Asking for more hours?

fiwen30

I started a new part time job 2 weeks ago, in a small hobby/homeward chain. Absolutely love the job, management, and staff.

I am employed on an 8 hour contract, but was verbally informed during the interview that it would be 8 hours minimum, and that the position would require someone who could flex up to around 25 hours/week. It has been my experience of small-hour contracts in previous companies, that one never worked those small hours, and was always on 20-30 hours/week. I thought the hours would increase after initial training, but the weekly rotas till the end of the month still have me and the other new start on our 8 hours.

Now, I took the job because I was desperate for employment - on 1 salary, my partner and I currently have more outgoing than incoming. In order to break even on our budget and make up that shortfall, I have to work at least 12 hours/week, minimum.

We have 11 staff members - 2 management & 1 visual merchandiser on full time contracts (38+ hours), 3 key holders (1 on 25 hours, 2 part-time on around 12 hours), and 4 general staff (all part-time, 8/9 hours, myself included). There tends to be 3 staff members working each day, with an overlap in the afternoon where there might be 4 people working, and maybe going down to 2 at closing time.

The 2 part-time key holders and 1 of the general staff are in education, presumably starting back in the following couple of weeks. 1 general staff member has 2 other part-time jobs. The 3rd general staff member started at the same time as I did, on the same 8 hour contract.

I suppose my question is, how would it look for a new employee to be requesting additional hours? Rude? Keen? Desperate? Grasping? Enthusiastic?

As I said, I really do love this working environment, and in the current climate I know I’m very lucky to have been hired at all, but the hard truth is that we can’t make ends meet with me only on 8 hours.

I’ve been able to pick up a couple of extra shifts from other staff who needed cover, but I can’t rely on that. We were also all told in a training meeting the other day that hours would be ramping up towards Christmas, but so far there’s not been as much ‘ramping’ as I would’ve expected, and so I’m dubious as to what these ‘big-hours’ will actually be.

So, I would like to be working the >8 hours that I was told during interview would certainly happen. But I don’t know if it’s appropriate for me to ask for that? Or if asking would be detrimental at all? I love this job, and I would love to be working my needed 12 hours +more there; but at the same time, if this position isn’t going to provide the hours that I need, then I have to start looking for a second job, or something with more contracted hours. Thoughts?

Dox

Rather a long post for a very simple question with a simple answer: ask. You don't need to 'request' extra hours, simply say how much you are enjoying the job and would love to work more hours if you are needed.

TELLIT01

Simply say you are loving the job and would be more than happy to do additional hours if they are available.  The employer may want to check on the standard of your work for a bit longer before deciding whether to keep you on, let alone give extra hours.