Employer wants me to work nights, have 2 dc, 1 with special needs, am anxious

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My DS1 is 5 and has global developmental delay. He needs a lot of help with everything, goes to a special school and we get middle rate DLA. He often wakes at night for a couple of hours at a time. I have another DS who is 2, who also wakes most nights.

My job has historically involved some shift work but I have managed to avoid doing nights for a few years now. My employers now want me to go back to doing some nights. Not only am I permanently exhausted anyway, I hate the thought of leaving the dc at night, especially as DH is a heavy sleeper.

BTW DS1 has a history of epilepsy which also has left me anxious in case anything happened in the night and I wasn't there...

Any ideas?

I'd say it's unreasonable for your employer to demand this given they have allowed you to avoid night shifts for a few years. Do check your contract but what happens in practice over a sustained period matters too - it shows how your contract is actually interpreted.

Are your employers aware of your position as a carer? Do make sure they are - spell out exactly what they have told us here.

If it gets difficult, check your house insurance to see if you have legal cover or contact your union. And get in touch with the Equalities Commission to see if you are covered by the DDA by extension ie as a carer of people with disabilities.

pages you need to go to CAB. There are cetrtain allowances that have to be made if you have a child with disabilities. Also you should be getting higher rate DLA, so ask them about this at the same time

Have you managed to avoid doing nights because you haven't been scheduled them or have you been swapping shifts with colleagues?

You might want to think about submitting a request for flexible working and ask not to work nights. Some info on rights/responsibilities here.

Hi, would other employees not do your nights. I would swap for a colleague who had your issues. If my dd is ill, I hate going on nights.