Should I Complain?

LegacyUser

I've been having serious problems with my shifts, etc at work lately. I work part-time and am a full-time student in my final year. But recently I've been getting a lot of pressure from my Shift Manager to work more hours during the weekend, etc. He keeps apologising about it, but the problem is we have a new guy from Head Office in our establishment and he's insisting to the shift manager that I'm just being difficult, should be working more, etc.
My Shift Manager came up to me yesterday and said that I should be able to work more because there's a Bank Holiday coming up, as well as Easter. He told me the Head Office bloke told him to give me more shifts because I would have that time off. I already said that I don't have Easter holidays and am too busy with college work to take up any more shifts, which my Shift Manager said he knew, but he had to put me down on the schedule or he'd get into trouble. He said it would be ok and I could just not show up. But that would look bad on my part!
I'm getting really annoyed. I have a thesis to submit in May as well as exams and I do not need to be hastled by some big-headed idiot from Head Office who doesn't even have the guts to face me himself. I feel sorry for my Shift Manager having to play middleman, but I can't agree to anything just so he doesn't get into trouble. I work two days a week during my college year and have done so for the past three years and it has never been a problem until this new guy showed up. I seriously want to complain to Head Offices about this, because it is completely unreasonable. With all this drama I've gotten to the point where I don't even care if I lose my job - in fact it would probably be a relief, and if the Head Office guy ever decides to speak with me directly I'm going to tell him to leave me alone or I'll walk out. I'm sick of it. I don't need it.
Sorry I'm ranting a little, but do you guys think my complaint is reasonable? Should I take it to Head Office? Or are there other things I could do before I go that far? What would you do?

Esoteric_

Firstly, there's a Work Problems forum that might be of more help to you

Anyway, I'd definitely complain about it. You've been on the same shifts for 3 years, so it's clear that you're if not on a written contract, on an assumed contract for those hours. You've made it clear from the beginning of employment that those are the specific days/hours you can work and they accepted them. They can't get rid of you or anything because you stick to your original agreement. If they're that short for staff, they can give me a call jk

Anyway, definitely talk to the head office about it because it'll look terrible on your record if you have a string of "no shows" on your employment record.

LegacyUser

^Yeah it's the 'no shows' I'm worried about most. I already had to take one on Paddy's Day, even though I was going away on holiday that week my Shift Manager was told to put me down on the schedule. That one I can explain pretty easily, since I have proof that I was away. But anything else would look dodgy.
What annoys me the most is that I'm EXPECTED to do things their way. Even though I usually only work two days it's assumed that I'll work on Bank Holidays, etc. I will if I can but right now I just have too much on my plate to start taking up extra shifts.

unreggd

Speak to Head Office asap

The shift manager clearly cant do their job properly, staffing is their responsibility, not yours

Did you sign a contract when you started? Most state "you may have to work overtime with little notice"

slowmoe

The people who can correctly advise you on this are NERA. I would advise phoning them as email can take a long time to get a response from, and i gather you're in a hurry. Afaik your employer cannot force you to do anything above your contracted hours. Do you have a contract? If not, then please mention that to NERA. I suggest if they tell you that you are in the right, ask them where is the info so you can print it off and show your employer. It sounds like some fool has been put in place to improve things and hasn't got much of a clue. Hopefully it will be easy to sort out.

So in short, check with nera, tell your boss what they say, if thismess continues, then file a complaint.

Good luck

foxinsox

Hi there OP

It sounds to me like your Manager isn't very good at his job.

You are a student doing part-time work, I presume that when you were hired you agreed that you were available to work two days a week?

I wouldn't bother complaining (yet), I think you need to just talk to your Manager.

Maybe call in some day when you are off, or else in the last hour of your shift just say to him,
"Have you got a few mins, I need to talk to you please".

Then you say
" I just wanted to remind you that I am only available to work two days a week (insert days)."
" Ok, that's all I wanted to say, better get back to my work, cheers, thanks."
(Make a note of the date and time you have this conversation, just if you need to refer to it)

You do NOT have to explain yourself to him, you could be in bed for the other 5 days, it is none of his business.

I have done rotas for years for up to 60 people, the way it works is the staff give their availability and the Manager works the rotas around that.

If there is a gap in the rota it is up to the Manager to call staff and ask them politely would they be able for another shift, if the staff member says no, that is their choice, then the Manager might try another staff member etc..

Don't be worried about his job, it is his job to manage people not be an ass, and he is probably getting paid very well to do his job..

If you speak to him as I mentioned above and it is still happening then you need to go over his head and speak to HR or his Manager.

Best of Luck

Don't leave your job because the Manager is bad at his job.

johnboysligo

I had a similar problem, silly bitch of a manager worked the roster so I was working 14 days without a break and that was how my shifts looked for months. I complained that its unreasonable to be the only person there working for such a long period without a break as we were not busy and to be honest probably overstaffed. My complaints fell on deaf ears as I said she is a bitch imo.

I quit without honestly trying hard enough to fix things and I do not regret leaving but i do regret leaving without first finding work elsewhere.

The idiot from the head office should know and understand that when you joined the company an agreement was settled upon with regards to your availability to work. You never agreed to work every available hour possible did you?

Uneasy Worker wrote: »

my Shift Manager said he knew, but he had to put me down on the schedule or he'd get into trouble.

not your problem its his, if he is fully aware you cant work those hours and puts you down then he is a total ass unable to manage his workers shifts.

Uneasy Worker wrote: »

He said it would be ok and I could just not show up.

do you have this in writing? i.e. he is on record having told you it was ok to not come in and work the hours he put you down for? If he couldn't tell his boss that you are unable to work extra hours do you think your manager will defend your "no shows" when his boss comes round again?

NicsM

OP, do you have a copy of your contract to hand? This is a common problem with part-time employees who are studying full-time. I've seen it from both sides of the fence as management and now a student again. You have given them your availability and it is wrong and unfair of them to assume you can work beyond that. Do you normally work Mondays? Many managers would assume p/t employees would be delighted to work bank holidays as it's double time but this often isn't the case.

It depends on your contract but you can refuse to work an excessive amount of extra hours. It seems like your shift manager is under pressure from the Head office guy. I would recommend you try and get in touch with him. Clearly explain that you have spoken to the shift manager on numerous occasions about this. If you can't get in touch with him make sure you keep a record of your attempt and then contact head office. Best of luck.

Corruptedmorals

Dig out your contract. Does it state you have to work over a certain amount of hours? Do you have to work a certain amount of days? Does it have a cut-off point of your hours? In my 'part-time' job, we had to work 15 hours and days. Cut-off was 37.5. I worked 25 on average, 5 days. But several part-timers only worked 16, as they were not available due to lectures. Even so, nearly everybody leaves that job in final year. I left just before christmas last year. I can see the guy's point, the first thing most employers want out of part-timers is to give up their weekends forever, but if you have agreed days you can work I don't see his problem. He is probably looking at it in that you don't have lectures then- they really never factor in added workload. If you are within contractual limits by working what you're working, absolutely do not give in or give up the job. Some great suggestions in this thread, best of luck.

LegacyUser

2 days a week is not a lot of work so one or 2 extra is hardly a deal breaker in my opinion. No one has it easy in the current climate so if you want to walk i'm sure there'll be plenty of people just more than happy to jump in. Your manager is not a good manager you never say oh well the big guys upstairs, how does he/she expect people to respect them when they are passing the buck. I'm sorry but I think you're being a diva. What other responsiblities do you have, do you live at home?

ABajaninCork

Girlene wrote: »

2 days a week is not a lot of work so one or 2 extra is hardly a deal breaker in my opinion. No one has it easy in the current climate so if you want to walk i'm sure there'll be plenty of people just more than happy to jump in. Your manager is not a good manager you never say oh well the big guys upstairs, how does he/she expect people to respect them when they are passing the buck. I'm sorry but I think you're being a diva. What other responsiblities do you have, do you live at home?

Did you read the OP???:rolleyes:

LegacyUser

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Did you read the OP???:rolleyes:

Yeah she works 2 days a week during the college year and they are asking her to work more ??? Or did I miss something?

johnboysligo

Girlene wrote: »

Yeah she works 2 days a week during the college year and they are asking her to work more ??? Or did I miss something?

only the fact the op has a mountain of college work to plow though and being asked to work extra days is one thing but having your shift manager just put your name down for extra shifts is another thing

Uneasy Worker wrote: »

I already said that I don't have Easter holidays and am too busy with college work to take up any more shifts

LegacyUser

johnboysligo wrote: »

only the fact the op has a mountain of college work to plow though and being asked to work extra days is one thing but having your shift manager just put your name down for extra shifts is another thing

Well she's been told she's the option to leave. Maybe the guy in the head office is right, maybe she is being difficult. Why can't the OP work a bank holiday when supposedely she would have been in college otherwise. Plenty of people work and go to college and have a load of work to plough through what about those who work full time and have to do all this work part time and go to classes a few times a week. The difference is most people just suck it up and get on with it.

foxinsox

Girlene wrote: »

Well she's been told she's the option to leave. Maybe the guy in the head office is right, maybe she is being difficult. Why can't the OP work a bank holiday when supposedely she would have been in college otherwise. Plenty of people work and go to college and have a load of work to plough through what about those who work full time and have to do all this work part time and go to classes a few times a week. The difference is most people just suck it up and get on with it.

The OP is not being difficult or a diva.

The manager is incapable of doing his job it seems to me.

@OP

I just re-read your post and the part about the no-show..
That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of..
I'm sorry I didn't notice that part on my first reading of it and before my response to you.

I still think you should do as I suggested above but when telling him the days you can work also mention that you are not happy with being marked as a No Show.

Don't get into an discussion with him, just say what you have to say and get back to work.

Keep a note of times that you have been marked as a no show on the rota. Also try jot down dates/times of any comments he makes to you regarding your working hours.

I would so love to meet this Manager..

If you need any help writing a letter to HR if he continues this carry on, I would love to write to them