Asking to change to part time with employer

[armyash]

Hi,

Currently doing social housing plumbing. Its not particularly demanding, I like the blokes I work with and it's Mon - Friday. No call out. The money is ok, nothing special but then we're not exactly under pressure day in day out. No gas work.

I'm thinking about asking to change to part time in the new year, hopefully mon-wed or tues-thurs. I'm at the stage where i'm getting plenty of my own work but means working late most evenings and all weekend. I'm sure there's plenty of members on here who have done the same in order to build up a customer base, working in their spare time. It's not something I want to do for ever. I'm not sure I'd ever go out on my own full time but time will tell.

I'm also wanting to do more on the gas side of things but trying to manage this around a full time job can be difficult.

My partner has been promoted in work so she is doing longer hours, our child care bills are steep, if i was doing three days I would save on child care as I could drop my daughter in school and pick her up on those 2 days.

What would be the best way to approach work about this? I would put it in writing. I know its allowed to ask to change work hours but its also ok for the employer to refuse. I'm going to add in my request that during the times when they might be short staffed because of holidays etc I can be available to do 5 days providing i'm given some notice.

I more than pull my weight in work and there's not been any issues with sicknesses/absences. Another tradesman was allowed to go to 4 days last year for similar reasons so I know they are reasonable but not sure how to word it. Any advice?

Thanks

 

[SimonG]

Straight to the point and honest. Miss out about wanting to do your own work though. Play heavy on the 'family' theme.

 

[armyash]

Straight to the point and honest. Miss out about wanting to do your own work though. Play heavy on the 'family' theme.

Thanks. I won't be mentioning my own work. Its not as though I would be creating mountains of work for anyone else by doing less days.

 

[mfgs]

As above really, just ask and say it's for family reasons.
Worst they can do is say no.

 

[rpm]

Cost of child care , wife promoted so earning more blah blah.

 

[armyash]

Thanks, will try and sort out this week.

 

[oz-plumber]

I wouldn't put anything in writing to begin with.
I would ask your employer about part time employment and see how that goes.
Explain wife working 'different' hours and with child in childcare, you are going backwards financially.

See what they offer.

You may get away with 1 day a week off, but really pushing it for 2 without raising questions.

You have to ask yourself, 'Could you provide enough support to your family without your current employer'

 

[armyash]

I agree might be pushing it asking for the 2days, one day would help. It would mean one day less of child care fees and allow me to manage private work a bit better.

I don't know if this thread makes me come across as selfish. I have a feeling it does but we all do this job for a better quality of life for ourselves and our families and that's what's most important.

 

[rpm]

Nah you're not being selfish ash, to me you are looking for a better life work balance same as most of us.

 

[Ric2013]

At the end of the day, you look out for your interests just as your employer looks out for his or her interests. No one will employ you if it doesn't suit them. The day my part-time employed job in a wholesaler can be mechanised, my manager will have no qualms about making me redundant with immediate effect, and any employed job runs that risk, especially when the position relies on a small number of large contracts.

FWIW, I took on a short-term contract (which was extended) working in a reasonably dead-end job around Christmas last year. After I had saved some money etc, I asked for part-time hours on the grounds that I needed to work on my house, van, and plumbing business (my other job was not plumbing related, so no risk of competing against myself, otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it). In the end, the manager agreed as he knew I would otherwise leave entirely and he's lucky to have someone of my calibre on the wages his firm pays.

Basically, I'm more use to him part-time than not at all, and the arrangement suits both of us. It is good to see your loyalty, but you really aren't screwing anyone over by trying to find an arrangement that suits you as well.