Paul is a working carer looking for a new job that will give him the flexibility to continue his caring role.

A skilled tradesman, he has worked in customer service in a national retail chain for the past two years.

He moved from being self-employed to give him greater certainty of income and regular hours to fit in with his caring role.

Up until recent weeks, he has been able to juggle his permanent part-time role with the care of a close friend with a severe neurological disorder.

Paul is an integral part of the care team who support the wheelchair-bound young woman who has complex high care needs.

Recently his boss informed him that not only was his role in the store changing from customer service to stacking shelves, but that he would also be required to change from day work to night work, finishing at 11pm.

Several other staff members were given the same devastating news, with no choice offered, Paul told Work‘n’Care.

The new hours would have meant that Paul would not be able to continue the after-work support he had previously been providing as a carer.

“This would have a flow-on effect on the whole family, as people rely on me and my partner for that support,” Paul said.

Paul went to see the union representative at his workplace and has had numerous conversations with store management, trying to seek more flexible work arrangements so he can meet his caring responsibilities.

Ironically, on the company’s web site, it says it offers ‘flexible working arrangements’ and ‘a rewarding environment where people are valued … with real opportunities for advancement’.

“I don’t feel valued at all,” Paul said. “I told my manager that in fact I felt intimidated and bullied.

“I was given no choice in the matter of the hours I worked or the kind of work I was doing.

“I applied for a job in customer service because of my extensive trade knowledge and good ability with people. There is no question that I have done that job well. I am one of the most awarded customer service staff members in the store, with lots of badges they give out for good service.

“So it was quite a shock to be told that because I was a part-time employee, I would need to fill one of the newly created store roles for filling the shelves at night. Some other part-time employees were also told the same thing. My job on the floor serving customers was to be abolished.

“The manager told me they couldn’t ask the permanent staff to do the night-fill role, so it had to be the part-timers.

“Even after explaining my personal situation as a working carer and contacting the union, the store was not able to offer me very much flexibility.

“It was made clear that if I refused to do at least some night-fill, my hours would be drastically reduced – and that would severely financially disadvantage me.

“So I have had no choice really except to agree to work night shift on two nights, finishing at 11pm and 10pm, and do a daytime Saturday shift as well as one other day shift.

“It is better than a full week of night shift, but it still doesn’t suit my needs as a working carer.

“This is not a good result for me. It is not the job I applied for. It is not the job I enjoy. And it is not the job that is supportive of my role as a working carer.”