Advice & Support

Offered full-time alternative job: ask the expert

Offered full-time alternative job: ask the expert

I am working part time as a nurse in the private sector and my job is due to come to an end this year as my branch is closing down, but no definite date has yet been set. I have been offered an alternative job and have asked to do the same amount of hours, but they keep mentioning for me to go full time and I don't want to. Where do I stand?

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Can a job share be forced on me?: ask the expert

Can a job share be forced on me?: ask the expert

I am due to return to work later this month after taking the full 52 weeks maternity leave. Until last week I was given the impression my request (verbal) to work part time would be granted. I have a lot of annual leave to use so was going to use it to extend my time off work. Last week, however, I as told by my line manager my job was going to be a 50/50 job share and because they didn't have anyone else in place to job share yet I was responsible for the full-time job. Apart from shock, I feel let down. My boss has always encouraged me to take as much time off as I could afford and to only come back to work a day or two because as she puts it 'you never get that time back with your children'. I have since read the job share policy which states discussions should have taken place before I started my maternity leave. This one is tricky because due to family circumstances just before I was due to go off I left quite suddenly, although I did go back to tie up loose ends. My question really is can a job share be forced on me? A part-time position, which I thought I was going to have, suits me and my family better and would have given me more time off with my family.

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Change of role and lower salary after maternity leave: ask the expert

Change of role and lower salary after maternity leave: ask the expert

After nine months' maternity leave I returned back to the same place of employment. I requested to come back part time (one less day per week). It was refused on the basis that the role required I be at work 5 days per week. They offered me another job role that I could do 4 days a week, which I accepted. However, this other job (that I am still doing) was offered to me with a lower salary (as well as being pro rata). I wasn't sure if they were supposed to give me the same terms & conditions as before I left for maternity leave, and if this is supposed to include 'same salary' also? I had a car allowance and understood that this was not part of the new job, so naturally this was removed, but they also lowered my salary in line with the lesser role (as the new job title did not pay as well)... Is this allowed?

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Catch 22 trying to find a part-time job: ask the expert

Catch 22 trying to find a part-time job: ask the expert

I have over 8 years' experience working in HR, starting as an administrator and working my way up within the same organisation to an HR Advisor. I am CIPD-qualified and so have the knowledge and experience to continue my HR career. My problem is that I have 2 young children, one at school and one pre-school age, and I have relocated twice in the last 3 years due to my husband's work. This meant I had to leave my part-time role with an organisation that I had worked at for 8 years, and find a new job after finishing my 2nd period of maternity leave. When I finally found a suitable role, I relocated again and left this role after 3 months. I am now struggling to find a suitable part-time HR role in the South East where I can balance work and home life, afford child care (which is very expensive) and manage school.  There are many roles I have been approached about by agencies, but these are all full time and as soon as I ask the question of whether part-time would be considered, it closes the door. I had an interview with a national company for a HR Assistant which, although it is at a lower level than my previous roles, I explained that I was more than happy with as the hours were perfect for me to still be able to do the 'school run' and I wasn't looking to advance my career at this stage. Although the person interviewing understood, the senior managers did not want to progress my application because they said I was over-qualified and thought I would use the role to find a higher level job, even though they had not spoken to me about their concerns. I feel I am in a catch 22 situation - HR Advisor roles are not part-time and assistant roles pay too little or I do not get considered because of my experience and qualifications. There is more choice in London, but I would have a 1hr commute, then tube, after dropping children off at their childcare/school, plus there's the cost to consider too. I now feel my confidence has dropped as I have been out of work since June 2010 apart from 3 months and the longer I leave it the harder it will be as employers will not want to see gaps. Any advice on where to go next or how to find the right role would help.

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Sidelined for going part time? Ask the expert

Sidelined for going part time? Ask the expert

I have been a IT project manager for the past seven years, and in the seven years, I have gained a work qualification and have had two beautiful children. After the first child I went back full time and then after my second child I've now gone back part time (3 days from 5 days). Since being back the company has been taken over by an American company and so much has changed. I have been told that I am unable to apply for a director's role due to being part time. Therefore I feel I have no future in this company. All that I feel I can do in this company is gain knowledge on the vast programmes that are being run. I have thought about having a 1-2-1 with my manager (senior director) to discuss my career, but am not sure how this will come across.... what do I do, I am hungry for the responsibility and want to further my career, but a few friends keep telling me I can't have it all at least until my children start secondary school!  What do I do in order to have job satisfaction and career development? I know the company has been really good to me by allowing me to reduce my hours, but feel I should not be punished for this! Please advise....
 

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