Job Share Arrangements

[HunterHearstHelmsley]

Bit of an odd situation..

My DM has worked for the same employer, at the same location for the last 15 years. She used to work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday AM one week Wednesday PM, Thursday, Friday the next.

Recently, her job share colleague has retired and the owners asked if she would be willing to consider a fixed week, she was happy to do so and they agreed to Wednesday AM, Thursday, Friday every week. The job share was a woman who had returned from maternity around 2 months ago, she had been waiting for my DM's colleague to retire and had been working in head office until the time came. She's been employed for around 10 years, but my DM didn't know her to speak to and they hadn't had any conversations etc.

Yesterday was the first day of this arrangement, my DM received a call from one of the owners asking where she was. DM was baffled but explained that she was now working the end of the week and the new colleague was working the start of the week. The owner stated that the new colleague was working the end of the week, and DM was working the start.

After much discussion, it appears that owner 1 has been liaising with my DM and owner 2 with the colleague and they've each signed new contracts to work the Thursday and Friday, the only day that is actually covered properly is Wednesday. There's now a bit of a situation as my DM has arranged carers for my DF and childcare for my DSis around the new hours and the colleague has arranged childcare also. Neither has any flex.

Normally, I'm OK with your basic HR things but have no idea what to suggest to my DM in this situation. There is no cover and I'm sure the colleague is in the exact same situation. I've changed my working hours around my DMs also to ensure adequate care for my DF.

How should my DM and her colleague approach this? Neither are blaming the other and can see it's the owners who have fucked up. Their office is literally one person at a time and it's not as though there is someone else covering, it will be shut without one of them there. I have no idea what to suggest!

It's only a small company, the HR isn't the best. No union etc.

Well, I guess the only thing they can do is see how the childcare or other care can flex.
Is it possible at all for the carers to be changed? Or alternative nursery days for the colleague?

There's no easy way to solve it otherwise. Owners clearly messed up but they don't need 2 x people on the same rota

Yep, it's absolutely the owners faults! I'm really annoyed!

DM is looking into changing days for the carers but definitely can't work every other Monday as a non-negotiable. It's bloody annoying as those who have messed up just seem to be shrugging their shoulders. I'm not even sure what their intention is for paying them both the latter part of the week.

As far as I know (it's third hand, after all), the colleague is also looking at changing days but I don't think it's that easy with paid for childcare.

I can't see a quick solution unless the owners pay for temps, but my DM doesn't seem to think that's likely.

They'll have to pay them both. They've both contracted for that work so that's pretty clear.
If mum can't do Mondays could she offer to change Tuesdays and then have the other lady cover Mondays? That way they've both sorted 1 of the days

At least she'll be paid then. That's something.

I think DM and her colleague need to sit down and work out between them what's feasible and present that to the owners and they need to help with finding a solution. E.g., DM could do all day Wednesday as there's care in place all day. DM was quite looking forward to the new fixed week, looks like it's all out of the window.

Whyyyyy couldn't the owners talk to each other?!