Standing up for myself at work in regards to scheduling.

I’m done accommodating my boss in regards to scheduling. I had been trying to be a “team player” and make some personal sacrifices to benefit our office/organization, but that is over now.

Luckily I’m in a union job, so I’ve got some protections. I’m guaranteed a set schedule. Anything outside of my set schedule is either overtime or paid premium from what I understand.

So no more coming in early, taking two lunches a day, and forfeiting hours on Saturday. If my boss forces me to come in early or work my day off, I won’t take an extra lunch or forfeit hours.

This kind of all came to a head yesterday. Driving into work early, I was really over it and considering trying to transfer, but ultimately decided that would be like out of the frying pan and into the fire.

My trainer from my old office was helping our office that morning and when she heard how I was allowing my schedule to be ****** with, she was like nah. She got her manager on the phone to talk sense to me.

The really ****** thing? My boss is getting paid extra and being made to look like some kind of superstar (which they are NOT, lol) because our budget looks phenomenal. All the while practicing their sloppy *** management style.

…And I did it to myself. I agreed to it. I truly am my own worst enemy! So, yeah. I’m just putting this out there because I can be kind of a wuss when it comes to conflict, especially at work…

So 18 days later and it happened. My boss came into work this afternoon and said something to the effect of “How do you feel about working March 1st through the 7th, if I was to be away helping another office?” And I was like “I can do it, but I’m taking the full 8 hours on Saturday.” And they’re like “What brought that on?!” And I was like “I’ve been talking to the union and they advised me not to set the precedent of forfeiting hours.” And as I’m saying this, my boss is making so many faces. It actually went better than I expected, but I did forget to include that I also wouldn’t be taking a second lunch if I’m scheduled to open. To be continued….

Work was so tense today. I kind of wish I hadn’t mentioned talking to the union at all and had just said something like “l’m not able to” when asked if I would work extra, but it’s too late now… Who knows if that would have come to the same result anyway? Ugh. So far the schedule hasn’t been changed yet, but I don’t know if that means anything—my boss is disorganized. Maybe my feelings of disgust will translate into being more honest (within reason!) next time? Ugggh.

I find it's hard to retrain bosses around things like scheduling when we've been accommodating in the past. If you've always been flexible in the past, they'll expect it to continue and they won't change just because you've said no more. In my experience it takes a few times of refusing to work overtime to make it sink in.

Good luck

You’re right. Looking at it from my boss’s perspective, it’s their job to schedule the work, so they will continue to ask me until doomsday. I will get lots of practice saying no. Thank you!

I got into a verbal altercation with my boss about this situation today. I’ll write more later…

I made an appointment with the employee assistance program for counseling.

Might be worth a private conversation with your union, to verify your rights and establish a documentation trail in case things go badly. And do NOT tell your boss about the conversation.

Ok, I’m as ready as I will ever be to rehash what happened this day before I forget too much more…

My manager again brings up me covering the office while they are away helping another office. I had already informed them that I wouldn’t be forfeiting hours on Saturday; that I would work a full eight hours.

At this point, I also inform them I wouldn’t be taking a second lunch; if I’m scheduled to come in early, I will work until my usual scheduled lunch. Things have already been tense between us, and this set it off.

My manager says “I don’t know where this is coming from. I never told you to forfeit hours or take a second lunch.” And I said “Whoa. I know that. I’m not saying you did.”

Then my manager says “I don’t know where this is coming from. I never told you to forfeit hours or take a second lunch.” And I said “Yes, I know that. You just said that.”

Finally, my manager says “I don’t know where this is coming from. I never told you to forfeit hours or take a second lunch." It’s at this point that I lost my temper and I told them where this was coming from.

At least, I think I did? I couldn’t tell you what all I said, I was so enraged it felt like an out of body experience. I was shaking and I felt like I was going to cry, I was so frustrated.

All of my pent up anger and resentment with them burst out. I told them I don’t know why I’m going out of my way to benefit our office/organization when the only “reward” is being stuck with their messes.

I also told them last week is the last time I would agree to work anything that is not my usual schedule. To which they replied “I will schedule you however I want.”

So yeah, things have been and continue to be tense between us. They’ve been giving me the cold shoulder which I’m not mad at. It’s a nice break from the usual verbal diarrhea/uninteresting stories ad nauseum.

We have had a couple of conversations since then, where I thought maybe things were getting better, but then my coworkers have mentioned that the manager is planning on going to another office yet again.

Maybe I won’t be scheduled to come in early or work a Saturday, but who knows? Even if I work my usual schedule, I’m running the office, but being paid as if I’m only doing my job and not theirs too.

I did end up having a phone counseling session with the Employee Assistance Program counselor on March 5th. It was good to get it all out with a counselor.

I do worry that I’m being inauthentic. I’ve been in counseling off and on for 30 years, so I know what counselors want to hear.

The counselor did recommend keeping in touch with my union and also recommended a book to read, which I’ve done both.

They wanted to set a follow up appointment, but I opted not to. We only have a limited number of sessions and I didn’t feel ready yet.

So that’s where I stand with that…

Yes, I’ve been emailing my union. We don’t have a steward in our district, so I’ve been emailing the state president. I’m not mentioning the union at all in my conversations with the manager.

I left a leave request on the manager’s desk yesterday. It’s for 64 hours. I currently have over 246 hours of available annual leave.

One of my younger family members is in the military and their immediate family is wanting to travel to be at an important event.

The family needs someone to pet and house sit. They have several cats and dogs, including one large dog who is a handful.

They asked me to pet and house sit before, but I didn’t want to be away from work and my routine. Now, I think it would be a good thing.

My boss claims to be looking for someone to come in and cover for the time I’ll be off, so my leave request being approved depends on if they’ll be able to find someone. I’m not holding my breath! They are obviously upset. They were slamming around the office this morning and have made excuses to leave for extended periods of time twice. I’m just quietly doing my job. They asked me if I wanted time off because I heard they’d be leaving again. I’m experiencing intense negative emotions. That’s the update for today.

They denied my leave. Of course.