Job taking me for a ride??

wicklowgal

I have been working part time for a company for 4 years. Recently I've had my hours reduced (over Christmas) because my boss has hired a trainee in for the Christmas period and doesn't feel she needs me as much (I have always got more hours over Christmas). This particular trainee is paid a set amount a week for full time work, which is fair lower than I would be paid, and even far lower than minimum wage.

My question is, what are my rights in this instance? I don't have a contract but feel that after 4 years I should have some rights to those extra hours. I would have worked probably full time every Christmas up until this Christmas. She has merely hired in cheaper labour. I love my current job but I feel I've been taken for a bit of a ride in that she just hired in cheaper labour instead of being loyal to her current employees. I understand that it's a recession and that cut backs need to be made but I feel let down and used. The good news is I have an interview tomorrow for a similiar job with a different company, however I don't know how to go about the 'why are you leaving your current job?' question? It may sound stupid but do I tell them the truth? I love my co-workers and up until recently got on great with my boss but I can't allow myself to be used like this anymore.

I should probably stress that this is not the first time my boss has done this to me. She hired a different trainee before and cut my hours, but when the trainee fell through, she came crawling back to me and I got my hours back. I looked for another job when that happened but couldn't find anything else, so had to stay where I was.

Sorry for the long thread but I would appreciate any advice on the situation.

tatli_lokma

firstly let me start by saying that I do sympathise - we all like to have extra cash for Christmas if possible, and when you have come to almost expect this then it is hard to accept when it is not offered....
BUT......
on the other hand, I think you need to be a bit realistic! we are in a recession, and businesses are doing anything possible to reduce outgoings in an attempt to continue operating. I understand that this is not ideal for you, but by lowering outgoings your boss is possibly helping to save your job and your wages.

As you said, this extra money is not guaranteed or contracted to you - you have no entitlement to this overtime. So I think it is a bit petty that on the basis of this you are looking for a job elsewhere. you say you have been there 4 years, love the people you work with etc etc and yet are willing to leave because you didn't get overtime which you are not entitled to, but because you always got in the past you feel like you should be entitled to it??? sorry, but I don't get it?! I don't see from your post how you are being used? being used would be for your boss to get you to do the extra work for no extra recompense, or getting you to train the new staff and then paying them more than you, or if the trainee caused more work for you rather than helping..........

Your boss could very well take on trainees regularly, cut your hours or wages etc etc - they didn't do this, they simply made a more commercially viable decision to get staff for less outgoings for a short period of time - I can't blame them. Its a pain for you, but understandable. Lots of us have lost annual bonuses, O/T pay, and hardly any companies are giving Christmas bonuses any more. We all appreciate that it is an unfortunate pay off - but if it means the difference between having a job or not most of us have grudgingly accepted that it must be done.

I think your approach is wrong - if you have an issue it would be more beneficial to your working relationship with your boss to have a honest chat with them, saying whilst you do understand financially why the trainee was taken on, you would like to make the boss aware that after 4 years you had come to rely upon the O/T and particularly in the current situation. Point out that you understand the situation, but if at all possible you would be very willing to still offer your services over the next week if there is any possibility of extra hours - stress how much this extra income would benefit you, and subtly remind your boss that you would be worth the wages as you know your job and can be relied upon.

In the current market, showing a lack of team spirit, or a sense of hardship because you didn't get O/T would not be a great way to go.
I know you have another interview, but there is no guarantee of a job, and most places will still put you on a probationary period - not as secure as being in a company for 4 years! Furthermore, you like where you are and you have no guarantee how things will pan out if you got the new job - they may very well never offer O/T etc.
You need to weigh up if this is really all that important in the big picture.