So i've been working now (after 5 years unemployed) for about 8 months, just stacking shelves, i wouldn't say i enjoy it, but there is no stress as it's an evening shift and so there is no customers and noise etc.
I have been promised full time work doing overnights, which i have been pleased about, and last night got a chance to meet the new boss......
He introduced himself, and for the most part he seemed perfectly fine towards me, had a conversation etc.
I had a particularly difficult trio of cages to put out, really small fiddly things and so it took me longer than normal to put out, i was struggling, and so i finally got finished 15mins after i was supposed to finish my shift.
I said to him "is it okay to grab my stuff" he said yeah but can you help us with this pallet? I said "i'd like go home if thats okay", very politely.
Being on benefits i am only allowed to work my contracted hours, and it's not like i haven't helped people out in the past, i have stayed on many times for free and changed my hours round to suit everybody else.
Nobody ever helps me down my aisles, he knew i was struggling and nobody helped, nobody ever does, then all of a sudden he wants me to help him along with other people to finish a pallet. Like i said, i said id like to go home.
He looked me in the like i've been a naughty boy and said "i suppose" now i'm not gonna be spoken to like a child, im 30 years old. I'm not gonna be made to feel like i've done something wrong.
On the way out i tried to make light conversation but didn't really wanna know, i said goodbye to him and he blanked me, i know he heard me because he looked straight at me. I'm not gonna be made to feel guilty about going home after i had done my contracted hours, i have helped out no end of times in that place, all the management have been pleased with my work, i've never had any trouble.
But this new guy, you know when you have a gut feeling about something? I just got a feeling he's gonna be an arse to work with if i do the overnights, when i walked back out on to the shop floor to find him, i saw other members of staff who do various shifts staring at me from the distance.
I'm thinking of finding part time work else where in the day time and continuing my evening shift.
I feel really **** right now, i've already cut over it, i don't want to do the overnights anymore if he is gonna be in charge because i just know he's gonna make things difficult for me. I'm really annoyed. I've had no trouble and have never felt like this the whole time i've been there.
So i think 2 part time jobs is the way to go.
Has anybody else been in this position?
I feel like a complete waste of space atm and feel very sad about my working outlook. I keep thinking am i just gonna be stuck stacking shelves till im 65, i don't want that. Ive tried doing OU courses but i just cant do em, i'm not a very academic person.
Sorry if this is a pointless post, just had to write it down, any opinions? thought's?
Honestly? I can see why he may have been a little off with you. I think in every working environment there are times when people have to stay late and work a bit later when they don't really feel like it. You said 'him and other people', so there were others who were helping with the pallet as well and didn't go home?
I really don't think you should judge him or make any decisions just yet. One minor incident on a shift does not give you a full account of him or his managerial skills or style.
Re the working situation in general. I think you should be proud of yourself for holding down a job after five years out of work and take some baby steps. Maybe you are not academic, but what about trying an apprenticeship or something like that in an area that interests you?
The other people who were working i think we're doing overnights, so they didn't finish at midnight anyway. Normally i do stay for a bit if it is needed, but last night i felt rather depressed and pee'd off and just wanted to get out of there as soon as i could.
I do judge people rather quickly, i try not to, it's only when i've calmed down and looked at the situation again i re-evaluate. He's not back now until he has finished his training, so if i do go full time overnights, i won't see him until i start in a few months. I'm not sure what to do, i'm trying to put it down to just a bad night, on my part, but i'm just annoyed by his "talking down" look he gave me, which i didn't like one bit. Hopefully he may have forgotten the incident when i see him next.
I'm a hard worker, i do my best all the time and i'm not one for skiving or taking short cuts, i always listen and do what the manager wants, whoever it is, and now i feel crap for saying what i wanted to him, i was within my right to leave. If i see him again i could always explain my actions, or maybe let it be, hmm what would you do?
I am pleased for holding down a job, despite struggling at times and resorting to s/h at work which i know is not a good thing to do.
Hi there.
I believe you were well within your rights to leave, and you did so politely. Also, he should be well aware of your contracted hours and your working situation so to avoid you having to ask to leave and go home.
It's unfair for employers and bosses to request overtime in situations where they know how it will affect the individual.
It's unfair because it puts the individual in a position where they are forced to say no.
However, I do understand you doing overtime for free, changing shifts for others etc. I am in a situation where I'm so desparate to keep my job in these times that I say yes to swapping shifts, weekends and overtime even though it's an inconvenience to my personal life.
When I have had to say no to a request, I feel guilty and like they're judging my standards.
As you asked the question if you should explain your actions or just let it be, my response is to leave it for now but to keep a work diary every shift. After each shift just make bullet points about what you've done, also make a note of tasks that took you a long time, if anyone helped you, if you helped someone else, any key daily tasks, and any overtime.
This way, if it's ever brought up in the future or anyone questions your work you have a log of everything.
You could also make a note of any difficult situations with your boss or other colleagues so if you're repeatedly asked to stay you have a record of the amount of times its happened.
Hope this helps you out at all. Stay strong and good luck.
Kits
Hi there.
I believe you were well within your rights to leave, and you did so politely. Also, he should be well aware of your contracted hours and your working situation so to avoid you having to ask to leave and go home.
It's unfair for employers and bosses to request overtime in situations where they know how it will affect the individual.
It's unfair because it puts the individual in a position where they are forced to say no.
However, I do understand you doing overtime for free, changing shifts for others etc. I am in a situation where I'm so desparate to keep my job in these times that I say yes to swapping shifts, weekends and overtime even though it's an inconvenience to my personal life.
When I have had to say no to a request, I feel guilty and like they're judging my standards.
As you asked the question if you should explain your actions or just let it be, my response is to leave it for now but to keep a work diary every shift. After each shift just make bullet points about what you've done, also make a note of tasks that took you a long time, if anyone helped you, if you helped someone else, any key daily tasks, and any overtime.
This way, if it's ever brought up in the future or anyone questions your work you have a log of everything.
You could also make a note of any difficult situations with your boss or other colleagues so if you're repeatedly asked to stay you have a record of the amount of times its happened.
Hope this helps you out at all. Stay strong and good luck.
Kits
^^ This.
I'm sorry you're finding things tough right now. xx
"Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there's a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living."
I spoke to my friend and she said i was within my rights also and urged me not to give up going full time as i would encounter situations like this in almost any job.
