Employment question

[Justw0nder1ng]

I've had a bit of a rubbish week at work. My 24 young yo boss who thinks she knows it all seems to think she can rule my life for the pittance I'm paid. I work pt on a job share situation and have been really messed about with my hours and have always been reasonable and accomodating. Anyway I have a new job share and my hours have been changed yet again. I am happy to stick with my new hours and want to make it clear that I am not willing to change again as there has been a suggestion made by my boss already that they will change again in a few months. I am tired of changing my arrangements now as with kids it's a nightmare. Can I insist that I won't change again.
Also I have become friendly with a client at work and my boss overheard us arrange to meet socially and told me she it wasn't allowed. Can she really dictate to me who I can and can't meet in my own time? Btw there is nothing I could tell client confidentially, I really don't have a very important job!

[RedHelenB]

I think with a job share your hours can be changed unless there is new law about it recently. And if your job share leaves they can say you have to go full time if they can't find another job share partner,

[Justw0nder1ng]

Really, think I'll start looking for another job! Quite sick of all the changes, don't know whether I'm coming or going!

[flowery]

Not sure what your boss's age has to do with it.

The fact that it's a job share makes no difference to anything. Whether your employer can change your hours or not largely depends on your contract. What does it say about hours?

[Justw0nder1ng]

It says I am to be flexible but obviously having children doesn't always allow that. I'm just checking if there are any laws to protect me, it's no big deal. I'll look for another job as I'm sick of her attitude and constant changes anyway.
I guess her age has nothing to do with it I was just venting!

[olgaga]

Most contracts would contain a clause about being reasonably flexible, but if your hours/days are constantly changing, then unless you can find childcare which is just as flexible it does make it pretty impossible.

Have you talked to your manager about the difficulties these changes cause you? I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have some stability in your core hours, even if you are expected to be flexible about things like cover for planned annual leave absence etc.

[Justw0nder1ng]

Thanks Olgaga. I have always been really flexible and easy going and I just feel I've been taken advantage of. I just want stability as ive had a really stressful couple of years and took a low paid, stress free job so I could cope better with the other stuff and now I'm stressing about work too. Writing it down makes it a bit clearer in my head anyway, i think I'll just make my feelings known in a civilised manner and if she wants to be funny I guess I'll just cut my losses!
As for the other thing, can your boss really tell you who you can and can't see? I know in some circumstances it's inappropriate but it really does seem as though she's throwing her weight around in this situation. I really am not privy to any interesting information!

[Takeresponsibility]

With reference to who you can and cannot see in your own time.

It depends on the terms and conditions set down for all the employees at your workplace. If you have to deal with clients who are competing or may at some stage compete for the same contracts and you are known to socialise with one of them then an allegation could be made by her competitors that you haver disclosed information pertinent to the contract or that you have influenced the decision making process in your friend's favour. It is irrelevant whether you are privy to any important or pertinent information. However the rule should apply to your job role not you individually, does the same rule apply to your job share.

Secondly your boss may not have taken kindly to you arranging your social life in work hours.

[Justw0nder1ng]

Hmmm, it was really a very quick arrangement made whilst I was doing something else, im the only one who doesn't smoke therefore the only one who never takes a break! As I've said I'm flexible and hardworking so it does seem petty. Incidentally it seems ok for any other member of staff to socialise with clients!
I would have no influence on anything whatsoever

[olgaga]

Your boss needn't know what you do in your own time if you make the arrangements in your own time! As Takeresponsibility points out, it rather depends on the circumstances. But you have been warned...

[Justw0nder1ng]

Well maybe I won't be available quite so flexible in future it hasn't got me anywhere. My boss made a real balls up and I've stepped in to help her out at great inconvenience to myself. Seriously for what I'm paid they get very good value for money. My job share is useless, lazy, unreliable and all I ever seem to do is step in but if I can't I seem to get nothing but grief, nasty text messages etc. Think I'll go where I'm appreciated

[Takeresponsibility]

A friend of mine once asked me why I never get grievances raised against me, when she has loads when she is far more conciliatory and much less forthright to her staff than I am.

I told her that if staff know they can push her around to get their own way they will, they don't even bother to try it with me (I'm not a complete bitch but I expect them to help themselves first!)

[Justw0nder1ng]

All I really want is to be treated fairly tbh. I'd be much happier with a boss who treated everyone the same and was consistent. Thanks everyone for your comments, just going to keep my head down and approach the situation rationally