Work Problem - Again

I swear, this new job is just causing me more stress than my last one! I am so worried about making a good impression, but I feel like I'm not.

The reason I say this is because NO ONE wants to take their shift at work. Two to three days don't go by without someone saying "Hey, I need you to cover my shift". No one wants to work. I did call into my old job a lot but they are making me look better. I would call in like, 2-3 times a month. That's bad but them asking weekly and daily is horrible. Even I know that's not a good thing.

But, it works out, because if someone can cover for them, nothing happens. They just get less hours.

But, it's starting to effect me. They always ask me first. I assume because I am new, but my life does not revolve around work. I am a college student. I have classes, I have homework and I have a social life I need to keep up with.

If I have plans I cannot break, I will not just drop everything I am doing to go and cover for them, because they don't want to go (or another situation, where this girl keeps asking for someone to cover for her for things that she knew about BEFORE the schedule was made, so she should have told our boss to not schedule her those days).

I do take shifts when I can, even though it just turns out no one needed htem covered because they just don't want to go. But it's making me not want to take their shifts anymore. I have a life, as I said. But I worry with how much I have to say no, it's going to make me look really bad.

My boss called me yesterday, but I was gone the whole day ice skating for my sister's birthday today. I told her I couldn't, and someone that morning asked me to take his shift as well. I had to tell them both no. I wasn't about to go "Hey, let's cut your birthday celebration short so I can go to work". My sister even said she would have been really upset if I had decided to go to work instead of spending time with her on her birthday.

But again, I worry that I'm going to make myself look horrible. I don't want to look bad, I want them to think I"m a good employee.

I just feel horrible.

hi there

i don't think you should worry that turning down other folks shifts makes you look bad. a good employee, which you want to be, shows up on time for their own shifts and does a good job of them and covers when they can for GENUINE staffing problems/emergencies.

i think it's fine to draw the line between being a good employee and being walked all over and, due to the amount of stress it's giving you, maybe talk to a line manager/supervisor etc?

Showing up for your shifts is what is important. You can not work every time someone asks you to. If you are concerned about what your Boss thinks... ask your boss. You are going to make yourself sick constantly being worried about your job, this isn't a career for you, this is a "job" do your best, show up when you are scheduled work and be pleasant.

Hope things get easier for you

Thank you! I hadn't thought of it like that before... I show up to all my shifts, except for one recently, because I had a fever and you're not allowed into work unless 24 goes by fever free. Dx But I got someone to cover for me, so it was all good. But I do show up to all my shifts and cover when I can...

I worked at a place like that before. New people and students were asked first because they usually had less scheduled hours so it was easiest to get them to say yes or avoid conflicts in the schedule. That's all it ever was and most of the time, unless a trade or shift give away was happening the manager never even knew.

But really, you're working at some job while going to school. Why do you care if your boss likes you or if you're doing a good job? It isn't career related is it? Just show up. Do the minimum and you will get glowing reviews and references because even the lifers don't do that much. And the student thing, there's hope for you so your manager won't screw you over when you ask for a reference when you get a better offer.

I am not happy. I got asked by my boss to come in early today when they don't even need anyone to come in early. I can't even come in until half an hour before my scheduled shift anyways, due to being sick and having classes today. They don't need me that early, so I don't get it at all. It's making me rather upset. But, I at least don't have to work again until Friday after today. But I have homework to do tonight.

Here's the thing I know for a fact about retail/fast food jobs. Have only as much loyalty for them as you need to keep your job for as long as you need it. They have 0 loyalty for you. Those low level jobs are the hardest. They work you like a dog, and then spit you out.

Don't let the other staff walk on you. If you can't take a shift, you can't take a shift. If you can't come in early due to class, then you can't. Class is more important because it will lead to your career. Be a good employee but say no when you need to or you'll burn out and that will effect your school. You don't want to be trapped working retail/fast food forever.

I don't work retail or fast food, but thank you.

Okay, so, I'm back to being upset and worried about this again. My boss is really unhappy when it comes to things like this. She hung up on me the night before last night because I couldn't come in at the time she wanted, then she hung up on my friend after telling her off about wanting her to be more available then hung up on her after that.

So I don't know what to do. Dx

Sounds like a terrible boss.

Its not your fault you have a boss who doesn't have great hiring skills and makes it easy for people to switch work hours.

Oh, sorry. Those are the only jobs I know of that make you ask someone to cover a shift. I didn't mean anything by it.

It's okay, I work at a nursing home. :3 Thanks. :3