I'm getting too few shifts, and they're on my 'not available' days!

[sarahj]

I was just given a mini-promotion at work. Last week I was trained in the new section, expecting that this week I'd be working my usual hours (minimum of 15, plus they call me up for extra shifts). Well this week I had two shifts, 10 hours total. I was a little upset, but didn't say anything.

I just called in to find out my first shift for next week, and it's on Saturday!!! When they asked me to move sections, they told me I could have weekends off! Wtf? Plus it's only four hours. Which means that if I have another shift (unlikely), it's on Sunday. My only other 'not available' day.

I'm really upset. That's only four hours. I'm just a college girl, how can I survive on that? I don't want to get too upset without talking to the scheduling guy, but honestly, wtf? He's the one who gave me weekends off, and I didn't even ask (or really need it), but now I've made plans and am considering calling in.

Has anyone ever been shorted on hours/scheduled when they shouldn't be? Did you work it out or start looking elsewhere?

[powerboy]

When that would happen to me, I would usually tell them, since I already had plans on those 2 days off, that I would not be able to come in.


Just go ahead and talk to the scheduling guy, just let him know, that you do need more hours, and maybe you can get like an hour or 2 more, a day or week starting out. Plus if anything, try unemployment. They hopefully will help you on that. Where you can receive pay from them, while only working about 15 hours. I have nothing more right now, seeing as I am tired as all get go.

Hopefully I helped you out, even if it was just a little.

[Becks]

Talk to the scheduling guy. Maybe something came up.

Best of luck!!!!

[danegrous_21]

my manager did that to me several times

1. i turn in my new availibity and she approves it(like she had a choice i got a second job at a news studio, and im planning a career in it so retail is the least important thin in life compared to this) then the next schedule conflicts with my other schedule so much i work at both places 3 time that week. (over 12 hrs of working in one day)

2. then my manager tells me that she lost my availiblty form that i gave to her and so the comp will arrange on my old time. so i have to fix my schedule again with people b/c she cant be organized.

3. things are getting better then i look and last week schedule and she put me again out of my avail. why b/c she needed a morning person(i can do it but like i said earlier i dont want to work at both jobs in one day)


im also about to start college so,i understand all of that

[sarahj]

Thanks for the advice! I'll talk to the scheduling guy if he's there on Saturday, otherwise I'll go in next Monday or Tuesday. Hopefully I have shifts those days, and it's just the public holidays that have messed things up. (Yay optimism.)

Also, I can't receive any unemployment etc, cos I live at home and my parents make me ineligible for any government money. But if I'd moved out, I'd check that out, for sure.

[RentalRacer]

I do have a question though for you or anyone else who wants to answer... If you are a College Student, and you need $$, why would you not work a weekend shift? When I was last in college (4 years ago..getting old..sigh) I would give my work a schedule that worked around my classes M-F, then would open up one of my weekend days for them to schedule me a full shift, that always ensured me hours, and I still had a day to myself to hang out with friends or whatever. Just wondering, as now I have several college kids working for me, and they have very limited availability during the week, but don't want to work weekends, yet want a lot of hours. Its a classic catch 22.

Bottom line is though, if you talked to your scheduling manager and he told you he could give you the hours and days you need, he should stick to his word, just ask him about it.

[sarahj]

I'm in Melbourne, so I have two months left in my summer break right now. My bf & parents work full time, weekends off, so when I was offered to have weekends off I took it. I was called in on the 26th, and I re-checked the schedule. I also have a Sunday shift. So I don't get to see my bf at all this week, or spend much time with my parents.

When I go back to school, I'll be working weekends, for sure. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll definitely add Sunday to my availability. Hopefully that'll keep them away from my Saturdays!

[Mighty Girl]

When I worked at the Limited, they would do that to encourage you to quit. Your hours would slowly be reduced more and more, and then you just wouldn't be on the schedule anymore. They didn't "fire" people, they just didn't "need" them that week. Pansies. That was probably the absolute worst retail experience of my life- working in that hellhole. And they acted like it was such a privilege. On sale days, we were forbidden to leave the store- they had us all bring in potluck stuff and we'd eat there for a few minutes here and there when they'd "allow" us. They paid crap- but expected us to buy all our clothes there. To this day, I will not frequent a store owned by Wexner.

Talk to the scheduler preferably in person so you can read his facial expressions. They may not correspond to the words coming out of his mouth.

[sarahj]

Well I was asked to work on Monday at 8am. I said I couldn't make it, but if there was a shift starting at 9 or 10 available, I'd be there for sure. It's just that the trains are messed up cos of the public holiday, and I can't make it that early. "Sure, 9am, thanks Sarah."

I checked the schedule today. 8am WTF? I told another manager that they could either give the shift away, or I'd see them at 9am, and they said thanks for letting us know, see you at 9! It's in my new section, and there seems to be a shortage of people there, even with me there now.

Also I'm pretty sure I'm well-liked. There are many high-5's directed at me, even from managers. Hey, it's an insanely busy 24-hour Maccas, they're usually just glad that people show up for their shifts. There's no way they could pull crap like at the Limited. I'm glad you're not working there anymore! Not even an employee discount is worth bad pay and giving up breaks.

The latest schedule is looking better. I'm gonna be putting fuel in my car & snacking on Krispy Kreme's for the next two weeks at least. It's a good thing my mum pays for my gym membership.

Thanks to everyone for your posts! The day may come when I consider retail to be more attractive than fast food, but not for at least two more weeks.