NZ employers...

[judecatmad]

.....are cr@p at offering flexible working arrangements - cr@p, cr@p, cr@p - I'm talking about part-time and/or working from home (even if the technology is available - which it is at several companies I could do my job at).

And that's even when your job is listed as one of the 'in very high demand and difficult to recruit for' jobs.

Totally non-bike related, so apologies to those who may feel the need to get on their high horse about that, but just needed to get it out of my system.....

[Tank]

.....are cr@p at offering flexible working arrangements - cr@p, cr@p, cr@p - I'm talking about part-time and/or working from home (even if the technology is available - which it is at several companies I could do my job at).

And that's even when your job is listed as one of the 'in very high demand and difficult to recruit for' jobs.

Totally non-bike related, so apologies to those who may feel the need to get on their high horse about that, but just needed to get it out of my system.....

What a load of rubbish - We have some fantastic employers that allow people hugely flexible working conditions - You just haven't found them yet.

FWIW - I find NZ Employers far more flexible than the ones I worked for in the UK.

Its nothing to do with technology - its normally about how they want that role utilized.

[Pwalo]

Perhaps they just don't like you. Seriously it can take a while to find a job, especially if you've been out of the workplace for a while.

Don't take it personally, because I'm sure they don't.

[judecatmad]

What a load of rubbish - We have some fantastic employers that allow people hugely flexible working conditions - You just haven't found them yet.

Not a load of rubbish from where I'm sitting, thank you very much.

Doing the job I do, I can't just go to any old company and my skills are not transferrable to another role (nor can I afford to move out of my field and take a massive pay cut).

There's a huge amount of flexibility if you're already working for the right company, granted - but you try approaching a new company (because your current one is stuffing you around) and mention that you want hours other than 8.30-5 and that you might not want to work in the office 5 days a week - the door gets slammed in your face.

If you know of anyone offering a really decent salary for an office-based job, with no people management involved, AND flexible working arrangements, by all means PLEASE get in touch. Until then, don't tell me that I'm talking cr@p becasue you have no idea the shit I'm facing at the moment with my return from maternity leave imminent and me probably ending up putting my wee man in daycare for 12 hours a day because of the inflexibility of the companies I have available to me.

[Lissa]

I must be one lucky girl, I have flexible hours of work, so I can drop the kids off at school and pick them up, but I can also work late on the days I dont have the kids and make up hours. If I have to go to a school play or sports day I am given time to do that and can make up the hours. Stick with it Jude, I am sure the perfect job is waiting for you

[Patar]

Companies won't offer you great salaries and flexible working hours unless you've proved yourself and shown that you are an asset they need.
Just because you're in a 'hard to recruit' field, it doesn't mean that companies will throw money at the first person who walks through the door with the proper skills and wanting to work their own way.

As an undergraduate engineer I see this a lot as companies come in trying to recruit graduates, because while they have the skillset, they can also conform to regular working hours. Unlike summer students who aren't as favoured because they usually only hang around for 3 months before going back to uni.

[Tank]

Not a load of rubbish from where I'm sitting, thank you very much.

Doing the job I do, I can't just go to any old company and my skills are not transferrable to another role (nor can I afford to move out of my field and take a massive pay cut).

There's a huge amount of flexibility if you're already working for the right company, granted - but you try approaching a new company (because your current one is stuffing you around) and mention that you want hours other than 8.30-5 and that you might not want to work in the office 5 days a week - the door gets slammed in your face.

If you know of anyone offering a really decent salary for an office-based job, with no people management involved, AND flexible working arrangements, by all means PLEASE get in touch. Until then, don't tell me that I'm talking cr@p becasue you have no idea the shit I'm facing at the moment with my return from maternity leave imminent and me probably ending up putting my wee man in daycare for 12 hours a day because of the inflexibility of the companies I have available to me.

I'm sorry for your situation - I really am.

But Im also sick of people coming to NZ and saying how crap everything is here - like your "NZ Employers are Crap..." heading.

The truth looking at your post is that you have a limited skill set and non-transferable skills - yet you are wanting people to bend over backwards for you when they could get someone just as skilled working in the office. Again - I'm sorry - I don't believe its NZ employers - it may be someone with unrealistic demands.

I wish you the best of luck in finding something that suits.

[judecatmad]

Companies won't offer you great salaries and flexible working hours unless you've proved yourself and shown that you are an asset they need.
Just because you're in a 'hard to recruit' field, it doesn't mean that companies will throw money at the first person who walks through the door with the proper skills and wanting to work their own way.

As an undergraduate engineer I see this a lot as companies come in trying to recruit graduates, because while they have the skillset, they can also conform to regular working hours. Unlike summer students who aren't as favoured because they usually only hang around for 3 months before going back to uni.

I'm not some kid straight out of high school - I have 5 years' experience in my field, with almost 10 years' industry experience. I have a degree. I have worked for my current employer for more than 3 years. I have very good relationships with my customers.

It pisses me off that I see my colleagues being given flexible arrangements and my peers at other companies being given flexible arrangements. But because all of these people have flexible arrangements, the door is now closed to any further people wanting flexible options.

Or, as has been said before, maybe they just don't like me. It's very probable.

It's OK, I'm on the verge of a breakdown as it is with the stress of knowing I'll be leaving the house at 7am and not getting home til almost 6.30pm and will then have to do all the stuff that a mum needs to do with their baby before bedtime, then will have to do all the housework and the other cr@p that wives seem to get left with. And on top of that will have to still maintain my second job. But no matter, not anyone's problem but my own I guess.

All employers see are timesheets. They don't see the human element behind the timesheets and the effect that their mentality is having.

And yes, you could quite feasibly say it's not my employer's problem that I had a baby - this is very true but at this moment in time if anyone throws that at me I will personally hunt you down and make your lives a living hell. I already regret motherhood more than anyone could possibly imagine.

[imdying]

Your cat is cute

[Tank]

I know its a change and it has some uncertainty- but have you considered temping or the like?

Often you can get flexable hours and once you have been there a while often the chance to go 'perm' with the same hours?

Pity you are not in Auckland - I have some friends at agency's that may have been able to help.

[judecatmad]

when they could get someone just as skilled working in the office

But they can't - that's the thing.

There's a massive shortage in my field.

Oh what's the point? Sorry I started the damn thread. I only wanted to get it off my chest given that there's nobody I can talk to.

And if I'd stayed in the UK, yes, things would have been very different. I'd be single, wouldn't have kids and wouldn't be arsed about getting flexible hours. I'd also have family for support - which I don't here - and would have all my friends around me.

If I could go home I would but I can't. If I could change having a baby I would, but I can't. All I want is for my employer to look at a shorter working day with shorter breaks during the working day so that I'm still working the same hours (bar half an hour), with the option to work from home one day a week so that my son can go to a class he currently attends. What's so goddamn unreasonable about that?????

Forget it.

No more replies please - mods, please put this into PD.

[riffer]

Call me presumptuous but I'm pretty sure there's more to this than a bit of flexibility needed in the workplace.

It sounds like you do need someone to talk to Jude.

[Pwalo]

Call me presumptuous but I'm pretty sure there's more to this than a bit of flexibility needed in the workplace.

It sounds like you do need someone to talk to Jude.

He's probably right. Everything becomes a compromise when you have kids. Good luck.

[discodan]

Way to kick her while she is down guys.

She's right, you don't know what her situation is like regarding finding a decent employer so why shoot her down when all she wanted was some support.

I am currently in a pretty decent job and my employer is pretty good considering the situation I am in (no kids etc). But my workmates have kids and they can basically work whenever they want as long as they are doing thier job.

On the other hand, I have had experienced the frustration of sh*t employers so I totally understand why it can get depressing.

Give her a break.

[AllanB]

If your job is in so high demand then get one somewhere else that has the conditions you desire. Simple.