Bummed About Work

whodunit · #1 09/28/11, 12:27 AM

For about a year I've had a part-time job in addition to my full-time one. I was part of the first crew they hired. I was initially working at least 16 hours a week. I was kind of the "go to" guy since I really needed the money. I lost sleep, worked up to 60+ hour weeks, turned down overtime at my main job, and sometimes took comp time off my main job to cover shifts at the part-time job.

Later, they hired more people and I watched my hours drop. It was temporary, but it still dropped. Then they hired yet again.

Still later, while still being the "go to" guy willing to work as much as I could, I started getting 24 hours a week very consistently, so I was pretty happy, albeit tired from working so much.

Suddenly three weeks, the supervisor was told to cut total hours by one-third. I watched my shifts go from three a week to one a week. I'm not great at math, but that's a two-third reduction.

Others who have been there less time than me now have more hours than me.

I directly told the supervisor that as hours were cut, he should give preference to the crew he started with. I told him it was nothing personal but that was my feelings on it. I also told him I would accept his decision and never mention it again. he was good about it and seemed to appreciate my being upfront.

Last week, I was sent the schedule and I was happy to see that I had two shifts this week. Tonight I come in and find out that one of my shifts was taken away.

I have a couple other irons in the fire (job opportunities) and am tempted to just quit as both a statement and in order to make time to the develop the other opportunities.

What say you? Am I being sensitive or is the supervisor making a statement of some kind?

Bearfootfarm · #2 09/28/11, 05:07 AM

Quote:

What say you?

I'd be looking for something better

pcwerk · #3 09/28/11, 07:41 AM

i wouldnt quit until i found something else. "statements" always fall
on deaf ears in the business world...good luck!

copperkid3 · #4 09/28/11, 08:03 AM

That they don't appreciate your committment and sacrifice ......exactly WHY is it that you are
putting up with this crap??? I'd be looking at those other opportunities asap and once in place,
put in your notice. At that point, you can let them know why you're leaving. Probably
won't make much difference to them, but it will make you feel good......maybe.

You do know, that life isn't all about working don't you......take some time to enjoy it.

anniew · #5 09/28/11, 10:24 AM

Maybe with two part time jobs, you'll pick up the three shifts in total. Quitting based on a new job whose security you don't know yet is not a good idea. Even if you quit, it'd be better to quit on good terms in case the second part time job that you go to falls through in the future...so that you'd have a chance of getting back to the first one, even if with limited hours/shifts.

HDRider · #6 09/28/11, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

I'd be looking for something better

Agree

jkhs · #7 09/28/11, 01:00 PM

Not that this isn't really cruddy for you, but could it be possible that the supervisor is giving the extra hours to people who don't have another job? It may be that management thinks that since you already work a full time job that maybe you wouldn't feel "the pinch" of reduced hours as significantly as someone who is only working one job. That said, I agree with everyone else that if you have other job opportunities that now may be a good time to start pursueing them.

OkieDavid · #8 09/28/11, 01:44 PM

Your boss is not responsible for your happiness, you are...... IF your current boss isn't making you happy you have to dust off your britches and find one that does. Life is too short to work at a place that doesn't provide some level of happiness.

SCRancher · #9 09/28/11, 01:52 PM

Find something else then turn in your notice.
No need to tell anyone off - just tell them why in a very professional manor if asked.

No need to burn bridges you may one day need to cross again!

whodunit · #10 09/29/11, 07:47 AM

I think some of it is that others don't have two jobs, but it's the minority. The others are retired (several from from government jobs, so they have pensions) or semi-retired, but most of the other have second jobs. Even if that's the case, I need the job as much as they do. Is it the supervisor's job to decide who needs the work the most?

I've never been one to quit in a huff and burn bridges. But what might happen is that I have to bail on the second job because my first job needs me. There have been numerous times where I was offered overtime at my first job (which pays more than the second), but because I made a commitment to the second job, I didn't take it. I think that will have to change due to simple economics. I figure when that happens, the supervisor will be ----ed because he has already mentioned he is having a hard time filling the shifts due to not having enough people. Of course that makes no sense because I am willing to work more. Likely what is happening is that the ones he wants to work more have days off requested.

Anyway, I am definitely working on developing other sources of income. If anything, the whole thing just underscores that I will never get anywhere financially depending on others' whims.

willow_girl · #11 09/29/11, 08:38 AM

Are the new folks earning less per hour than you are? That would explain the preference.

Ruralnurse · #12 09/29/11, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OkieDavid

Your boss is not responsible for your happiness, you are...... IF your current boss isn't making you happy you have to dust off your britches and find one that does. Life is too short to work at a place that doesn't provide some level of happiness.

This....

I was very similar and worked for an organization (hospital) and gave way more than others. I got into a new position (went from being an RN in the hospital to a NP in the clinic). They made me all kinds of promises. And I waited for a year and spoke to them about it too. They figured I lived in this remote small town, had kids in school, was a single parent with no other income, and owned a home so I would never leave. They were busy making others happy that they thought might leave.

I found another job and went from walking 90 seconds to my job to driving 150 miles round trip. But I am valued, appreciated and treated well where I am now. I am so glad I left.

You have to like where you work or you will be miserable. And feeling undervalued is miserable. I would talk to your superviser in private and let him/her know that this is not working for you. You do not have to threaten to quit, but let them know you are unhappy. If there is a reason that is beyond his/her control you may find out. But that way when you find another position you have done your part in letting them know ahead of time that you are not happy.

Ruralnurse

suzyhomemaker09 · #13 09/29/11, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

Are the new folks earning less per hour than you are? That would explain the preference.

Egads...growing up in a factory town i saw that sort of thing in action a lot.....
Senior employees that had had colas for years...working full time were suddenly shifted to all sorts of strange schedules...split shifts...and all manner of madness...all designed to force them to quit so the companies could hire minimum wage employees to replace them.

whodunit · #14 09/29/11, 03:14 PM

We're all making the same (except for the supervisor, who of course KEPT every one of his hours). I'm not what I would exactly call "miserable"; it's extremely easy work for the money. It's mostly a financial thing. I depend on this money even though I don't want to. There is just so much I can cut from my budget. I told him before the hours were cut that I needed to keep my 24 hours a week. When the hours were cut and two of my three shifts went away, I told him how I felt about that. He told me that from that point on I could expect "no more than two shifts a week". So, I am not sure what more I can say. I'm not the whiney type (at least to my boss). I guess what happens, happens. I gave him forewarning, so if I have to make a decision that affects him negatively, he really can't complain. I'll just talk to him about "sacrifice" just like he did me when I was exahusted from working so much and such odd hours.

texican · #15 10/01/11, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whodunit

Is it the supervisor's job to decide who needs the work the most?

If anything, the whole thing just underscores that I will never get anywhere financially depending on others' whims.

Of course it's the supervisor's job... who's else would it be?

Your absolutely right, working for someone else will always put you at their mercy. Folks don't go into a business, to support their employees lifestyles, schedules, vacations, insurance needs, whims in general... they go into it to make money, so that their lifestyle, schedule, vacations, insurance, whims can be met. By acknowledging this, you're halfway there. Whatever your doing... is there any money in it for the owner? If it's mental work and not manufacturing, any reason you can't set up your own shop? and start?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruralnurse

This....

I found another job and went from walking 90 seconds to my job to driving 150 miles round trip. But I am valued, appreciated and treated well where I am now. I am so glad I left.

You have to like where you work or you will be miserable.

Ruralnurse

Dang, I'd need an extra $20/hour for my services if I traveled that far. Clients don't mind if it's a one day job, but sure they'd balk at paying me that much more 'every' day.

I'm sorry, I'll have to disagree about misery and happiness. Work is to make money. If you are wanting happiness, volunteer with your favorite group/charity. This is why they call it 'work'... when your doing something that you'd rather not be doing. Otherwise, the golf courses and fishing holes would be crowded 24/7/365 with folks getting paid to have fun.

Disclaimer: I actually worked for over a decade at a job that I would have done for free, or even paid for. Those jobs are rare.

Question to all those that like their job.... Do you do the same thing on your days off? Do you go back to work, and just work for free? Do you go in on your Saturdays and just hang out? Do you decline to be paid for O/T?

The only 'happiness' I'm concerned with, is at the end of the week, did I make a sack full of money?

I'm somewhat happy with my job (own business). I make great money, can work at home most of the time, on the computer, and not have to dress up. 95% of my clients have no idea what I look like... Reading old documents sure as heck beats manuel labore.

willow_girl · #16 10/01/11, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Question to all those that like their job.... Do you do the same thing on your days off? Do you go back to work, and just work for free? Do you go in on your Saturdays and just hang out? Do you decline to be paid for O/T?

Don't tell my bosses but I would probably milk cows for free. As it is, I buy the culls and spend all my spare time and money taking care of them! Living the dream here ... LOL.

willow_girl · #17 10/01/11, 01:24 PM

Quote:

We're all making the same (except for the supervisor, who of course KEPT every one of his hours). I'm not what I would exactly call "miserable"; it's extremely easy work for the money. It's mostly a financial thing. I depend on this money even though I don't want to. There is just so much I can cut from my budget. I told him before the hours were cut that I needed to keep my 24 hours a week. When the hours were cut and two of my three shifts went away, I told him how I felt about that. He told me that from that point on I could expect "no more than two shifts a week". So, I am not sure what more I can say.

There is nothing more you can say. Your mistake is apparently believing that your employer ought to care about your needs or budget. That's not his job. His job is to get the work done efficiently for the lowest possible price. It's up to you to take care of your needs. There is nothing wrong with asking to be accommodated, but if your boss declines to cooperate, the solution is to find a different job (or suck it up and accept the situation if you can't find something more to your liking).

gunseller · #18 10/02/11, 10:12 AM

Have you ever thought that even though you are the go to guy your boss just does not like you. I have seen it done many time to get people that are not liked to quite. You may be too good for boss and he might feel changled by you.
Steve

texican · #19 10/05/11, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willow_girl

Don't tell my bosses but I would probably milk cows for free. As it is, I buy the culls and spend all my spare time and money taking care of them! Living the dream here ... LOL.

You gotta admit you're a rare bird, right? And I mean that in a good way!

snoozy · #20 10/05/11, 11:05 AM

You have a full time job elsewhere? What are you complaining about? And maybe they notice that you are tired, stressed or unavailable at times? As an employer, I was extremely reluctant to cut back the hours of people who had no other means of support: it does go into the equation.