am I the bad guy here or am I right to be irritated?

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

hey guys. just looking for some feedback. I've been feeling kinda weird about this and I'm looking for some other perspectives.

I work about 5 days a week, but it's part time so it's like 25 hours a week. I'm still living at home so it's not a big deal but I really want a full time job because I'm going to be on my own in a few months. I haven't had a lot of luck because the job market here isn't great. to help pay the bills I asked my boss for more hours (like 6-7 a day instead of 5) but she told me she can't because other people have seniority and they don't want to work more so if she gives me more it'll look bad. I think that's mostly bullshit but I don't think it's her decision anyway (probably the owner's). so I need more hours. problem is, I do already work 5 days a week and I RARELY get 2 days in a row off, even less so do I get a weekend off. even if I'm only working 5 hours, working a 4-9 or 5-10 closing shift followed by a 10-3 or 12-5 the next day kinda wrecks my day anyway. the problem is, I'll work like 8 days in a row (my days off are randomly placed so it happens a lot) have a day off and then have to work another 3 days before I get 1 more day off. as a result I get very protective of it when I DO get 2 or 3 days off (maybe once a month). I actually have the weekend off for once (friday too). the problem is I told them I had plans and wouldn't be available for extra shifts until monday (I have monday off too but I don't need 4 days off) but they keep calling me every day to fill a shift anyway. I'm kind of annoyed because they KNOW I never get a weekend off and they KNOW I told them I don't feel like working this weekend. I did turn down a closing shift yesterday because I thought I was going to be doing something (those plans got scotched last minute) but I had at least left it open. I got called again today for an afternoon shift even though they know I told them I was unavailable. but at the same time I did ask them for more hours, so am I right to feel annoyed?

[triplethreatmark]

I think you should suck it up and just go to work if they're offering you more shifts. I'm not trying to sound like I dick when I say that, by the way.

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

Jan 11, 2014 12:34:29 GMT -5 triplethreatmark said:

I think you should suck it up and just go to work if they're offering you more shifts. I'm not trying to sound like I dick when I say that, by the way.

that's not the point though. it's not that I'm unhappy about going to work. I'm available on monday. I'm just irritated that they're bugging me when I told them I wasn't available. re-read my post.

[Viva]

No, you're not really right to be irritated. Letting it irritate you is stupid. They're calling you to cover shifts on your day off. Say no. You don't HAVE to go fill in. It might look bad if you don't, but that's your day off, and it's your right to keep it if you'd like.

Maybe if you didn't let them know before hand that you wanted more hours would this be a thing. But you did. So they're calling you with more hours. They aren't trying to take advantage of your good nature or anything. They're just asking you if you can come in. If you don't want to, don't. But don't let it irritate you.

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

thanks. and triplethreatmark I'm sorry if it sounded like I snapped at you. I guess my first post could've been worded better.

[Legion]

Feeling irritated is only natural really, they are bugging you on your day off, whether you asked for extra hours or not, if you've said you were not available and they are still calling, that's just rude. After all, you might not be able because you have a funeral or something.

On saying that, unless you actually have something to do, go to work and get some extra money. Extra money is always good and if your day off plan was to sit on your ass, you may as well put off doing that to get some cash...

[Amazing Kitsune]

Shouldn't feel irritated--but it's obviously OK and understandable if you do. They shouldn't have called you when you said you were unavailable, but at the same time they could be looking at it like they're doing you a favor--since you wanted more hours.

Also, when you're short staffed you'll call anybody you can in order to fill the shift, regardless of their availability. Some people would have come in right away, even if they had said they were unavailable. I know I would have--and that's not an "I'm a super-employee" statement or anything--some people are just really bad at saying "no" when it comes to work.

[Manute Bol]

You went from complaining about needing more hours to complaining about them giving you hours that you don't want or like. I guess you're not in that big of a hurry to move out of your parents house after all. If you want more hours and want to make some cash, then get over it and go to work. If you'd rather just make excuses about why you're a victim and can't get out of your parents house, then carry on as is.

Also, consider using paragraphs when you write. That was really annoying to read.

[Juice]

My wife and I both work 13 to 16 hours a day all hours of the day. We have a 4 year old and just found out another is non the way. I honestly quit reading after the rarely do you get two days off in a row or weekends. Based on that statement aLone i wouldn't offer you more hours either you dont sound like a good worker. This is the real world and the real job market you want weekends off time travel back to the 50s otherwise suck it up dude. And earn more hours by proving your worth giving them to.

[Red Impact]

Unless you physically can't be in, like being out of town, then you probably should work the hours. If you don't have anything to do, and you're turning down hours even on rare weekends off, it looks like you didn't really want the hours in the first place.

[Juice]

Having finished reading the op I'm out ragged a little. Don't expect to be offered any extra hours ever again

[No Longer a Produceman]

Having previously been in a management position, I've had numerous people tell me that they wanted more hours when shifts were cut back. When a shift would open up and I'd offer it to them, unless there's some sort of major emergency, if they didn't take it I'd never offer them hours again.

If you ask for more work, you need to be willing to take that extra work regardless of what day/time it may be. Managers HATE IT when people complain about lack of hours then turn around and refuse hours offered to them. If you want more work you cannot pick and choose.

When I first started my current job, I took any shift they threw my way. Didn't matter if I had plans. Everyone in my life at the time knew I had to work as much as possible to support myself. I believe because I was so willing to work whenever/wherever that I was made full time only 2 years at my current job (been there for 11 and counting).

TL;DR you can't have it both ways. Either take the hours or don't bother asking. Simple as that.

[mizerable]

Seniority is a bitch to deal with, especially when you're capable of doing better than them. Either find a better job, or do absolutely everything you can to win them over, which means working any time they need you. Being a dependable worker will eventually mean that seniority won't mean shit, or won't mean as much because management will eventually get rid of anyone who isn't dependable.

It sometimes takes forever, but once you have that opportunity open up, it goes a long ways. My current job, I had to bust my ass for 2 years, sometimes working 6 days a week at over 50 hours before I got a nice cushy position that allowed for me to have more freedom in what I did or when I worked.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

I get it, you want more hours when it's convenient for you but don't actually want the hours they ask you to fill.

Yeah, if I were you're boss, I'd just put you on the "skip his name, he'll say no anyway, so there's no sense following seniority and just call a person who actually wants hours".

[Glitch]

You have every right to be irritated. You are asking for more hours in your currents shifts, but instead they hand you more of the short shifts. Technically they're not given what you want.
Everybody should grateful for getting work, but everybody has a breaking point.

[Deleted]

I get it, since you told them specifically you wouldn't be available for the days they called you. Had you not said anything, but then got annoyed that they asked you to work extra shifts, I'd say you've got nothing to be irritated about.

Either way, just say no if you can't make it, don't let it bother you.

[AFN: Judge Shred]

It should have just been you saying "Thanks for thinking of me, but I can't right now" Followed by you thinking "hey, they came to me in a jam, they must value me".

The only reason to be irritated is if you told them "I am going to a funeral" and then they call during the service and you were the jackass who left his phone on.

Next time you go in, ask if they got it covered, then apologize that you were preoccupied and wished you could have helped.

[Piccolo]

I wouldn't be annoyed. You asked for extra hours, and now they're thinking of you when they have extra hours to give. Maybe you can't make them this time, and that's fine, but it's fine for them to ask and for you to give a polite apology saying that you made plans today that you can't cancel, but you hope they'll continue thinking of you when they have some hours that need to be covered.

Just remember, although you still live at home, the world are not your parents. They don't keep close tabs on what you're doing or when you don't want to be bothered, or spend any great amount of time thinking about how to most conveniently and correctly fulfill your requests. They probably just have it noted down to call you if they have extra hours since you've stated that you want them and they can't just extend your existing shifts due to seniority problems... ie, you're someone who's likely to say yes to them if they ask.

Think about it that way, and I don't think you'll be as annoyed.

[Deleted]

Wow. Loads of bad advice being given here.

I was in an interesting position that you might appreciate OP. I was working for an Italian Pizza restaurant in Sydney back in 2005. 6 days a week, sometimes 7. Split shift as well. 4 hours shifts that would almost always go over 4 hours lol. Because the job was in the CBD and I lived in western Sydney I didn't have 1 hour to go home and another hour to come back. It was rough, but what was worse was my pay. $300 per week AUS (the owner hired me as a trainee so he could get me cheap. NOt his fault Hospitality in AUS is in the toilet) which at the time was $150 US.

I had just enough to pay rent and bills. I had to eat cheap meals and could never afford to go anywhere. It come to a head one day when a friends BF said "Doesn't it bother you that your working while serving everyone else having fun?" The final straw. I quit the job the next day and have never quit a job in my life. Best desicion ever.

But I then put in the work. I looked for a better job and studied at night and after a lot of pride swallowing and 1 day crappy temp jobs I got it! $1000 a week and no weekends ever with American Express....Till my cronic depression (I didn't realize I had) overwelmed me and here I am ....Finally getting over it and am skilled and ready to get back out there.

The point is that you are in a bad situation. They say the job market sucks, well they always say that. Good jobs are out there, you are just going to have to do the work. If it means moving, then move. I traveled 2 hours each way to work in the past. Its no big deal. If you lack skills, take night classes like I did and get the skills.

Good Luck.

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

it's worth noting that I am looking for a better job, I just haven't had any luck yet. as for getting past seniority, it's not going to happen because of the union.