Current Events > Is it ok to tell your employer your availability has changed

(+) Yeah! (+)

In order to get the schedule you want? Kinda a long read but basically I told my manager nearly 2 months ago that I would like different days off going forward (Friday/Saturday) because I have things coming up in the spring/summer time that I want to plan for on those days without needing to request a bunch of time off. I have waited patiently, thinking I was handling things the correct and respectful way. But here we are and not only have I still not gotten the days off that I want but my schedule has kinda been all over the place due to staffing issues.

Ive asked about it a few times since then, and was more or less assured that once they hire a few more people and were fully staffed again I would likely get my requested days off. Well recently one new person was hired for part time and somehow they already have the days off that I asked for because they apparently said in their interview they couldnt work those days. Up until now Ive basically had open availability and put up with whatever days they schedule me to show them that Im reliable, but now Im starting to feel like Im being ignored and taken advantage of.

At this point Im getting tired of doing things the right way and considering just straight up telling them Im not available those days and they can not schedule me if Ive already told them Im unavailable. Should I be worried about any consequences by doing this or am I right to stand up for myself? Like I dont want to come off to my employer as disrespectful or demanding but at the same time I feel that Ive waited long enough for them to make this change, that the respect and loyalty Ive given them should go both ways, and giving someone else the days I asked for hardly seems fair. I also dont want to threaten to quit to try to get my way because I feel that could backfire. Whats the best way to handle this? Thank you in advance to anyone willing to offer their opinion.

You should stand up for yourself and be direct but also make sure you have a couple firm contingency plans in case things fall through and they decide to push you around or gaslight you. And sadly yeah, quitting may have to be an option for you to get what you want elsewhere *shrug*, just be smart about it by not dying on that hill without any plan.

Jagr_68 posted...

You should stand up for yourself and be direct but also make sure you have a couple firm contingency plans in case things fall through and they decide to push you around or gaslight you. And sadly yeah, quitting may have to be an option for you to get what you want elsewhere *shrug*, just be smart about it by not dying on that hill without any plan.

Thank you for your input. Like at first I was kinda thinking worst case scenario and worried about possibly being fired for going that route. But I dont think I should have to worry about that because Im honestly one of the most reliable people they have and dont think they would want to lose me. But also I feel like I have a case to be made that I was told one thing and my manager went back on their word. So clearly nothing will change unless I actually say something.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

I work in a hotel so in a 24/7 environment like that they do definitely like people to have open availability. However a few people, including the new person they just hired, have a second job and can only work certain days, and it seems like their schedule is accommodated to fit their needs. So if I simply say Im not available those days I feel they have no reason to not do the same for me.

I used to have a full-time job in a warehouse. I rarely asked for time off, so when I did, it was for very important reasons.

If I ever got any push back, my response was always "Just so you know, if you schedule me Friday night, I WILL NOT BE THERE. So you have two choices: schedule me on Friday night and be a person short, or accommodate my request and make your life easier."

Euripides posted...

I used to have a full-time job in a warehouse. I rarely asked for time off, so when I did, it was for very important reasons.

If I ever got any push back, my response was always "Just so you know, if you schedule me Friday night, I WILL NOT BE THERE. So you have two choices: schedule me on Friday night and be a person short, or accommodate my request and make your life easier."

The thing is Im already trying to make everyones life easier by asking for these set days off, because they will have to only schedule people they know are able to work, and this way theyll know which days Ill be coming to work rather than having to request time off on a regular basis. So while yes Im mostly thinking about my own needs, I think it also benefits everyone to know when Im willing and unwilling to come in to work.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Thank you. Thats definitely what I needed to hear. I feel a little better about it now.

When I worked retail I had a set schedule of Tuesday and Thursday off, for school. They were probably only fine with that because it meant I was guaranteed to work Fri-Sun though, days most people try to get off.

Well in case anyone cares, I had the talk I needed with my manager and was able to get Saturday/Sunday off for the time being, which was the best they were able to do at the moment, with the assurance that Id get Friday/Saturday as soon as theyre able to hire one more person to help out on weekends. So a bit of a compromise but overall Id say the conversation definitely went in my favor.

A lot definitely depends on what you were hired for. For example, if you were hired for specific days for like a 12-8 shift because thats the position that needed to be filled, you cant just heel-turn and be like oh lol btw, my availability changed and now I can only work different days with the 8-4 shift. A former coworker did that and it caused a lot of unnecessary distress.

rexcrk posted...

A lot definitely depends on what you were hired for. For example, if you were hired for specific days for like a 12-8 shift because thats the position that needed to be filled, you cant just heel-turn and be like oh lol btw, my availability changed and now I can only work different days with the 8-4 shift. A former coworker did that and it caused a lot of unnecessary distress.

Yeah I was hired specifically for 3-11pm shift for hotel front desk, which is a position and industry that can change on a regular basis. I saw other peoples needs at my hotel were being accommodated if they worked multiple jobs or needed certain days to stay home with their kids or something like that, so I simply felt like it was my turn to ask for my needed days off. Thankfully it paid off.

Euripides posted...

If I ever got any push back, my response was always "Just so you know, if you schedule me Friday night, I WILL NOT BE THERE. So you have two choices: schedule me on Friday night and be a person short, or accommodate my request and make your life easier."

This is the correct answer.