Reducing Work Hours for Casual Job

• 

  [Deactivated] on 06/09/2016 - 19:11

  +2

  Sorry to hear your situation. Is there a chance you can do part-time study? You don't have to complete your entire degree part-time as it will take double the time, however it may give you some breathing space to think about what needs to be adjusted in your daily lifestyle? I don't know what uni you are at, however a lot of uni's have even started introducing online study options.. you could consider that too if it's available? :)

  • 

    AussieDolphin on 06/09/2016 - 19:17

    +2

    Thank you for your reply. I study best as an internal student but this semester I actually have 2 units that I am doing externally as they were not available for internal study mode. I would have withdrawn from 1 if I felt like work and study was too much 2 weeks ago but the census date has come and gone and to withdraw now I would incur a financial penalty. Added to these pressures my divorce settlement is next week so I'm finding life challenging at the minute.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 06/09/2016 - 19:41

      +1

      It must very difficult at this time and I can completely understand the stress you must be going through. The best I could suggest is to have a conversation with your university's admin and explain the situation you are in, it may be possible that they may waive your penalty fee depending on how late you are withdrawing from a unit, in accordance to your census date. Good luck :)

• 

  StewBalls on 06/09/2016 - 19:55

  +2

  Good advice here already, the only thing I would add with regards to you job is to just be honest with your boss, and give them as much advance warning as you can…but by the same token, don't beat yourself up when shit happens on short notice, that's life, especially when you have kids.

  Employers don't mind genuine staff who have commitments but try the best they can; which it sounds like you do already; they quickly spot the ones pulling the swifties on short notice though, and they're the ones they hate, not the fair dinkum ones who are just doing their best! ;)

  • 

    AussieDolphin on 06/09/2016 - 20:27

    Thank you. The strange thing is my boss has 3 kids of his own and I don't why I am hesitant to ask for a change in hours because he wasn't very happy when I had to take yesterday off for my daughter.

    I am honest and will get the courage somehow to ask for reduced hours. It means less money but it's just for another year until I finish my studies. I would like to find a fulltime job again after that.

    • 

      mskeggs on 06/09/2016 - 21:06

      +3

      As a bloke I have seen this often. Most male 'bosses' with kids pay lip service to flexible work or work/life balance, but when the circumstance has required a parent to take time off work for the kid it is very, very often the mother who takes the hit.
      In their head I am sure they are reflecting that they have always managed to balance work/life, but in reality they take three afternoons off a year to listen to little Johnny in the private schools choir when there was 2 months notice and the date didn't clash with anything else.

      As him to leave work at 10am because Johnny has a sniffle and is in sick bay and needs to come home and he'll be onto his partner to sort it out quick smart.

      For those bosses who don't fit this mould, good on you. Let me know where you work because I would love to be part of a team that valued its staff so highly.

      • 

        StewBalls on 07/09/2016 - 20:05

        Most male 'bosses'

        Nonsense, I get so sick of the current PC fad of demonizing males. You don't get PC brownie points from me for selling out your gender.

        I work in a predominantly female-managed field, let me tell you they are frequently even more hard-assed than guys.

      • 

        mskeggs on 08/09/2016 - 08:36

        @StewBalls:

        I don't know much about selling out my gender. I tend to think of myself as a person frist and foremost, rather than a man or a Aussie or a left hander. I have no doubt there are woman managers who are bahving in ways that are not family friendly, Marissa Meyer at Yahoo was a classic, and I have had a couple too, but the behaviour I'm talking about is a bit more insidious.
        It is an expectation from male managers who have spouses that take care of child issues that other people have the same. I don't think that happens as much with woman bosses, as the female bosses I have had either expect you to put work over family as they do, or are reasonable. The male bosses I am thinking of genuinely think they are bastions of progressivity regarding work/life balance, until an issue emerges when they can't understand why you want some flexibility (can't your wife do it?).

• 

  thechemist on 06/09/2016 - 22:17

  +1

  Just a few points
  - You say you are casual but have 5 regular afternoon shifts so you must consider that even if you are being hopefully being paid at a higher rate (in lieu of sick leave/annual etc.) are you a casual employee or part time employee? You have a regular pattern of work (I know many people do this but technically you may not be a casual if looked at by fair work)
  - Do you have an employment contract (that would be a start but you can't have your basic rights taken away from you) and what does it say?
  - Considering my first two points if no contract and clearly casual the boss can cut you to zero now if he/she wants (obviously there is a reason you have been hired as a casual) so proceed with caution (covered by other posters above)

  • 

    AussieDolphin on 06/09/2016 - 23:59

    Hi, I am casual and have a contract stating so even though I have a regular work pattern. Due to the nature of the job the service offered is only available in the afternoons. I can't go into detail due to the amount of people on this forum. I would hate for my boss to come across this post.

    • 

      Findo on 07/09/2016 - 00:29

      Would it be learn to swim by any chance?

      • 

        AussieDolphin on 07/09/2016 - 00:46

        No :)