I'm being interviewed for my own job - but I'm stuck with a decision

[user1471867483]

I have an interview for my own job which I've been doing temporarily for 10 years in the NHS. They are letting go of their in-house temporary workers, and I have to apply for my role or receive a 4-week notice. I chose to apply for my role. Currently, I work 4 days a week, but if I apply, I'll have to switch to 5 days, which doesn't suit my circumstances.
Should I follow my colleague's advice and pretend I can do 5 days at the interview, then request flexi-working after being hired after I work a month or so in the role, or should I be honest about my need for a 4-day week during the interview? What would you recommend in this situation? Even if I apply for flexi-working, my request may even be turned down. My friend said life is too short and to just get a new job altogether, meet new people, etc.
TIA. 🤔

Yes, they need to offer a 5 day a week service.

No redundancy is offered, sadly. Thank you anyway.

My line manager asked if I could do 5 days in the permanent role and I said no I can't. Then the manager above her said, "No, she can't because she's got mum at home". I never mentioned to my line manager about my mum, but the manager above her did (as I had a meeting with two of them). I didn't feel I had to give any explanation, but the higher up manager did.

But yes, I look after my mum, hence reducing to a 30 hour a week. It's only me and mum - I have no other support. If I get offered the role I'll have to take it and apply for part time work after.

Btw, another temp down the corridor has gone after 6 years. She only got one day's notice. She contacted ACAS and they said we have no rights. At least I'll get 4 weeks notice (hopefully, anyway!)

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO'VE HELPED ME ON THERE. I APPREICATE YOUR REPLIES MORE THAN YOU'LL KNOW xxxx

Please contact Acas directly - you’ve almost certainly got rights, regardless of what your colleague said.

Im confused about your employment status if I’m honest.
Are you an employee of the NHS trust - you get payslips from them, you’re on the ESR system?

when you said it was a temporary job, how so? Did management think at the time it was like likely to be phased out but as it’s happened, the role has been required all this time?

Who is your employer op? Are you employed directly by the trust and if so on what basis eg fixed term contract? Or are you employed via an agency? Or are you self employed?

if we know who your employer is we can advise properly, some of the advice on here would only apply to people employed directly by the trust for example.

I'm employed by the Trust via temporary staffing. I am on their payroll and get paid weekly by them with payslips and I pay into their pension. Like I said before, I contacted ACAS and I don't have any rights along with the other temps who work in the same Trust as myself.

Have you spoken to your union? I can't work out the set up here - if you're employed directly by the NHS you (normally) stop being a temp worker after 2 years.

Redundancy means the requirement for the work ypu have done is gone or reducng. This isn't the case here. They could give you 10 weeks notice that your working pattern is changing and you can accept that or not. Union or ACAS!

Take the job if offered. Then apply for a reduction in hours after a couple of months, say it's not working. They have to consider it. You might not get it. But it buys you time to look elsewhere. Also maybe consider compressed hours if that would work better than 5 days a week? So you do all your hours over 4 days?

Your situations may differ so don’t assume her rights apply to you. She could have had a break in employment, differing roles etc.

phone Acas

I shall do this. Thank you.

Could you use leave to take it down to a 4 day week at first? Maybe book half a day each week so you're still meeting this 5 day service requirement.

Do you claim carers allowance? If not then it's a bit extra.

Do speak to Acas yourself as I don't understand what has exempted you from the protection that should have automatically made you permanent. Ask HR for the reasoning behind this?

You need some employment advice - if you have household cover see if it includes legal cover which will be free m and use it to ask, or contact Citizens Advice,

OP, you say if you got the job you’d initially work 5 days for a month say, then ask to drop to 4.
i think if you ask for 4 longer days to cover the 37.5 hours, you’d have a better chance of the request being accepted.
however, if you can work 5 days, can I ask why you work four?
is it to do with caring for your mother?

you’ve also created a thread about your mothers criticism of your clothes.
nearly all posters said her behaviour was unacceptable and you would benefit from maintaining a distance. Would 5 day working not help you in that regard?

A long term agency worker with the same employer, working exclusively for them in a consistent and integrated role could lead to employee status.

especially if you do the same work, have a boss employed by the NHS, submit holidays to them, and paying into their pension which you said you are!

If the working relationship resembles one of an employee than an implied contract could exist.

after you have been employed by the agency for longer then 2 years you have the right to redundancy and notice from them as your employer. Have you been in contact with them and they know what’s going on?
The NHS might only have to give 4 weeks notice to the agency but that doesn’t mean that’s what you are entitled to.

forever shocked by the kind of situations the NHS are in, an agency worker for 10 years is awful and I am sorry you’re going through this.

It sounds like your employment relationship definitely blurs the lines. its complicated employment law and you definitely need some advice, if you aren’t in the union join one now and they will help with legal costs or you could speak to an employment lawyer.

It's lovely that you are caring for your Mum but you must be careful not to jeopardize your future here.

How are you going to finance your retirement if you don't have a job? Who is going to look after you when you are old? Are you going to be able to cope financially when she goes? What if she gets worse? How will you manage caring for her all on your own 24/7?

Wouldn't you be better using the extra money to pay for carers on the 5th day and securing your long term future?

Are the job title and job description the same as the job you're currently doing?

@user1471867483 After 4 years you're a permanent employee. I think you're on a zero hours contract or whatever the NHS call it ...bank, sessional or casual?

If you’ve been doing the job for 4 days for 10 years, why would they want somebody to do it for 5 days now? But I certainly wouldn’t hide it from people who know your working pattern. That doesn’t make sense.

Thank you all so much for your replies. Just to let you know I went for the interview, but I didn't get my job. I'll work my notice and bow out graciously. Bless you all 💕💕💕💕

I think it would have been awful anyway. They'd have piled work on you above what your role stated. X

I'm so sorry to hear that. Something better is out there for you 😊

Very true! It's just that I've been there 10 years as a temp and they've given my role to someone who's only been there 13 months by a manager who's only been there 9 months herself 🤷.
It's happened for a reason. I'll work my notice and leave with a humble smile.

There's no loyalty anymore is there, NHS is always looking for cheaper alternatives & they're really good at forcing people out or any other underhand schemes to avoid paying redundancy. Been there, seen it all. Good luck xx