Job Sharing

[Ric.ror]

I am hoping to suggest a current soon to be vacant post to be changed to job sharing
What are the likely arguments against (and possible counter arguments too please)

[EDDIE51]

Without details of the type of job and the responsibilities, working hours etc it is hard to give a sensible answer.
Best answer in favour is that they have 2 or more people who know the job so holidays , sick leave , absences can be covered by the other job sharers.

[factor-fiction]

From the employer's point of view?

PROS include:
-Saving in employer's NI contributions since both employees may fall below or only just above the threshold
-holiday cover- if a full timer is off for 2 weeks it leaves a big gap but with 2 part timers it could be arranged for holidays to be at separate times
-sickness cover- sickness impact at any one time is smaller unless both are off at the same time
- happier employees

CONS include
- twice as much recruitment and training needed
-handover may not be done properly, misunderstandings may occur
-may need to double up on some facilities- eg if one needs a different chair for health reasons
-lack of continuity for customers- may have to deal with 2 people on one issue
-others may demand it where it won't work

These are just some ideas. It depends on the role of course

[Canary42]

A lot of the arguments depend on the nature of the post.

I tried to implement this many years ago when one of my staff returned from maternity leave and requested such an arrangement. After much fighting to overcome Higher Management objections I then went ahead and advertised. The response was very very small and all candidates most unsuitable. While considering a different advertising medium (the initial one chosen by Personnel Dept being IMO unsuitable) the person became pregnant again and I abandoned the initiative.

Issues raised during my "pioneering" exercise included such things as handover overlap times, work continuity, holiday entitlement, and sickness absence, none unsurmountable. Advantages include reduced impact of absence, greater potential pool of labour, and happier staff.

It was all a very long time ago (1986) so I don't really remember much detail I'm sorry to say - I did enjoy the challenge at the time in spite of the bureacratic frustrations encountered along the way. My one regret was that it didn't materialise so I had no opportunity to evaluate its effectiveness.

[Ric.ror]

I could comfortably walk into the role if they were to allow me to jobshare
I currently work 25 hours over 5 days but need to consider my hours due to family demands
If I reduce the hours but took the new job I would not be financially penalised as the potential new role is a higher scale than mine - I don't know why but it is
I now wonder if I should text the DGM and suggest it
They have a chance to think about it over the weekend before I return on monday

[pixie373]

In my experience, we had two book-keepers working in the office at the Care Home i worked in. They did half the week each and each one bitterly complained about what the other person hadn't done. They were both convinced they did 90% of the work themselves. The other problem was that if one wanted annual leave to look after her children in school holidays, the other would have to work extra- but also wanted time off to look after hers. Would have to be very clear about roles and time off.

[Ric.ror]

Thanks everyone
The brilliant thing is I would not want School holidays in fact I usually avoid them and I would be prepared to work over on odd occasions

That is if I don't become a euro millionaire

[pixie373]

I think you'll be very popular to work with, then! Hope it works out for you