My partner (Japanese) and I have two kids. After our first son was born, she went from full-time to part-time at her job (she initially had a full-time permanent position with them) and we avoided needing childcare for a little bit. Our second son was born in September last year, and she took the standard maternity/ parental leave that is allowed until the child is one. During her leave our first son started going to daycare in April (that’s when you have to get them in!). Because she’s on leave, she’s been able to handle most drop-offs and pick-ups for our older son, which is crucial because my working hours don’t allow me to do it most days (We depend on my job mainly for our living expenses).
Anyhow, she had been planning going back to work part-time again after her leave. To be honest, the part time pay is not good (1112 hourly, minimum wage), there isn’t really any financial benefit for us, but she had a lot of experience in her position, held certain licensing that they need a quota of employees to hold, and wanted to stay connected to them for when our kids get older and she could go full-time again eventually. I completely respect her desire to work and stay connected to her career.
Anyhow, we’ve been searching around trying to find the most ideal situation for childcare for the younger one, and it just so happened there is a spot that opened up in the daycare that my older son goes to. This is the best situation because she can do drop offs and pick-ups in one spot, that also happens to be near a station that she takes to work.
So, before she took leave she worked 7-hours a day (3 days a week), and because of the daycare drop off and pick up, she would have to cut this down to 5.5 hours a day, so she loses a bit of the hours, but we are fine with it because we can still get some subsidy for daycare as long as she works 64 hours a month. Her immediate supervisor liked this plan, said it worked well with the current staffing situation, and everything looked good.
Then, yesterday, she got a call from her supervisor that the higher-ups would not approve unless she could return to work for the original 7-hours a day. Her supervisor was actually very disappointed about this.
Anyhow, it’s impossible. Even if we asked a sitter to handle all pick-ups and drop-offs, it would be way too expensive (the sitter requires to work in 3 hour segments at a time, too). So, her only option is to quit.
Anyhow, personally, I’m a bit relieved. I think she has a positive attitude about it too. She can probably go get a closer, better-paying part time job that is more flexible with hours as well. She has a degree and specialized certification and several years of experience.
Not sure why I’m posting this really.
Her immediate supervisor knew it was definitely worth it to keep her, she knew the ins and outs well, and filled part of the quota for certified employees. I doubt the supervisor is going to find someone with similar qualifications who will work for minimum wage 3 days a week. It was a pretty good deal for her workplace, I thought. Not sure why the higher ups are stuck on being firm with their arbitrary rules.
Anyone else have an experience like this?
Edit: Our daycare is ninkagai (hours only 9-5) and that is why drop-offs and pick-ups are hard. Getting a spot in a public daycare is impossible in our area unless both parents work full time, and it is my partner’s choice not to work full time (which I support). I realize that part of the problem is the daycare shortage. At the same time though, the main reason why my partner intended to go back and work part time for minimum wage (essentially losing money) was because her workplace has always been really great about flexible hours. However, now it looks like they don’t. So there is no benefit. I know she’s not technically being forced to quit (sorry for the wording can’t edit the title), but I feel like the higher ups are well aware that the situation they’ve given her is something impossible for her situation. Mainly, I posted this because it is rather perplexing that the company would make this move when it actually puts them at a greater disadvantage losing her (they’re literally being picky about a few hours that wouldn’t cause a problem according to her supervisor who had a whole plan worked out; it is an unpopular industry; they have a long history of staffing shortages and find it hard to hire qualified people).
by irishtwinsons