Part Time vs. Full time work.

Hello All,

We are determined to make this move to the UK work. However, we have finally gotten all the corporate move info and income numbers and in order for it to work, I will most likely have to get some sort of job to help make ends meet.

Since I am the primary care giver for our boys, I need something that allows me to be there when they go to school and when school is over.

I have a college degree, lots of experience in high tech ( was a Software Quality Assurance Manager for a long time), I've been a Real Estate Broker (which is what I am doing now). I suppose my most useful skills are in the computer area. I can pretty much build, repair and troubleshoot computers (both Mac and Intel/AMD based systems) with my eyes closed.

I know that here in the states, you can often find flexable hour positions that pay fairly well, and still allow you to not work full time hours.

Do these kinds of things exist in the UK? Is it a common practice?

Assuming I need to go out and find some part time position, what kind of hourly wage can one expect for things ranging from working in a book store to working in a computer store as a technical guy?

Thanks,
R

I know that some companies do offer flex time, meaning if you come in early, you can leave early, if you come in late, you can leave late, but you still have to work a full day (e.g. 8-4, 10-6). I don't have kids, but others probably know about other arrangements, like working non-school hours. I was once offered a job in the US which involved working in the early morning and evening, so that I'd be home when my kids came home from school--if I had kids.

I would suggest you look for work at a large company, as a smaller firm may not have anyone to cover your position if you are not going to be around at certain times during the day.

I know that here in the states, you can often find flexable hour positions that pay fairly well, and still allow you to not work full time hours.

OK. I reread this and I am confused. Are you looking for flexible full-time work, or part-time work? Do you mean part-time work where you can work whichever hours you want,  or not work the same shift every day?

From my personal experience working at a large company in the States, the IT people were the ones most likely to be required to work overtime, on weekends, etc., because if a system goes down on Friday at 5, it has to be up and running by Monday at 8.  Although things seem to go at a slower pace in the UK, so that may not be the case here.

Thanks for the reply.

I am primarily looking for part time. Sometimes you can find job share positions where two work the same job just at less than full time hours. I was trying to be a bit vague to encourage all kinds of responses - you never know what might pop up that makes a good solution.

I suspect that initially I would have to take a position at a much more entry level till I get my "sea legs" so to speak. Most likely this would be in a computer store or something like that where I provide troubleshooting and other computer services. I have read that the minimum wage is around 5 pounds and was wondering where hourly pay jobs of different kinds come in on hourly wage.  Is anyone out there working a part time job where they are using their computer skills? What kind of hourly wage does that usually bring in?

As for full time, I will not really know how the daily schedule works out till we are there. However, I do know that all my boys will be in school by 8 and out by 3. That would have me able to perhaps put in 6 hours a day, five days a week.

Thanks,
R

Hello There,

I have three young children and I have found working practices in the UK to be very child friendly.  That of course is just my personal experience. My husband has an office/computer job and is able to go in late on the days that I work, so he can take the kids to school.  They don't mind if he has to leave early to pick them up.  He can basically come and go when he wants as long as he makes up the hours. 

As far as I am aware if you have kids under the age of 6 then your employer is required to provide some degree of flexibility.  I work as a staff nurse so it is impossible for me to leave in the middle of a shift to get the kids.  What I have started to do (after many childcare problems) is work 2 fifteen hour shifts a week so I can get my hours in but only have to require my husband to go in late and leave early two days a week.  My boss offered me 5 days a week, doing much shorter shifts so I can take my son to school and pick him up, but then I would need 5 days worth of daycare for my baby and 2 year old.   Boss is happy with me doing 0730 till 10 PM 2 days a week though. Now I only need to worry about it on 2 days.

There are childminders (people who are registered to babysit in their homes and are inspected) and they usually operate between the ours of 0730 and 6PM.  They will take your child to school and pick them up afterwards so if you work a bit past 3PM its not a problem.  Most daycares won't take kids over the age of 5.   The childminders charge anywhere between £2.50 to £5.00 an hour.  Keep in mind I live in the north of England where stuff is cheaper.  Best of luck to you anyway.