what is best- resigning or allowing employer to terminate contract

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
41
P.s half hour to and from work so I need 50hrs childcare and there is a creche onsite both me and hubbie work there and I applied whilst pregnant and still they said non non non c'est toujours plein. So frustrating and I did not want to lose my job orhire someone who did not have a permit to be here or a maman de jour that was off thebooks. I could not forgive myself if something happened and we /she wasn't covered or risk being fined.

42
And that, sadly, is how "looking for childcare" works in the real world. We're talking a 6 month gap between the end of maternity leave and a full time creche solution, and not even that is taken into consideration. Hat off to the O for not considering the (illegal) au-pair route, which manifests itself on this forum in the form of posts by "au-pairs" (ab)used as cheap nannies.

Now if all the sanctimonious folks lecturing women on how stupid they are for having children while employed could come off their soapboxes please and shut up for a bit. Thank you.

43
I know it doesn't change your situation, but the working parent who use our childcare do 'shifts' - so one parent brings the child, the alternate parent picks them up - they overlap their working hours to cope.

There are just a couple of single mums, and they find it extremely hard even though childcare hours are 7-6. They use friends, nannies, family members to juggle the hours...

44
I'd go so far as to say that it's virtually impossible to hold down two full time jobs in the family, and childcare, even if it's just one child, without family support or a very flexible work arrangement.

I know of one family with three children who used kindergarten for one, part time childcare for the second one, and a full time live-in nanny plus an au pair to hold it all together... you have to both have *very* high paying jobs for that to be worth it!

45
I think you should consider the distinct possility that your manager is trying to get rid of you without having the balls to come out and say so. Quite honnestly there is not a lot you cando about it, saying that however you have to take into account the notice period works both ways with similar terms for both parties.

Look at ways of cutting back, and believe you me, there are plenty, stay at home for a couple of years and enjoy baby; he/she will be far more balanced than you having to stress early in the morning to go to creche, late at night to get home.

Find something else part time, no job is unworthy, some are paid less than others but you "cut your coat according to your cloth" Lack of financial compensation, reduce social position,....sod all that rubbish, you got a baby and that's well above any of the rat race crap !

At the risk of getting shouted at, why make babies if all that is going to happen you place them with somebody else for the majority of the time ?

46
I agree with you and that's why I stay at home with the kids.

But you see, this should be a choice and not something force into a woman. She should be able to decide how she wants to do it. In this case, there is no choice, the boss took the decision for her and this is why it is not ok.

47

It can be done, but it is very very hard work. But if you employ a full time qualified nanny (+ car +all social payments) you are basically talking about the price of a primary teacher in the UK- so yes, only feasible if you have two very well paid jobs. I don't think Mark ever said that couples should find/employ childcare before conception or even birth - but that possible solutions should be discussed as a couple and possible solutions investigated to see which would be affordable and work best for you - and perhaps a place reserved asap as they are limited and difficult to find.

In our case, we didn't discuss this at all. Our eldest was the best mistake we ever made (she knows). My OH's career was at a crucial stage with him working extremely long hours - so we decided I would stay at home and go back to Uni and build my own career when kids were at school- and it worked very well indeed. I did get extremely frustrated at times living in a Stepford wives community and being a full-time mum and trailing wife- but looking back this period of our lives was quite short.

48
It makes me sad that in this supposed enlightened age people still have to justify themselves to dickhead bosses and idiot internet forum trolls.

So sorry to hear of your predicament Dunroaming. It truly sucks that you have been forced to choose between your job and being a good parent. Hopefully our daughters won't have to make such decisions.

49
Sure i agree but there is a balance to achieve between work and home life and here it seems the work life is very much over ruling the home time. This can work both ways for Mummies as well as Daddies !

50
Not sure why nobody mentioned it: Your boss is a dick and I have not seen anything similar. No, not even in backwards Switzerland. If I get you right is all you are asking for is a 5% reuction in working time for a period of 6 months... that does not seem to be a massive burden on the company and from any logical point of view would this agreement make you more motivated as well as more loyal to the company as you would not as easily leave as the others for another job offer.

Looks like your boss does not value your work at all, so it is frankly time to leave anyway... and on the technicality: as most have said ALWAYS let the company fire you. Ideally for some vague business reason rather then telling the entire story as the rav LOVE to pick on this type of thing...

51
Can you get your line manager to put a little pressure on the company-run creche to find the extra place? If they're not prepared to go out on a limb for you as a valued worker perhaps it is a case of them trying to squeeze you out.

Other question: would you be able to survive financially on just your husband's salary for a while? It might be better for your own sanity in the end and life really is too short to get worked up by a job.

I realise you would prefer to keep working however attitudes towards working women in this country remain in the dark ages.

Cheers,

Nick

52
Thanks for everyones comments etc. I did have feeling he was trying to constructively dismiss me. He is allowing another member in group to go to 60% and he's male. I have not resigned yet. I called in to say after considering and reflecting for a long time it's nit possible to be able to do the hours and having no network or support with just me and hubby and no family etc.

I had many offers of nannies without permits asking for a lot of money to illegal maman de jours demanding vEry little 900chf!!! So I can't accept that as it's too risky.

Plus I can always go back working and right now in a country with noone around us to rely on it's the best decision and we're happy but I do want to make sure I am not being stupid and missing out on entitlements. I notice I pay unemployment insurance so that must be useful?! Also HR are not helpful they backed the boss and gave me no assistance or advice. I just can't wait to get this sorted so I can focus on enjoying my time. I thought six months would be plenty to find childcare.

I had also considered shift so I went in early and hubbie stayed late since we work in same place but it would mean I only saw her 1.5hrs a day and my hubbie would not see her at all during her awake periods during the week. 42hrs min was just too much.

53
Don't rush, work the hours you can do & let them give notice if they are not happy, don't let them wind you up, it's a game they play here as there is no 'reduncy' pay. A contract can be terminated for any reason.

If your fired you get 80% pay for 400 Days if you have worked for 18 months. Get a part time job & the RAV will make up 80% of any loss, your actually in a strong possition.

54
Also make sure you take proper professional legal advice before you act, instead of taking the word of armchair experts as gospel. Just so you ensure you employer does not try to screw you out of anything you may be legally entitled to.

Cheers,

Nick

55
I just imagine how hard it is to be a single parent in Switzerland. The attitudes here really do need to take a giant leap into the 21st century.

56
Not hard at all, been one myself for 9 years.

Tom

57

....providing you are available for 100% employment which includes having adequate child care in place.

58
The OP mentioned over 40 hours of childcare, that is 100% so there is no problem.

59
And if the OP could report back that what the armchair experts have pointed out is 100% correct would be very much appreciated.

Ammazingly your entitled to whats been formally agreed between the 2 parties & written in your contract! You can't be sacked whilst ill, pregnant or doing military service.

After the probation period notice is 1 to 3 months depending on length of dervice.

60
maybe the boss is also expressing disapproval for a mother to be working? seems strange that he lets someone else go to 60%. and let's face it 5%-10% is no big deal.