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Working only weekends... :/
I currently have a job that I LOVE. It is very fast paced and can be stressful but I get to work with animals and I love it. I've been there nearly 1 year, (started mid last June) I was hired part time and worked some weekends, some week days. When it came to September, I was going back to school and could only work weekends. I went to school Mon-Fri and then worked Sat and Sun 9-5. Now that summer holidays started, (1 month ago) I am free for any shifts, not JUST weekends.. I told my manager this and she said ok great, but has still only scheduled me on weekends with maybe one or two week days... I am married and my husband works Monday-Friday.. so it somewhat sucks when I'm at home all week, then when he is off for the weekend I'm off to work. He sometimes just takes "sick" days so we can have one day off together. We can never make plans to go visit family, or go away and do something for the weekend.
I am wanting to speak with my manager about getting some weekends off, even just one Saturday or one Sunday once in a while, but I have always found her somewhat intimidating (And I'm also a huge pushover..) and I never get around to asking her because I'm nervous, which I know is stupid!
I don't think I'm being unreasonable by wanting some weekends off here and there. Right now I have a request in to take a weekend off in a few weeks and I'm nervous about that, lol. (It would be my first weekend off in over 9 months) I just get so worried that my work will be upset, or tell me no, or whatever. My husband keeps encouraging me to talk with her and that the worst they can say is no, it's not like I'm getting fired lol.
I don't mean to complain, I know a lot of families have schedules where it's hard to see each other unfortunately, but I just wanted some extra encouragement to speak with my manager!
Re: Working only weekends... :/
It's tough. I used to work for a branch bank and due to my DH's schedule, I would volunteer to be the banker on staff on Saturdays. It worked for us and I would have off Mondays instead and worked Tuesday - Saturday.
As a result my co-workers, although, great, got accustomed to never having to work Saturdays, which was awesome for them.
Toward the end of my employment before I went on maternity leave and then eventually stopped working outside the home altogether, there were several weeks in the spring where I needed Saturdays off.
I was definitely hard to ask for it. I felt guilty. But the key is that I had specific dates to request off.
If you will be returning to classes in the fall (and it sounds like it), plot out the weekends you want off now and provide the manager with a list. But also give an offering of other times you can work and provide options like, "if I cannot have this weekend, then I want this weekend."
With a plan in place I'd find it hard to believe after all the weekends off you've provided your co-workers that they cannot come through for you.
Don't be afraid. You have a reasonably request. Just make it specific.
I agree with the above, go in with a few dates and ask for a specific day off. Also, maybe really go up to your co-workers and ask if you can maybe switch shifts with them. See if you can possibly take their Monday for your Saturday. That still gives them Sun./Monday off and you a day off in the middle.
Your husband is right, all she can do is say no! But, work with really trying to find a way to help out and show you care about her, and your co-workers and try and go a little above and beyond for them. Once you do that, they too will be more willing to help you out on your weekends!
Good luck! You'll find a way to make it all work!
It's hard to work part time and need certain days off. Of course you feel guilty, but shouldn't. I like the idea of seeing if you can switch with a coworker ahead of time.
As a part time employee you don't get paid vacations. It's natural that on occasion you will need a couple of days off, even though you have 5 days "off" every week. My daughter works in retail and has a varied schedule, but when she needs a certain day off because of a family event or something like that, they are always willing to accomodate her.
I also agree it's a good idea if they do say "no", that you ask if there are alternative weekend dates they may be able to accomodate?
Good luck.
Thanks so much ladies!! I never really thought of asking for specific weekends off throughout the summer. That is a good idea, I think I'll talk some weekends over with my husband and see what we come up with. Even just one weekend a month, I'd be happy.
And like some of you said, it's true, I do feel guilty. I do get like 4-5 days "off" during the week so it makes me feel like I don't deserve a weekend.. but at the same time, on these days off I'm just cleaning the house or not really doing much of anything. It's the weekend when my husband is home that we would have the opportunity to drive home to see family or make plans for a weekend getaway.
Thanks everyone for your support!