Job Share Opportunities

Mum1993 · 17 Jul 2019

I’m currently in the process of going through the assessment stage for MTR. I’ve revised everything well and I feel I have a good chance of getting a position (I hope anyway!)

I’m a working mum and I’ve got a young child so I’d prefer doing a job share if possible. I’m just wondering if there are many opportunities for job shares at MTR? And does anyone know whether any other tocs offer job shares and how likely someone is to be able t job share ?

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Red1980 · 17 Jul 2019

I think most toc's have job share opportunities available these days. The key is finding someone who's willing to do it, as nice as It Is the fact that your money etc is effectively cut in half makes it something most of the younger generation won't be interested in. So in answer to your question.....the chances of it are remote but you never know your timing if successful could be just right.

Also without teaching you to suck eggs.....If you are only in the assessment stage for god sake don't mention that this is something you're looking to do.

lammergeier · 17 Jul 2019

Some companies now offer single-leg job share (ie part time working) without a partner. We've just started it at XC and a few have taken it up so far. I don't know whether MTR offer this but TOCs seem to be trying to bring their working practises more up to date with the modern world so it wouldn't surprise me if this is offered.

There is a big push at the moment to increase representation amongst ethnic minorities and women on the railwa, particularly the driving grade, and it is recognised that offering more part time or job share opportunities is part of the solution. So I don't think it would be too detrimental to ask this in an interview setting, particularly if HR are present, however if it's not an absolute requirement as to whether you take the job or not I would probably err on the side of caution and recommend not bringing it up. After all you need to be trying to show what you can offer the railway and MTR, not necessarily what they can offer you.

iphone76 · 17 Jul 2019

MTR has part time links available with a few semi-retired retired and working mums in them so I don't think it's a big issue at all. I haven't looked into it myself, however, I believe they are rolling fixed term type contracts though.

As others have mentioned, get in and settled first and see how you get on with the shifts and go from there. Good luck with your assessments.

Mum1993 · 17 Jul 2019

Thank you everyone else for the helpful advice!

Bromley boy · 18 Jul 2019

Mum1993 said:
I’m currently in the process of going through the assessment stage for MTR. I’ve revised everything well and I feel I have a good chance of getting a position (I hope anyway!)

I’m a working mum and I’ve got a young child so I’d prefer doing a job share if possible. I’m just wondering if there are many opportunities for job shares at MTR? And does anyone know whether any other tocs offer job shares and how likely someone is to be able t job share ?

I’ll preface this by saying I’m a current driver. Not at MTR, but close by.

I would say unlikely, unless you can find someone willing to job share with you. That’s rare and is often only done by people approaching retirement, if at all.

Ignore the PC hype about MTR. It’s a TOC. No different to any other. I know a couple of people who’ve moved there. Many drivers are sitting spare at the moment because most of the network hasn’t opened as planned but, once it does, they will be sweated hard.

Unless/until you find a job share partner you’ll be facing the same roster as everyone else at your particular depot which will likely involve alternating weeks of earlies and lates and starting/finishing work at extremely unsavoury hours.

Don’t let the salary seduce you. Think very, very, carefully about whether the realities of this job, and the associated shifts, are for you!

Bromley boy · 18 Jul 2019

Red1980 said:
I think most toc's have job share opportunities available these days. The key is finding someone who's willing to do it, as nice as It Is the fact that your money etc is effectively cut in half makes it something most of the younger generation won't be interested in. So in answer to your question.....the chances of it are remote but you never know your timing if successful could be just right.

Also without teaching you to suck eggs.....If you are only in the assessment stage for god sake don't mention that this is something you're looking to do.

Some excellent - and correct - advice here.

It will only be available if she can find someone willing to job share and take a 50% pay cut.

That’s ok for the old boys cruising towards retirement, but much less likely amongst the younger age group.

Bromley boy · 18 Jul 2019

lammergeier said:
Some companies now offer single-leg job share (ie part time working) without a partner. We've just started it at XC and a few have taken it up so far. I don't know whether MTR offer this but TOCs seem to be trying to bring their working practises more up to date with the modern world so it wouldn't surprise me if this is offered.

Is that on offer for drivers?

I doubt it!

Mum1993 · 18 Jul 2019

Deleted

Tom Quinne · 18 Jul 2019

Firstly I’d like to just say my wife is in a job share/reduced hours so it’s possible (not driving), however the driver and guard diagrams for the reduced hours staff where really really crap - a scare the people doing the jobs accepted, but when they where AL or sick etc it really didn’t go down well with the normal link staff who had to cover the jobs.

Forget all the PR/PC guff resentment does start to bite in the messroom when the same job is copped off spare for a few weeks.
The railway is a crap place if you a family, or want to social life - it’s a calling in that you have to take the rough with the smooth the former a lot more than the latter.

Best of luck with your app, but go in (hopefully) with your eyes wide open it could be years of stupid o’clock book on’s and off’s before you get a reduced hours link etc

iphone76 · 18 Jul 2019

Bromley boy said:
Is that on offer for drivers?

I doubt it!

I can confirm this is available for drivers at MTR.

iphone76 · 18 Jul 2019

Mum1993 said:
Thank you for the advice

I was a night bus driver before I went on maternity leave so I’m okay the working at horrible hours bit - plus my husbands a shift worker so we’re very very well acquainted with working unsociable hours

Working full time isn’t a problem either but obviously with the cost of childcare plus the fact that a lot of nurseries in my area are rated quite poorly it would be quite nice to be able to go job share in future if the opportunity was there. Whether that was at MTR or another TOC

Think I’ll just have to see how the assessments go first - it might just all be pie in the sky

Good luck with it all. It's a great job.

Please don't listen to some of the above. There are definitely straight forward part time links with MTR as a driver (not job share) and I haven't heard any resentment towards them in the mess rooms.

Mum1993 · 18 Jul 2019

Great, thank you !

lammergeier · 18 Jul 2019

Bromley boy said:
Is that on offer for drivers?

I doubt it!

Yes, drivers at XC can go "one legged" job share, no partner required. Was negotiated as part of last years pay deal.

IanXC · 18 Jul 2019

Of course the other benefit to the employer of part time working ('one legged' job share) is that the employee may choose to increase their hours when their circumstances change, or of course reduce them. Either option results in a higher likelihood of the employee staying with the business.

Somewhere I used to work had a 'job share' where both parties contractually did 3 days a week. The net result over the year, as they were flexible in the actual hours was that they covered their own leave. A very good set up I always thought.

ainsworth74 · 18 Jul 2019

A gentle reminder that people are entitled and, indeed, encouraged to ask questions about working on the railway in this sub-forum. The whole point of its existence is to give people who are unsure about something the opportunity to learn from those that have "been there and done that". There is, just about ( ) no such thing as a silly question. If you feel that the OP is asking a silly question then just ignore it. Or if you think it's a real issue report it to the Forum Staff and we will investigate.

I would also like to remind all members that our Forum Rules state that:

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ComUtoR · 18 Jul 2019

lammergeier said:
Yes, drivers at XC can go "one legged" job share, no partner required. Was negotiated as part of last years pay deal.

I would love to know how that is implemented on a day to day basis.

Is it a link of 2 days per line ? Are they Spare turns so that it doesn't affect the main roster and they can slip into to turns within spare movement rules ?

iphone76 · 18 Jul 2019

ComUtoR said:
I would love to know how that is implemented on a day to day basis.

Is it a link of 2 days per line ? Are they Spare turns so that it doesn't affect the main roster and they can slip into to turns within spare movement rules ?

At our place there are a variety of options - each in their own link. Some work 2 days per week whilst others work 4 days per week, however, only work for 4 weeks out of 10 rather than 8 weeks out of 10 that us full timers do.

It all seems to work fine with no issues as far as I know.

Job Share Opportunities

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