hours cut in half for no apparent reason

[Etbow23]

So I look at my job schedule, and of course, during my final exam week next week, they increase my hours by 7 and give me 27 hours. But the week after that, they gave me 13.5 hours! This is the first time since I've worked at my job that I've had less than 20 hours. I cannot believe this. I am very worried because if they keep my hours cut like this (as I suspect they will, they've been doing it to other people too), I will not be able to pay for my bills.

I don't want to talk to the manager I think I would have to talk to ... * shudder*

I don't know what to do!! Help!!

 

[MikeyC]

You've basically answered your own question. Talk to the manager and find out what's going on. Slashing your hours at such a rate without your consent shouldn't be tolerated.

 

[Etbow23]

You've basically answered your own question. Talk to the manager and find out what's going on. Slashing your hours at such a rate without your consent shouldn't be tolerated.

I know but i really don't want to talk to the one I think I have to talk to. She seems like such a mean type person. Everyone else I know has said that when their hours have been cut, the managers give them the run-around.

I guess I'll try but I don't know what to say. I'll be so nervous.

But to be cut in HALF in one week? Crazy!

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

If you're more comfortable talking to other employees, couldn't you trade hours with them to get less around your exam and more now?

My managers didn't care if we traded hours around as long as someone was there for the shift.
...not so sure if that's how it works but it may be less intimidating to talk to other workers rather than the big scary manager - if it's possible.

 

[Section_31]

This happened to me and others all the time at staples, it all depended on the time of year and how our sales were. If sales were down, our hours got cut. And they would tell us to get sales back up with the time allotted.

Stupid circular games they play.

 

[awkwardamanda]

Yeah, that's the retail biz. If you're part time, you probably haven't signed any agreement saying you're guaranteed a certain number of hours so they can pretty much do what they want. It's pretty random sometimes. You could get five shifts one week, and two the next. Sucks when they bombard you on a week that you're busy with other stuff and then cut you back when you need the money. It's also hard on the staff who are working when hours get cut because fewer people have to try to get the same amount of work done.

 

[MikeyC]

I know but i really don't want to talk to the one I think I have to talk to. She seems like such a mean type person. Everyone else I know has said that when their hours have been cut, the managers give them the run-around.

I guess I'll try but I don't know what to say. I'll be so nervous.

But to be cut in HALF in one week? Crazy!

If it's bothering you enough, you should definitely speak to her, even if she does seem mean. If she ends up biting your head off for asking, she's a terrible manager and shouldn't be working that position.

Next shift you should do it. If you do, let us know how it goes. I'm interested in knowing why you have so little shifts (even though Gunman and Amanda may have alluded to that).

My managers didn't care if we traded hours around as long as someone was there for the shift.

This is generally the same with our bosses, too. As long as we tell them who's there, they generally don't mind.

 

[Etbow23]

Well, I've summoned at least some courage and plan to talk to her (or someone else if she's not there) today. First I'm going to change my availability--for the next month I have winter break so that should appeal them to schedule me more.

I'm just going to try and be calm as possible, and friendly and be like "I know you guys have a lot of people to schedule, but I would really appreciate it if you could schedule me at least 20 hours a week". I'm also going to mention that for the next month I have open availability. Do you think that would work?

In the meantime, I can see if anyone else wants their shifts covered.

Retail world sucks, but hey, at least I have a job. :/

 

[coyote]

in the summer, i have 10-12 people working for me - but we're doing $10-20,000 in business each day

in the winter, i can't afford to have more than one person standing around on the floor doing nothing - business drops to $500 a day (if we're lucky)

it's nothing personal

the hardest part is determining who gets the hours

i obviously want to keep the best workers

the best way to get more hours is to make yourself invaluable to your boss

 

[Thelema]

If you bring it up, she's more likely to cut the hours of the person that didn't!

 

[Remus]

Is it seasonal work? If not, I'd suspect redundancies soon, the recession is starting to bite. Make yourself invaluable.

 

[Etbow23]

in the summer, i have 10-12 people working for me - but we're doing $10-20,000 in business each day

in the winter, i can't afford to have more than one person standing around on the floor doing nothing - business drops to $500 a day (if we're lucky)

it's nothing personal

the hardest part is determining who gets the hours

i obviously want to keep the best workers

the best way to get more hours is to make yourself invaluable to your boss

I guess-but where I work, they give the seasonal people all these hours and us year-round people, like myself, who have never stolen for as long as we have worked (two seasonal people were already fired as far as I know because of theft), who have done well with customers, who have been loyal, who have dealt with turnover scheduling and all the rest, who have opened many credit cards - our hours get cut because of their over - hiring?
Literally every person I work with now is some new person I don't even know.

"Invaluable"--hm, retail employees are never invaluable. They are considered disposable assets, as you learn in any economics class.

I've always have done what I can--I work in such a large facility ( a big box store) however, that my efforts usually go unnoticed.

If you hire people, you can't just cut their hours like that and expect them to be able to survive. And it is personal, my car could be repossessed for this. I understand it's business, but it's not right. I'm sorry, I can't agree with you.

I'm not asking for much; just not for my hours to be cut in half in the course of one week.

 

[coyote]

^i'm not saying that what they're doing is right

do you have an employment contract?

check it out and see if you are guaranteed a certain number of hours

if so - take a copy to your boss



i'm glad i don't work in the corporate big-box environment

my employees are not disposable - they are my most valuable asset, and i treat them as such

but i am running a business

we make it clear to all our employees that there won't be enough hours for everyone during the off-season - it's up to them to be prepared for that

 

[Etbow23]

^i'm not saying that what they're doing is right

do you have an employment contract?

check it out and see if you are guaranteed a certain number of hours

if so - take a copy to your boss



i'm glad i don't work in the corporate big-box environment

my employees are not disposable - they are my most valuable asset, and i treat them as such

but i am running a business

we make it clear to all our employees that there won't be enough hours for everyone during the off-season - it's up to them to be prepared for that

hey coyote,
no, I'm just a part-time employee, so I don't have any contract . The reason they're doing this is because my availability is has three unavailable days because I'm a college student. But I'm open availability four days, including the weekend! I opened it up for the winter break, and am just praying they give me more after that 13 hour week and don't cut me when i go back to school.
What bothers me is that unlike you do with your employees, there was no warning at all. When I asked for the manager who does scheduling, the HR person gave me some ridiculous flier about "guest optimal scheduling" which basically says if you don't have completely open availability, you're screwed. What bothered me is that the flier said that this starts in January, but they cut my hours in december?
All I can say is, if this goes on, I really will have to start job-searching. I've done everything right--never missed a day, come late or anything. I got a good 90 day review. But if they don't reciprocate my needs, I guess I'll just have to move on. If I can :/
I'm just trying to stay on good terms with everyone here so I can get another job easily in the future.

The manager I need to talk to isn't in 'til Monday. I just hope they give me more hours because I opened my availability.

 

[Richey]

sign up for agency work if you can and nominate which days, and hours you are available, look them up in your area. also take whatever you can get, its all just money and business anyway no matter what you do, so think of it that way.