Wish I could have said yes..
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
April 25, 2011 2:00pm CST
For the past couple of weeks I've only been scheduled to work 16 hours. I typically get between 20 and 25, and I know it's not much, but the slight drop does hurt.
Well, last week I ended up getting called in on 2 of my days off. I was not scheduled Thursday, and a girl called me and asked if I'd cover her shift because she wasn't feeling well. I had no problem with that!
Then Saturday my manager called. She wasn't feeling well herself, and wanted to leave 4 hours early. She asked me if I'd come in at 4 so she could leave. So, I picked up another 4 hours.
Today they called again. My manager asked me to work 5-8 tonight. Unfortunately I had to say no. First off, I'm not feeling very good at all today. I am scheduled to work tomorrow so I really need to relax and try to feel better so I don't have to call in and give up scheduled hours!
Second, my son has baseball practice tonight and I don't want to have to scramble to find a way to get him to and from practice if I'm working. I'd also have to scramble to find someone to watch my kids since hubby is back to work after his vacation.
Lastely, I just really felt like I needed a break. I worked 6 days straight last week due to being called in. Granted they're short shifts.. usually no more than 6 hours long.. but yesterday was my first day off (and of course it was Easter so I was busy). I was looking forward to being able to spend today relaxing and doing nothing! So I really had to say no. After today I'm working the next 3 days in a row.. so if I don't take today off I won't get a break till the weekend.. and of course that's not guaranteed because I could be called in then too!
I do feel bad that I had to say no. I definitely want the hours. Also I feel guilty because I did not explain all of my reasons to my manager, I only told her that I couldn't because of my son's baseball practice, that was it. I did not want to mention that I'm sick (because I'm going to try really hard to feel better for tomorrow) and of course I wouldn't tell my boss that I needed a break. So I hope she is understanding and doesn't hold it against me that I said no.
Do you often get called in on your days off? Have you ever had to say no when they've asked you to pick up an extra shift? Do you feel guilty for saying no?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Apr 11
Well in my case it's Monday - Friday, 8 to 5, with occasional night and evening work if needed. So I don't get called in for extra shifts exactly. The last 2 times I was asked to cover something on the weekend, the second time I said yes, and the first time I told my boss I would be out of town, so he got somebody else. I don't get paid for the time though, I'm on salary. I didn't feel guilty the time I said no, as I already had plans.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 Apr 11
I guess that's just me. I hate saying no. Especially when I need the hours, and I tell them everyday how much I need the hours. I'm glad they thought to call me, and I hope that my telling them no doesn't stop them from calling me again next time they need a shift covered.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
25 Apr 11
I"m sure they'll call. It's not as if you said no every time....
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
25 Apr 11
OH I know what you mean. my last job was like that. but originally, id told the elderly lady I could work, 5 days a week, 6 to 8 hrs. Then she started saying she needed me for a couple hrs. on saturday. ok, I went along with that. Then she made me feel sorry for her as on sunday, she said the paper was to heavy for her to go out and carry back in. So, I offered to go when i got up and bring it. But then she said why should she pay me if I just do that and shed really like her coffee put on by 9am and her paper might get stolen after that late. so, i ended up 7 days a week and really started getting sick over no rest. So, the biddy let me go!!
It made the second job Id lost in 1 yr. after working 8 yrs for the first one. I think thats what really got me total depressed that led to getting sick to. you have to have some rest time
otherwise, you will get sick and cant work. they need to understand that. maybe you are getting the bug that kept your boss home. i hope not. 
It made the second job Id lost in 1 yr. after working 8 yrs for the first one. I think thats what really got me total depressed that led to getting sick to. you have to have some rest time otherwise, you will get sick and cant work. they need to understand that. maybe you are getting the bug that kept your boss home. i hope not. 
@GardenGerty (169452)
• United States
25 Apr 11
I did have a job where I got called in all of the time. That is part of what led to my eventual burn out. It is okay to say "no" but we do not like to. You always have a perfect reason, you just say "child care issues" and it is legitimate. You do not have to give all of your reasons for not taking a shift that you were not scheduled for in the first place.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 Apr 11
I know, but I still feel bad and I hope my manager is understanding. I probably should have said child care issues instead of baseball practice, as a practice doesn't seem like a good enough reason not to go into work... but true, I wasn't scheduled so I don't really need a reason to say no.
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
25 Apr 11
Yup.....I used to go in all the time when someone needed me for an extra project..then I learned that life is too short...I said no a couple of times and now they don't ask me...I did feel guilty....but I don't anymore...if they did ask...I could say no without asking. You have the right to say no!
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 Apr 11
Life is definitely too short.. it's too short for me to live the rest of it in debt and in a house I don't like. That's why I'm working.. to fix our situation! That's why I need the hours. But I'm glad I took today off.. I'm just feeling super cruddy.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
25 Apr 11
Yes I do. I have only learnt to say no to Church work in about the past two years as it was affecting my little leisure time and home chores. I became really exhausted. I think that I would have admitted to feeling not 100 percent well and really needed the rest as you were working the next day. They are calling on you a lot though. You must be a great employee. Blessings
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 Apr 11
I'm just happy to get the extra hours and extra money!
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
29 Apr 11
In my old job, there was a time when we had to provide coverage on weekends. We had a weekend shift, and office staff would go on rotation to provide for coverage. Mainly, it was babysitting for the people on the floor.
I had no problems covering the weekends, and other office staff would always ask me if I could cover for them. But the only reason I had no problem with it, and feel bad if I said NO, was that there was overtime pay when you did coverage. I didn't mind the extra money while I surfed the internet for a few hours.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
29 Apr 11
I'd certainly be more hesitant about saying no if I got overtime pay for it. Unfortunately if I get called in I still make my normal pay.. but still.. hours are hours and money is money!
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
26 Apr 11
You have a life to. You cant just fill in for people everytime your asked its just not possible every time. I dont see anything wrong with what you did and I dont think you should feel guilty about it either. I know how you feel though because I remember being the same way when I worked many years back. I was very devoted to that job and usually filled in for anyone that called off.
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
28 Apr 11
I rarely get called in on my days off as I work full time anyways but, I hope your manager doesn't hold it against you as it seems like you do a lot of extra and nearly always when you are asked so I wouldn't feel bad if I was you! Hope you feel better soon though! : )
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
28 Apr 11
When I worked at the hospital as a nursing assistant I was called to see about coming in on at least half of the days that I had scheduled off. At first I always told them that I would do it without hesitation because we could use the extra money. Of course it also meant having less time to spend with Kathryn, who was only a year old at the time. However, after a certain point I got tired of it and I would only tell them that I could come in for partial shifts (4 hours or 8 hours versus full shifts) because I felt like I was being taken advantage of. Then, finally I said no to picking up any all together because on Kathryn's second birthday they called to have me come in as we were walking out the door for her birthday party and I was told that I could get an incidence for saying no on my requested paid holiday off.
@rokudaime (339)
• Australia
26 Apr 11
Personally, if my body can't just take it any more, I won't feel any guilt whatsoever. Because, to begin with, my body is my capital. It would be futile working too hard and in the end my earnings will just go to the hospital bills, doctor's fee and meds. Taking a rest serves as a good indulgence that your body deserves.
Sometimes, we need to say no to save our energy. Although, we could somehow regret the pay that we are supposed to get from the work, it still pays to relax and rest the body.
