Learning to Say No and Establishing Boundaries
By YoghurtGal
@flapiz (24326)
United Kingdom
October 16, 2026 4:04pm CST
I will be working 6 days this week albeit the part time hours. And my only day of is today Friday. I made plans and appointments today since it is the only day off.
Early in the morning, I got a call from the scheduler asking if I could help them out for one hour today. I could’ve easily said yes but then I also need my day off. I stopped myself from being a yes man and said no. It’s my only day off of the week and I want to establish boundaries early in this job so they don’t keep expecting me to say yes all the time.
I already took an extra shift this week to help them out. They should find another alternative. It did not feel good to say no, but I am proud of myself for not being a pushover.
7 people like this
6 responses
@Orson_Kart (8845)
• United Kingdom
19h
It sounds like a terrible job you have taken on there my friend. When the push in the country is to work less days not more, they seem to want to own you. Part-time or not, you should be getting two days off a week, preferably consecutive days. Well done for saying no, and don’t feel bad about it. They don’t care about you.
2 people like this
@flapiz (24326)
• United Kingdom
19h
During the initial talks they said weekend work is a must but alternately and there will always be 2 days off per week so I was a bit shocked when I received the rota and I had 6 days of work but I did suck it up because I did not want to be difficult.
I took this job to do less work and hence the massive pay difference. I am paid only half of my usual hourly wage. But I said to myself it is alright so long as I can have more time with family and can contribute to society but they want me to work like a slave for peanuts. This early on in the game as well. I could’ve easily said yes but if I did I feel like they would keep asking me to work on my day of as if they own me. I think I need to keep searching isn’t it?
2 people like this
@flapiz (24326)
• United Kingdom
18h
@Orson_Kart True. I will keep my eye out for more suitable jobs. When I said part time hours I was expecting better rota to be honest. They cannot work me to the bone like a full timer otherwise it defeats the purpose. I said to them money is not my priority but work life balance on my interview. What can they not understand about that.
If they will work me all day I might as well work somewhere I get paid better.
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8845)
• United Kingdom
18h
@flapiz They are obviously desperate for staff, so will put upon any willing worker. You are a professional and deserve much better. I hope you can find a more suitable job soon. It’s not good for your mental wellbeing, especially getting paid peanuts.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (125877)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20h
Smart move to say no when you need to say no.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (125877)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13h
@flapiz It is a good idea since you and I are not real life made of iron.
1 person likes this
@flapiz (24326)
• United Kingdom
7h
@Deepizzaguy Exactly we aren’t robots we need rest. The fact that he called me knowing it’s my only day off of the week is crazy.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (42099)
• Philippines
19h
For nurses, who are often asked to work overtime, saying "no" can be difficult, as the urgency of the request may feel like abandoning patients in need. However, being human, nurses also need rest and must sometimes refuse extra shifts to care for their own well-being. This is something I’ve observed in my sister’s experience as a nurse on duty.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (101421)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19h
Always helps greatly to take priority and set yp neccessary boundaries,
2 people like this
@flapiz (24326)
• United Kingdom
7h
Yes indeed I am taking the pay cut to be able to enjoy part time hours but it seems like I am getting low pay and they are stretching me to my limit.
