What do I do?

j1992

I used to love my job. Now I'm starting not do and I hate the fact that I have been driven to being miserable. I really need advice on what I should do. I'll try to keep it really short.

I started working at a retail shop a year ago. I was given a 4 hour contract and promised more in the future. I then changed stores due to getting nowhere and was given a 15 hour contract. Let me clarify I have never done 15 hours. Mostly I do 30+ and occasionally around 22.

A few months ago (without giving any too much information as I fear my employers reading this) our assistant manager was suspended for bullying and we were told they would not be returning at all. My manager promised myself and a colleague bigger contracts with more responsibility. Since losing an assistant manager, you can imagine the workload. I have worked full time (including 6/7 day weeks, 12 hour shifts etc.) and taken on a lot more work, for the same pay with the same contract. Honestly, I have worked my *** off, and the rest of my life has suffered. I haven't seen my family in months, my boyfriend and I hardly do anything together due to no time and I've lost weight from the stress. I did it as I thought I could prove myself and get a bigger contract (I was promised 22.5 or 30 hours)

However, we recently found out that the assistant manager may be coming back (its being kept very quiet and I keep being told different things) I am not particularly bothered as I was not involved in the bullying, however I know it will affect morale as people were bullied. What has got me angry/upset is that my manager has handed in her notice and will be leaving in a few weeks.

I've decided it's time I started being a little selfish and started thinking of myself rather than the company. Do I ask for a bigger contract before she goes, or do I suffer in silence? My fear is that when we have a new manager I will be given just my 15 hours each week and I can't afford to live on that. My outgoings are over £1300 a month and my boyfriend and I need both of our incomes to cover this.

Any advice will be greatly received.

fufu_banterwaite

In short, can't you find a new job?

fiisch

There isn't much you can do you as your employer hasn't done anything wrong. You have agreed the added responsibility on the same contract, and whether or not they re-employ the former assistant is there decision.

That doesn't mean they haven't treated you badly. In all honesty, if an employer treated me like that they wouldn't be my employer for much longer....

Working with added responsibility for the same pay never works out as you'd hope. I've fallen victim to this a couple of times before - if they're going to promote your workload, they should promote your salary too! That said, asking for more money rarely results in the desired outcome.

cavework

Have you been given the oportunity to apply for the managers job?
I think you would be a perfect candidate

j1992

I don't want to apply for another job, and I used to love it and I hope to love it again soon. I've only been with the company a year, and I've worked my way from Christmas Temp to Keyholder/Supervisor already and people get a bit snotty about people who 'overtake' them. And apparently our assistant manager is coming back so there's no 'vacancy'.

Since writing this, my manager has been signed off sick so it's left to us to do everything without a manager or assistant manager (and over Christmas as well which is stressful at the best of times in retail), so surely I deserve something? What's the best way to go about it now?

I'm the kind of person who is more than happy to help anyone out as long as it gets appreciated. I've been told by my other half to be more selfish as otherwise I'll get walked over.

I just need a holiday!