Do I have to cover for my job share’s holiday?

My advice is provisional, having not seen your Contract of Employment, but if there is simply a paragraph about working additional hours to meet business needs, one would not expect this to extend to doubling your working hours when your colleague is on holiday.

You should explain that you are unable to cover as you cannot get childcare and indeed that this is the reason you job share. Point out that this was never explained, nor contained in your contract. Point out also that full-time staff are not treated in this way (i.e. they are presumably not asked to work double their usual hours if a member of their team is on holiday). As you say, if you are expected to work additional days, you should receive compensation for this in terms of additional holiday.

If your employer maintains their stance, you could raise a grievance complaining that you are being treated less favourably than full-time staff who are not expected to work extra hours to cover colleagues’ holidays. Ultimately, you might have a claim to the Employment Tribunal if they insist or attempt to discipline you because you cannot work the extra time.

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