permanent contract parental leave and...

monflat

i have a full time permanent contract in a job 75 minutes motorway drive from me

i currently have 2 children under 2
i am returning to work next week after having second baby as my maternity leave ends

i have applied for and have been granted parental leave so i will take parental leave of 16 hours per forthnight

my question is can i take another job 5 miles away from me which consists of a day a week on the days that i dont work at my other job.

why would i do this if i have a job
because i have a good 75 minute motorway commute to my full time job with early mornings very late nights children will be hours in bed when i arrive home
with the 2 hours plus in the car leads to extra tiredness etc

im trying to test the waters to see if there are anything that suits me closer to home before i take the plunge

1) i would be mad to pack in a full time permanent position
2) i would like to try out the other job to see could i actually work there or similar
3) with me being on a full time contract with reduced hours due to parental leave do i need to notify my employers of my intention to take tempory position in other job?

i know it sounds a bit mean but i cant just pack in a job but i need something closer to home so by me doing one day a week would give me the ability to see if that job suited

any advice greatly appreciated

aniascor

monflat wrote: »

i have a full time permanent contract in a job 75 minutes motorway drive from me

i currently have 2 children under 2
i am returning to work next week after having second baby as my maternity leave ends

i have applied for and have been granted parental leave so i will take parental leave of 16 hours per forthnight

my question is can i take another job 5 miles away from me which consists of a day a week on the days that i dont work at my other job.

why would i do this if i have a job
because i have a good 75 minute motorway commute to my full time job with early mornings very late nights children will be hours in bed when i arrive home
with the 2 hours plus in the car leads to extra tiredness etc

im trying to test the waters to see if there are anything that suits me closer to home before i take the plunge

1) i would be mad to pack in a full time permanent position
2) i would like to try out the other job to see could i actually work there or similar
3) with me being on a full time contract with reduced hours due to parental leave do i need to notify my employers of my intention to take tempory position in other job?

i know it sounds a bit mean but i cant just pack in a job but i need something closer to home so by me doing one day a week would give me the ability to see if that job suited

any advice greatly appreciated

According to this http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/parental_leave.html, no you can't. Parental leave must be used for the purposes of looking after your child, and if it is used for another purpose your employer is entitled to cancel the leave.

monflat

aniascor wrote: »

According to this http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/parental_leave.html, no you can't. Parental leave must be used for the purposes of looking after your child, and if it is used for another purpose your employer is entitled to cancel the leave.

OH god right that puts stop to that idea then

i suppose the only other way would be to reduce my hours down to whatever suited both parties still having a permanent post
and then see if i could try out the other job ?

tatli_lokma

aniascor wrote: »

According to this http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/parental_leave.html, no you can't. Parental leave must be used for the purposes of looking after your child, and if it is used for another purpose your employer is entitled to cancel the leave.

You beat me to it!

OP ask yourself in all honesty why would your current employer give you time off from the job s/he pays you to do under the auspices of it being time to attend to parenting duties when in fact you want it to leave your children with a child minder and work for someone else?

AFAIK parental leave does not have to be given in the way you have been given it - normally it is given in consequtive blocks. I think it would be very unfair and also cheeky of you to misuse it in this manner and I would go so far as to say would likely be seen as a possible disciplinary matter.

Rather than be dishonest why not speak with your Employer and explain that for the moment a 5 day week isn't possible for yougiven the distance of travelling. Ask to go on a 4 day week but not under the pretence of parental leave, just a flat 4 day week for a set period like 6 weeks or something. Then if that is permitted I wouldn't have a problem with you working 1 day elsewhere as I an not under the impression you need the time as parental leave.

tatli_lokma

Yes I was right...normally parental leave is given for a minimum straight period of 6 weeks minimum in one go. The fact they are flexible in allowing you to break it ur into one day per week is decent of them and makes me all the more inclined to advise you not to open a whole can of worms!

monflat

Little Ted wrote: »

You beat me to it!

OP ask yourself in all honesty why would your current employer give you time off from the job s/he pays you to do under the auspices of it being time to attend to parenting duties when in fact you want it to leave your children with a child minder and work for someone else?

AFAIK parental leave does not have to be given in the way you have been given it - normally it is given in consequtive blocks. I think it would be very unfair and also cheeky of you to misuse it in this manner and I would go so far as to say would likely be seen as a possible disciplinary matter.

Rather than be dishonest why not speak with your Employer and explain that for the moment a 5 day week isn't possible for yougiven the distance of travelling. Ask to go on a 4 day week but not under the pretence of parental leave, just a flat 4 day week for a set period like 6 weeks or something. Then if that is permitted I wouldn't have a problem with you working 1 day elsewhere as I an not under the impression you need the time as parental leave.

right well at the moment im not on 5 day week when i go back my shift pattern will be
for example not set in stone
Monday p/L 12 hours
Tuesday 8am to 9pm
Saturday 8am -9pm
Sunday 8am to 9pm

then the next week
wednesday 8am to 9pm
thursday 8am to 9pm
friday P/L 4 hours

i know i have been very lucky that i have a full time permanent post and that my employers have obliged me by granting my parental leave the way i would like to take it as i do know that someplaces they request you take blocks like you said
could i try that other position on my "DAYS OFF " as opposoded to my p/l days ?

however i could talk to them and reduce my hours

tatli_lokma

monflat wrote: »

could i try that other position on my "DAYS OFF " as opposoded to my p/l days ?

however i could talk to them and reduce my hours

I would say no - others may disagree.
My reason for saying no, is that it appears that the company has worked out your shifts around your P/L. Were you not on P/L then your shifts may be different. In which case your 'days off' are determined by the fact you are on P/L. By working elsewhere on those days then it is still using the P/L system to facilitate working elsewhere.

Also, as an employer I would have to ask - if you claim you need to take P/L in order to have time at home, then how can you then work elsewhere on your off-shift days? If you don't need to be at home 3 days a week, then surely you don't need to make use of the P/L on offer?

monflat

Little Ted wrote: »

I would say no - others may disagree.
My reason for saying no, is that it appears that the company has worked out your shifts around your P/L. Were you not on P/L then your shifts may be different. In which case your 'days off' are determined by the fact you are on P/L. By working elsewhere on those days then it is still using the P/L system to facilitate working elsewhere.

Also, as an employer I would have to ask - if you claim you need to take P/L in order to have time at home, then how can you then work elsewhere on your off-shift days? If you don't need to be at home 3 days a week, then surely you don't need to make use of the P/L on offer?

Grand thanks
No I always had those shifts long before parental leave they are subject to change at any time but they have not changed so far

I'll just talk to them and cut down my hours
And go from there thanks

I just needed to clear up ideas goin through my head

Diziet

I don't see any reason not to take up additional work in the off shift days, unless the contract prohibits it.

monflat

yes i suppose the best thing is to check out the contract
but its looking likely that il have to cut the hours .

thanks