Requesting Change Of Hours For Needs Of Disabled Child?

[Jenarry]

I wonder if anyone could advise me please.
I work 4 days a week - two til 3pm and two til 5pm when my son who has type 1 diabetes and receives Disability living allowance usually attends an after school club til i get home at 5.30-6pm depending on rush hr traffic.
but now my son is starting secondary school next month and there is no such childcare provisions available so I asked my boss about changing my hrs (not reducing them) so I can finish at 3 everyday.
well she hardly listened to me about my situation and why I'm asking. I got a 10 min lecture about staff hrs and how she needs us all to help out with working til 7pm.
we moved 18 months ago to be in an area with better schools for my son so moved away from my support network of family and friends and my partner works in a trade where everyday is different so its very difficult for him to guarantee to be home for 4pm.
As it stands my son is going to get home 2 days a week to empty house and spend at least an hr and a half on his own.
and rather than my boss helping she's worsened the situation by insisting that I start working til 7pm at least one day a week. :( AAARGH . she said he's older now-yes he's older now but he's still just 11 and diabetic!!!!
I was told that as a child with DLA she should be more flexible to my needs -when I tactfully told her this she didn't bat an eyelid. and is insisting that my husband (my son's stepdad) MUST arrange to finish early one day a week -that he MUST start helping me with childcare. this not only affects my husband but his workmate and his boos who arranges all their work for them -as I say every day is different and they never know what time they will finish. I told my boss this and again she said that he has to do it.
Sorry for the long post . It has stressed me out a lot and made my hubby quite angry too about her whole attitude.

[Tilly2]

Do you have a Human Resources department, Jenarry?

[Jenarry]

no . I work for a small independent company. I have worked for them for 20 years .

[Tilly2]

Is there a person of a higher level than your boss?

[Jenarry]

There is someone but I'm not sure if they would be anymore helpful?...

[Tilly2]

Is this advice line of any use, Jenarry?

/www.workingfamilies.org.uk/stories/help-received-by-parents-of-disabled-children/

[Tilly2]

/www.workingfamilies.org.uk/stories/help-received-by-parents-of-disabled-children/

[Tilly2]

Third time lucky!

/www.workingfamilies.org.uk/stories/help-received-by-parents-of-disabled-children/

[Tilly2]

Sorry!

[fiction-factory]

https://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/stories/help-received-by-parents-of-disabled-children/

[Jenarry]

Also I suppose there is a HR dept ( although as a rule our staff don't usually go to them)_ we are an independent pharmacy owned by a large doctors surgery who employ a large number of staff (with a large turnover of staff too)

[Tilly2]

This is the helpline number

0300 012 0312

[Tilly2]

Thank you, FF. :-)

[Tilly2]

You could try the HR people, Jenarry. They might be more understanding.

[Jenarry]

Ooh that it looks like it will be helpful - I will ring them tomorrow. Thankyou very much Tilly.

[EDDIE51]

I would look for another job that fits in with your son's needs. There are loads of part time jobs with flexible hours. You are only looking to do 24 hours a week. Or even do two jobs that are 12 hours each.
Sorry, I don't think you can insist that your boss changes the hours to suit you.

[Jenarry]

This all happened last week then I have been away from home on hols with family for a week and couldn't help but worry about it a lot and what we're going to do. :(

[Tilly2]

Morag's story (scroll down) seems similar to yours, Jenarry. Good luck.

[Jenarry]

The daft thing is i I'm responsible for two main roles in my workplace that pretty much take up my whole 27 hrs so generally I'm not included in as available for dispensary duties.. my boss is saying that we are busier now right up to 7pm so I don't know how I can help with these general duties without getting behind with my own jobs . the whole thing doesn't make sense anyway . :(

[Tilly2]

There might actually be after school clubs that your son will attend at secondary school.

[EDDIE51]

If you are a trained Pharmacy assistant or actually a pharmacist then there are many places that will be desperate to employ you, people with your qualifications are in short supply!
If you went to a larger company would be able to choose your own hours and probably get more per hour.
Just tell your boss that unless you can work the hours you need you will be leaving . See what the reaction is ! Your boss does sound very unhelpful.