Really want to take this job but…

[Holly221288]

So at the minute I work for a really awful company where I am contacted 7 days a week, treated badly. Work 40 hours, get paid for 16 etc.

I have been luckily enough to be offered a support position in a school. They wanted full time so I declined the position (I’m a lone parent with 3 children, one with SEN). Then they came back to me and said they could offered me reduced hours over 5 days. I again declined. Now they’ve come back and said I can have 4 days, school hours. This is quite literally perfect and I feel incredibly grateful. Each time I declined I had no idea they would come back with another offer. Bit baffled as to why if I’m honest but really feel lucky.

But they haven’t asked about holiday yet and I’ve got one at the end of the summer holidays. So would miss two inset day and two working days. However would be willing to travel back for the insets (it’s a 4 hour round trip).

Would you think I was absolutely taking the mick at this stage? Don’t know what to do!

No, its perfectly normal to have holidays booked. Just tell them you would be delighted to work with them, but you have these dates booked is it going to be a problem? Offer to attend virtually for part of it.

Excuse me? You work 40 hours and are paid for 16?

Can I ask why you went for the full time position and then declined it?

Why the hell have you been working 40 hours but paid for 16?!

Take it. The holiday is unlikely to be a problem.

It's quite standard to give existing holiday dates to a new employer. Tell them the dates, accept the job and like a pp said offer to attend the insets virtually. Congratulations

Go for it. Its quite normal to hire people with prebooked holidays and they will honor them. They clearly want you for the job. I doubt they will expect u to do the inset days. U can be emailed any super important info via staff logins. If u dont ask u dont get and it would be a shame for both parties involved to miss out for the sake of four days. Good luck

Scaredy, its quite ok to apply for full-time and then ask for part-time or job share in many public sector jobs they will consider it. They can say no of course.

Would you be willing to say no to a job for the sake of a holiday? Think long term here. Can you cancel your hol?

@NeilBuchananisBanksy I would if it was just me but my mum booked/paid for it (we are going together) so I would hate to do that to her as she is really looking forward to it

@Scaredycat87 It was advertised as full/part time. Yep I’ve been working 40 plus hours and getting paid for 16. The joys of a demanding board and no boundaries

Thank you everyone so so much for your kindness

I really think you need to rethink the holiday.

It's a school job - you are expected to work during term time and presumably it's your start date.

Had you been open and negotiated upfront it's one thing, but there is already a pattern of them offering and you declining more than once, and now the holiday. You have gone about this in a very odd way and it does look like you are flakey.

Think long term. Explain to your mum.

They obviously want you OP! Tell them about the holiday, it's totally normal. When I first started working in a school I had to take some time off in term time because of pre booked holiday and they were fine with it. Obviously once you start working you can't do that but at the start of a new job it won't be any issue.

I agree with above they really want you so be upfront about tue holiday. Yea it's a school job but the holiday was already booked. Even teachers can apply for unpaid leave during term time.