New job - some niggles with manager

catkins

I am enjoying my new job but have had a few problems with the manager.

The main problem is the rota. Despite saying there will always be a 4 week rota in the staffroom, she keeps only putting up a new rota a couple of days before it starts.

I work part time and my days and hours change every week and only knowing what I am doing a day or so beforehand is driving me mad.

She also changes the rota at the drop of a hat. The week before Christmas she changed one of my days from 8-12 to 1-7. I only found this out 2 days beforehand. I had actually made arrangements to meet friends from abroad that evening (she knew that) and had to cancel as by the time I would have got to where they were staying it would have been too late. It was the only evening they and me and OH could make so we didn't get to see them.

Their Christmas party was the day in question and she changed her hours so he could leave early to go home and get changed. If she had originally set the rota with the hours for me and her it would have been fine.

Yesterday I got in to work to find she had changed the rota on Friday (I wasn't in) and my finish time had been changed from 3 to 6. I did not have any plans but I still was not very happy. She has my mobile number so could have sent me a text to tell me my hours had changed.

The manager was not in yesterday so I couldn't say anything to her. I did tell the assistant manager but his answer was just that he has nothing to do with the rotas.

Other staff have had their rotas changed at short notice but don't seem bothered by it. There are only 3 others and they are much younger than me and have no real work experience

Also when I had my interview I was told my days and hours would be different each week which I was fine with but I specifically asked if I would be working every Saturday as I do not want to. She told me that leading up to Christmas I would have to work every Saturday but after I wouldn't. The rota for January though has me working a full day 8.30-5.30 every Saturday.

I will be speaking to her about that this coming week but have a feeling she is going to go back on what she told me.

I hate any sort of conflict and do not want to issue an ultimatum but I am not prepared to work every Saturday. I also do not want my rota changing at the last minute as me and OH quite often make plans for things like concerts, theatre, cinema etc.

She has never been a manager before and is pretty disorganised not just with staff but with certain things on the shop floor. She has been manager for 8 months so I guess she may improve!

The main other problem I have is that ever since I started the heating on the shopfloor and in the staff room hasn't worked. She does nothing about it. Whenever anyone mentions it she just shrugs. Needless to say there is heating in her office where she spends a great part of the day.

Our uniform is a pretty thin blouse or shirt for the men. Everyone else though has a sweatshirt which they wear over the shirt/ blouse. She originally told me she had ordered me one with my uniform but I got the uniform within 3 days and weeks later no sweatshirt. She now says there are none as they were just a "one off for all existing staff"! Can't see that being true.

The till is right by the big double doors which have to open all the time and it is freezing. I spend most of my working hours on the till and I get frozen. I do wear a thin top under my blouse (can't get anything thicker under it) but it doesn't make much difference.

I am now thinking that although I like the job because I am not happy with the manager's attitude and if I do have to work every Saturday I will seriously think about leaving. I will probably give it till May/June time and see what happens in that time.

Has anyone got any thoughts or ideas?

zoe321

i would put up with it for a bit and in the meantime look for another job asap....

zoe321

may june is quite far....what experience do you have?

catkins

zoe321 wrote: »

may june is quite far....what experience do you have?

To be honest, I would probably stay till then to save my wages and then stop working.

I had not worked for a couple years before getting this job which was my choice. I am lucky that my OH has quite a good job so I did not need to work but felt that I wanted to get out of the house more, use my brain more and we wanted to save some extra money.

I am in my 60's so really do not want to carry on working somewhere I am not happy if I don't need to.

Also I have a suspicion I may have trouble booking the holiday time I want so may well be easier just to leave beforehand

annandale

Do you have a contract? Does it say anything about your working hours?
Are you in a union? Can you swap a shift?

Nicki

In employment terms, your manager sounds a nightmare.

However if you otherwise enjoy your job, this may help with the lack of sweatshirt.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jasmine-Ladies-Round-Thermal-Medium/dp/B00GOFNRBE/ref=sr_1_3?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1483893569&sr=1-3&keywords=silk+long+sleeve+vest

I've got a few of these which I wear when it snows or is very frosty, and they are really good, and extremely thin.

zoe321

i thought a general cardigan was allowed? in my office there is a uniform but people wear cardigans different colours all the time

all the best darling. these forums are good if you need help with looking for advice on how to get a new job.

xapprenticex

Stay and look for work at the same time, try to leave on good terms, if you need a reference. there will be no problem

Serendipitious

The JML Magic Layer thermal long sleeve top is good and is as lightweight as a pair of tights.

Wearing extra socks might help too if you are standing in a draught for a long time.

But tills by doors are horrendous - as a customer muffled up in fleece and scarf, I have often commented to staff on how cold it must be for them in such draughty areas.

Make sure you take your holidays before the end of the company's leave year, though, if it runs April to March. I know they'll have to pay you anything that's due when you leave but I think that's only from the current holiday year in which you leave.

custardy

you have the rota for all of January, yet its only up week by week?

getmore4less

if you do't need the job just push back gently on changes and proactively on the time you want off.
a more assertive approach will either work or find you out.

whats the company policy on rotas?
Know this inside out so you can back up any disputes if it goes over your managers head.

pick a last minute change and just say no can do got something on.
Give a list of availability in advance(pick a sat to not be available) with plenty of time to cover your hours.

Get your holiday request in now so you can plan your resignation if they don't approve it.