"My new Manager continually messes up everyone's schedules and books me to work days I have marked as not available..."

Dear Office-Politics,

I work in a retail store in a mall. The store closes at 9 pm and some employees are scheduled to clean and restock till 10pm. I've worked at this company 15 months part time. Every two weeks the part time employees submit a document stating which days/hours they ARE available to work and the company schedule is made up using these considerations. Since I am a full time psychology student I never work on Tuesday, Wed. or Thurs. Also, as my employer is very well aware, I have Bible classes on Thursday evenings after school therefore I have never requested that day/evening to work. I have never had a problem with the schedule or any of the employees or managers. However, one month ago a new manager was hired at our store. While it is not her job to do the time scheduling, she has decided to do it anyhow, and to be kind let's just say it is NOT one of her strengths. She continually messes up everyone's schedules and schedules me to work days and hours I have clearly marked as not available. Sometimes, rather than having to approach her because of another mistake she has made in scheduling me I simply make adjustments when and if I can.

The new manager and all the employees are aware that I go to Bible classes several times a week and are very respectful of my choice. Therefore I NEVER EVER work Thursday evenings or Sunday mornings even if I am on semester break, as I am now. No one has ever even questioned it. The new manager seems to like me so she continually schedules me to *close* the store with her (no one likes to *close* as it involves a LOT more work than dealing with customers - and no one likes the new manager who has some obvious personality quirks, so they hate being scheduled to close with her specifically). While I try to be adaptable when I can, the new manager has gotten into the habit of scheduling me to work on nights I have not agreed to work on. If she would just look at my schedule when she is making up the entire schedule, she wouldn\'t have this problem. It's as if she doesn\'t *get it* and doesn't consider the bi weekly work requests schedules each part time employee submits!!!! Still, I can put up with all that. My problem is that she has scheduled me to *close* with her next Thursday evening. I brought it to her attention that I do NOT work on Thursday evenings because of my Bible classes. She said fine... then I will simply have to come in AFTER the class, at 11:00 PM and work until 3:00AM with her to do the year end restocking.

My question is: Can the manager do this? Can she make me come in, when I'm not full time and have never scheduled myself to work not just Thursday night, but worse, graveyard? I hate to use my *religion* as an excuse to not show up but honestly, after a religious class my mind is spent and exhausted. My parents are NOT happy about this arrangement since the mall that I work at has had many abductions or assaults in the parking lot at night. I'm not sure how to handle this situation so I would like to ask your advice. Thank you.

Dead beat, or beat dead...

Dear Dead beat, or beat dead...,

You've written a persuasive letter and explained your situation very clearly. Assuming that you are just as clear when you're speaking to your Manager, it's mind-boggling and frustrating that she has ignored your requests. You seem to pose the question as though there might be a legal course of action to take, e.g. Your Manager is doing something which is against labor laws. And while that may be true, fighting it in the legal system would occupy a lot of your time and your money, for little gain.

So, I think you have 2 options. One is to take action and fight for your rights. The other is to put up with this abuse. It's easy for me to tell you to go over her head, and write to Head Office about your problem (her Management skills). But I'm not going to lose my job -- and you might (not because you're wrong, but because as the Manager, she has more power than you). Is this a battle you really want to fight? Can you afford to lose the part-time job?

It sounds like you have a good relationship with your parent's. Why not sit down with them and go through the pros and cons of this dilemma?

If I was in your situation, I wouldn't think twice about complaining to Head Office. I would just do it because it is the right thing to do. But you have to be prepared for the consequences -- you may be looking for a job real soon. On the upside, Head Office may just take a closer look at you, and say, "This guy is Management material. He's well-spoken, he's got a sense of what's right and wrong. He's not afraid to stand up for himself. We should promote him..."

But you never know. You could just as easily lose your job. So be careful. But do go forward with courage.

Let me know how it works out. Thanks for writing to Office-Politics.

Franke James
Co-creator, Office-Politics Game
www.officepolitics.com

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