what would you do?

[nyyankeees]

I'm having problems with my job and i need to vent!

right now I'm working front desk at a hotel while attending school. Most of the time I work 11p-7am but occasionally I work 3-11. I realize that this requires working holidays/weekends. However, I have worked EVERY holiday this year while other people have had them off, I have never called in or been late, and I work extra shifts or do favors when asked. Last night I worked 11p-7a then went back in at 3p-11p which equals like 4 hours of sleep. Then today i notice the manager has changed the schedule and I'm scheduled to work Sun 7am-3p then come back the same night and work 11p-7am. Work monday night 11p-7am(x-mas morning) then come back and work 3-11 x-mas day?!!! that leaves me about 6 hours sleep for 2 days, mean while every other employee but 1 has x-mas off? is there something wrong with this picture? I called the manager but of course she didn't answer, i'm about to quit. Am I over reacting??

 

[jrthomas40]

heck no...i wouldnt quit but i would definitely have some words for the boss because it seems that just because you have worked previous holidays and extra shifts and have pulled the multi hours she can change it and do whatever she likes...a boss of mine tried to change the schedule on me once when i was working slave hours and i told him i could do it because i already made plans for the way it was the last time i looked it...then it depends on what kind of job it is and how good you are at it...use all that extra time you put in as leverage....like say you have been looking for another job because you dont feel appreciated and you work the doubles and the holidays all the time and its not fair to you to be their miss dependable giving everyone else breaks and you can even get a full night of sleep...so she can either quit doing it to you or you are out...if she says she wont or she cant... give her a week or 2 to change behavior and if she dont start looking for another job....then when you get one give the last ultimatum if she refuses to change again say ok consider this my notice and i will have it written formal when i return inside

 

[redinator]

A good job is not easy to find. Have one ready BEFORE you demand changes from your boss.

 

[jonthefishguy]

Originally Posted by jrthomas40
heck no...i wouldnt quit but i would definitely have some words for the boss because it seems that just because you have worked previous holidays and extra shifts and have pulled the multi hours she can change it and do whatever she likes...a boss of mine tried to change the schedule on me once when i was working slave hours and i told him i could do it because i already made plans for the way it was the last time i looked it...then it depends on what kind of job it is and how good you are at it...use all that extra time you put in as leverage....like say you have been looking for another job because you dont feel appreciated and you work the doubles and the holidays all the time and its not fair to you to be their miss dependable giving everyone else breaks and you can even get a full night of sleep...so she can either quit doing it to you or you are out...if she says she wont or she cant... give her a week or 2 to change behavior and if she dont start looking for another job....then when you get one give the last ultimatum if she refuses to change again say ok consider this my notice and i will have it written formal when i return inside

very well put. Many people get taken advantage of because they let themselves be taken advantage of. Your boss doesthis because he/she knows you will not speak up. Here is your chance to put it allout and say NO, I already have plans and thats that. The repocussion is that they may cut your hours to nill or whatever.....be ready and remember, there are beter jobs maybe not always better paying but certainly better jobs out there.

 

[nyyankeees]

Yea well, financially i don't need this job right now and the manager is gone til after x-mas cuz of course she took a week off for herself, and won't answer or return my phone calls(most likely because she has nothing to defend her actions with) so i'm pretty set on quitting. Thanks guys though.

 

[peef]

First off it is illegal to work someone that much. Between shifts (of 8 hours or more) you HAVE to by law have an 8 hour off time. SO I would ask nicely to have that 8 hour off time. If your boss says no or cuts your hours to nothing that is also illegal and I would get a laywer and get some money whilst teaching a pric* a lesson.

 

[peef]

Also unless you are set on having them as a reference I would probably just not go in during this oh so busy holiday schedule at all. No call no nothing. When my manager called going WHAT THE HELL YOU F-BOMBEB US. I would just simply say....Hey I guess you don't like the way it feels either, CLICK.

 

[rudedog40]

Originally Posted by NYyankeees
I'm having problems with my job and i need to vent!

right now I'm working front desk at a hotel while attending school. Most of the time I work 11p-7am but occasionally I work 3-11. I realize that this requires working holidays/weekends. However, I have worked EVERY holiday this year while other people have had them off, I have never called in or been late, and I work extra shifts or do favors when asked. Last night I worked 11p-7a then went back in at 3p-11p which equals like 4 hours of sleep. Then today i notice the manager has changed the schedule and I'm scheduled to work Sun 7am-3p then come back the same night and work 11p-7am. Work monday night 11p-7am(x-mas morning) then come back and work 3-11 x-mas day?!!! that leaves me about 6 hours sleep for 2 days, mean while every other employee but 1 has x-mas off? is there something wrong with this picture? I called the manager but of course she didn't answer, i'm about to quit. Am I over reacting??

Sounds like you're the low person on the totem pole when it comes to seniority. The manager is obviously playing favorites with the other desk clerks. Since you haven't spoken up or complained, he'll keep taking advantage of you. How long ago did he change the schedule? If he did it a few days ago, that's when you should have spoken up. If he changed it yesterday, I'd call him/her up immediately and state you already made plans based on your original schedule, and you are unable to work the hours he has scheduled for you now. The manager will either say "Ok, sorry. I just assumed you could work.", or say "Either work the hours scheduled, or don't come back to work at all." You then have to decide which is more important - having the holidays off, or having a job. Not sure where you live, or what type of hotel chain you work at. However, if you're good at the job, I imagine there's other hotels that could use your skills. Either case, it's sounds like you're pretty unhappy with your situation. I'd start looking around to see what's available. Take on the old addage - "It's always better to start looking for a new job when you already have one."

 

[rudedog40]

Another thing you have going for yourself, is the manager won't return your calls. Did this manager tell you or show you the new schedule updates before he/she left? If not, I'd just say

[hr]
it and take the days off you had originally scheduled. If the manager calls you say "Sorry, I didn't look at the schedule the last couple of days. I didn't know you changed it."

 

[nyyankeees]

Actually, there is only one other girl that's been there longer than me and she's off too, a guy that's been there longer, he's working 7-3, then 2 other girls that came after me, they are off. It's a shitty job too, absolutely no benifits, no paid vacation, shitty hours and 6.50 an hour pay. That's why i'm like, it's not even worth the stress or hassle anymore. The schedule was just changed yesterday morning and I noticed it yesterday night and just for the record the manager is a woman.

 

[demartini]

if you don't need the job right now then I would just not show up... your boss is crazy! then she'll have to work your hours.

 

[jasonmarc]

If you decide to not show up, just be careful you're not

[hr]
ing (I edited that myself lol) over your co-workers. If you like them, don't do that to them.
I'm never a big fan of the idea of "take this job and shove it" reactions - but I'm also not a fan of letting youself be taken advantage of. I'm sure everything is according to the letter of the law... but that doesn't make it right.
If you're not getting a response from your manager (after all, what kind of manager takes a week off and does not designate someone to cover?) then go above her head - she has to have a boss. Explain your situation and tell him/her that you are not getting the courtesy of a return call despite several messages. You can play hardball back without just up and quitting.
If your manager gets mad because of that and fires you, then you can at least collect while you're looking for something else.... not that I'm a proponant of living on the dole... but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do....

 

[peef]

Originally Posted by DeMartini
if you don't need the job right now then I would just not show up... your boss is crazy! then she'll have to work your hours.

 

[ophiura]

I would agree that there must be someone else above her that you should go to. Certainly if there is a legal concern, you should look into it.
But I am also not a fan of "take this job and shove it - just not showing up" reactions. I have personal morals and ethics where that approach would not work without a lot of long regret. I would take the official "give notice" approach, and be sure that you speak to this woman's manager as to why you are leaving. Sometimes upper management may not realize that is going on...sometimes they don't care. But be able to walk away knowing YOU were the better person, not that you gave it right back to them and made life difficult for your coworkers too. YOur boss will not come in and work those hours, some other SOB will, and customer service will likely be sacrificed too. YOur misery could ruin it for many.
Remember, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. You can learn a lot from situations like this that will help you down the road, if you take it to heart, especially should you end up in a management role. I ask interview questions that get to issues like this, and if someone told me "I just quit on the spot" I would not think highly of it. JMO though...not everyone asks such questions

That is just me though. I did have a job where I just up and gave notice, and they were pretty shocked at it (though they knew things were crap). In the end, I felt it important to go to the facility manager and explain, and he was pretty bummed. He knew something was wrong, but didn't know what. He ended up filing a complaint with HR against my problematic manager.

 

[jrthomas40]

yeah i dont like just up and quitting no matter how bad you hate a job i would always work a notice...when i worked at ***** i absolutely hated it because the people were so awful to work with and they tried to make me feel like crap because i was the new guy then when i would say something to them granted it was the same tone they said to me...they didnt like it and would go tell the manager then the manager would call me in to the office and ask me if i had a problem and get on to me about it so i got fed up told the manager i found another job and that the hours i was working there wasnt worth my 30 minute drive and that my last day will be such and such and she was like no need to work out a notice we dont use you much anyway so whatever the last day you work will be the last day and it just so happen to be that it was the last day i worked manager didnt want the notice

 

[zeke92]

i would quit or have a big talk with the boss...

 

[jennythebugg]

quit- you are being taken advantage of . they think that just because youve been there on holidays before that you have no life and you will do it again if you dont need the job -quit

 

[1journeyman]

Folks, please remember to watch the language. Also, don't use symbols like "@&*%---" to beat the profanity filter.

 

[tangman99]

You have been some good advice but you move to Camden County and you expected more? Just joking.
Here is my advice from many years of experience in many types of job roles. I say this based on the following:
1. You are being completely honest with no embelishment
2. You really don't need the job right now.
As mentioned, someone has to be in charge you can talk to right now. Preferably someone higher up than your manager not just another manager. I would talk to them and make it very clear that you have worked holidays and overtime and absurd hours without complaint and you have more than paid your dues. You have plans you can not change and you have made every attempt to contact the manager that changed the schedule and did not even have the courtesy of informing you in person that they were scheduling you for the holidays. I would then say that I am officially letting you know that I will not be here and can not work those days and that you need to make arrangements for someone to cover that shift. If there is someway you can follow up with an email so you have proof you told them this up front, they can't accuse you of not showing up to work but you need to do this in person.
Don't take no for an answer. I'm sure they will say it's too late and they will work with on New Years or another holiday. Just tell them with all due respect, you are not asking for Christmas off. You are informing them that you were not scheduled to work, the manager that consistently schedules you for the worst hours changed the schedule and will not return phone calls and if they fail to arrange for someone to work the shift, don't say I did not give you notice.
You know the possible scenarios that can play out from here. I will tell you that firing people is not something companies do a lot of any longer. They just cut your hours to nothing or so low you can't possibly live on the money so you will quit. That way you can't file for unemployment and they don't get hit with it which raises the amount of their unemployment tax they have to pay.
If all works out, I would have a heart to heart with my manager when they get back and make it very clear that you did not appreciate what they did and you both need to come to an understanding. If it is apparant that they are playing favorites, I've never had a problem letting a manager know that I've noticed that but that's just me. Unfortunately a lot of time people are promoted to their level of incompetency and you just can't work with them. In this case you may have to go over their head or find another job. Just the facts of life. I've worked for some real idiot managers before.
Now on the other hand, I've had people I've been responsible for that were doing stuff like this and I did not have a clue until someone professionally brought it to my attention. I didn't jump to conclusions but watched from a distance and asked a few questions. Once I saw it to be true, I took care of the problem immediately by showing them the door unemployment tax be damned.
Good luck

 

[ice4ice]

Gotta learn to play the game ... call in sick. If boss questions you ... tell her you got sick because of lack of sleep due to the schedule she's throwing on you. What's she gonna do ? Write you up ? Let her ... Pffffffft .. that don't mean crap ... all it is is a piece of paper that holds no weight. I used to call in and get written up hundreds of times in my part time job when I was sick. Management are a bunch of idiots anyways and most don't care about the little guys. Wouldn't hurt to put in your request for Christmas Eve & Christams Day off way in advance .... like in September. Sounds like it's too early but it isn't. Trust me on this ... it always worked for me and I was never denied it.