union were useless but I got excellent advice from [[https://workingfamilies.org.uk/advice-information/free-parents-carers-helpline/ this charity]]

If your contract allows for a variation to your hours, then there is little you can do but try to negotiate an hours pattern that works. Has there been a radical change and is reorganising childcare not feasible?

Short term

How old are the children? What are the shifts? What childcare do you already have? What can you access?

Long term

If you can find a way to make things work practically for now, looking for a new job whilst employed will be easier than resigning then trying to claw your way back.

Break the problems and barriers down into smaller chunks.

You need to look at what you are entitled to eg how old are the kids, under a certain age you can request flexible working but they don't have to grant it. Did you have bespoke hours before? Avoid emotive statements like "I won't see my kids" and instead focus on logistics like childcare options, additional costs if applicable and whether you have different shifts is advantageous to the company eg crossing two shifts can be a plus in some roles. The fact that your kids don't see their dads or your free childcare isn't available won't concern them, but if the new pattern means £200 a month more childminder costs then you could have a case for discrimination.

But you need to be truthful with yourself, were others doing worse hours so you got the best shifts? Others have childcare issues too so you need to be sure it's not a case of a manager doing you a favour

Re the post above.

Everybody is entitled to put in a flexible working request, subject to time qualifications, no matter how old the children or and indeed whether there are any children at all.