Help - return to work - kids - hours

[Tattiespuds]

This is likely to turn into a long ranty, waffly post but I'm getting pretty down and need ideas and laying it all out, so if you can stick with me I'd be so grateful.

I have been a SAHM for 4 years, made redundant right at start of pregnancy (so out of work 5). Family planning plans where to join the other parents in my work who after maternity apply for flexible working and work part time within childcare restrictions. Work were excellent for this and I'd have been able to work it out. Redundancy put an end to that.

So here I am with a 4 & 3 yo and desperate to get back to work and can't work out how or where.
DH works full time and on shifts. His shifts aren't known until the weekend before the week starts so can't plan anything around his shifts and they vary every week..due to nature of his job that can't change..he would out earn me significantly and can't go part time (not that either of us would want him too).

My previous job was in customer service (call centre) for almost 10 years it was only meant to be temporary til I figured out my next move but hey ho.
I didn't love it but was good at it so would go back to that type of work however I have yet to find a job advert that I don't need to be fully flexible between say 8am - 9pm at least and including weekends.

DH earliest start is 7am and latest finish is midnight-ish, on early shift he'd pick up kids on late shift do drop off but as I don't know week to week I will need to book and pay for nursery /breakfast & after school regardless to keep the space for when needed.

My next issue is we live on a smallish town so not much job opportunities here, fairly close to city but train is at peak times half hourly and the one road is mayhem.. either way if I finished at 5pm there is no way I could make it back to town / both child care providers before 6pm which is the latest I've found any are open.

So if I were to travel into the city dropping kids of at earliest time and picking up at latest and with transport I have a window of 9.30 -4.30 Mon to Fri

With that window I'd seriously struggle to get a call centre gig as like I mentioned they ask for full flexibility which I don't have.

I'd be happy to work from home as it's forever being talked since pandemic lots of companies are staying working from home but in reality I can't find much there either, my experience and lack of qualifications play a part here.

So basically here I am, feeling like I'm banging my head against the wall, desperately wanting to get back to work and start earning but have no where to turn.

I know lots of parents work with kids but I can't see how, it's getting so down and I feel like such a failure. I thought my window of availability was good when thinking or returning but actually in reality it's hard to find a job between those hours.

Please help 🥺

Happy to do full time or part as long as it's a contract hours, but need ideas of job types, right now I'm happy to consider just about any job that my lack or qualifications or experience allow.

Thanks for reading.

This is why school-hours jobs only are popular.

Have you tried childminders? IME they are more likely to be flexible around hours.

I suspect your best bet is to apply for jobs and then ask for flexible working and/or fixed hours if you're offered it. If you can identify in advance which companies are more likely to offer that, it would be an advantage.

A childminder is likely your best option. I used to drop my dd there at 0700 and be back from work in time for school pick up.

Your H’s job and chosen location to live seem the big issues. Parenting is a shared responsibility, and earning money important for you as an individual (eg in event of divorce), so it shouldn’t be a given that he works odd shifts etc leaving the bulk of parenting to you.

Unless you have space for an au pair childcare will be a headache due your H’s current job and likely commute.

Agree with PPs that childminder could be a way forward.

I also think your husband should look for a job that's not shift work if possible. Responsibility should be shared, not all on you.

What about looking at childcare as a shared cost? As you both work full time (if your were to get a FT job)you need full time childcare.
So you book the childcare for the hours you work and except that you might not use it all due to Hubby flexibility.
His Flexibility isn't a perk it creates a cost (childcare you don't use)
A childminder is worth a shot though as they may be able to accommodate the flexibility.

Thanks for all your responses, issue with a childminder is we have one child in reception so it's getting them to and from school/childminder. Then when younger one goes to school it's the case of both.
Just had a look and lots locally they offer til 6 pm, but might find one offering til 6.30pm if I msg them.

My husband had long looked for a way out his profession, he's only ever worked in that industry and is now high up. If he took a job elsewhere the wage drop wouldn't be made with me working FT, so we'd actually lose money. So would be better off him working and me being at home If that makes sense. But I want to work.
He worked there before we met, had kids so we've accepted that's his job, he's good at it, enjoys it and earns a decent salary/pension from it.

Parenting is very much shared and it doesn't fall to me, DH does more than his fair share. But since we rely on my husband's income it's not feasible for him to change job.

I need to find a way to work around him / typical school or childcare hours. I just didn't realise how hard it would be to find a job that doesn't involve evening and weekends.

What about customer service directly employed by a company or organisation themselves, rather than through a call centre type company? I can think of a couple of organisations in my local area who have their contact centre operations in-house, and who operate shorter hours.

Likewise local authorities often have a customer service function and may offer better fixed shifts.

@RobinPenguins I'll keep my eye for them. My previous role was in-house and I worked til 9pm most weeks. The hired for role were all set shifts / rotations. The part time were mainly evening and weekends usually students took them. Out with this people who were part time had been working on the set shift originally and applied for flexible working and went part time to suit their needs.

I recruit for a small call centre. If you were right for the role we’d accommodate your shift pattern and part time hours. My husband works shifts too - it is possible. I would go ahead and apply for a couple of casual or part time call centre roles just to get the application /interview practice in, and see if you can find out which companies are flexible in their shift patterns and which are fixed.

What about becoming a childminder yourself, setting up your own business?

Civil service? Always had flexi time when I worked there and I believe there are no ‘core’ hours now; we had to start between 0730-0930, take lunch between 1200-1400 and finish between 1530-1830. That was abolished when I was there (20+ years ago).

@Coconuts2020 thanks, I am planning on applying and hoping for the best. I'm just wary alot of ads state must be flexible. Often in bold.

@Kitchendilemmas I would love too but my house is tiny and just not suitable.

@ChrissyPlummer I've been keep an eye on civil service jobs, I had thought there might be a good shout.

What about a part time nanny. Some will do an hour or so in the morning and a couple of hours in the afternoon. Childcare.com advertises and could talk you through the process. You may also get better responses if you say you would be open to the nanny bringing their own child.

I don't know any childminders that would offer flexible childcare as they can't plan their ratios and will lose money if they're working that way but could you book three full days of childcare and discuss with potential employers doing three days but that you can be flexible for those days ? Most call centres have quite a high staff turnover so if you have experience and are reliable you should be an attractive employee for them even if you can only work certain days