Should I put in my 2 weeks?

[flutes_and_fabric]

This is a venting post. Too make a long story short, work sucks, should I quit? If you feel like it go ahead and read the rest. I think it was more for me to kind of lay out everything that's been going on, but it may be amusing for you

So, I had somewhat of a breakdown last shift. I told my manager months ago that this was my last year in college and I'm going to be student teaching, thus I can only work 1 or 2 days a week, 3 if there's an emergency. First off, I was put on 6 days in a row during midterms. I have a lot of days I asked off for meetings dealing with my major, concerts, recitals, or performances, etc. Most of those have been ignored, even though I turned them in 2 months before the semester even started. There were some I starred, that I absolutely could not miss and they scheduled me for two of those. Each time I luckily found someone to fill in.

Then last shift I walked in and checked the schedule. Me, and four people I didn't know, and the manager. I searched for the manager, trying to figure out what was going on. Couldn't find her. Called another manager. Apparently the MOD had to go pick up her daughter and they thought it would be ok to leave me in charge, she should be back in an hour.

So the 4 people? All new, all on their first day. And as everyone well knows it's Halloween tonight. The week before Halloween is terrible. I had lines of 30 at all times, and 4 people to keep an eye on. I put 2 on the register, 2 on cutting counter, and then I ran between them. It was terrible, and the manager never did show up. Closing comes around pretty quickly (the only good thing about being busy) and I got everyone out the door and started the girls on the closing routine. Trash, sweep, vacuum, remnants, fabric away, returns away, tuck fabric and trims, make stuff pretty, it's a lot. And with no manager that means I have to close out the register. Luckily I know one of the manager's codes. I call and get the safe number. They'll have to change all the numbers later, but that's their fault. I tried to call the MOD 6 times and couldn't get through, and the other was on vacation. I also had to get the code for the alarm. I called around so many times, but couldn't get any help. Of course I go out into the front and stuff is everywhere because the girls didn't know where some stuff went and just made it up.

I finally got everyone out at 11. I live an hour away, and had a 7 am class the next morning (which was why I was only on the schedule till 9)

Of coarse I never got an apology and there were no consequences for the manager. It sucked.

Then my dad had an emergency, had to go to the hospital, and needed someone to watch him. I called in thinking it would be no problem to get off (and it was still 2 days before my shift). Nope, they didn't want to give me off because she didn't want to be left alone with the new girls. I had to resort to blackmail, threatening to call district about leaving the store unattended. That worked. But I shouldn't of had to do that, I've been there over a year and a half. I've never missed a shift without finding a replacement.

Next semester I can only work 1 day at the most, but based on this semester I don't know if they'll stick to that. I'm thinking of putting in my 2 weeks soon. I'd like to have that pocket money, but I'd also like my sanity.

Oh, also, I have fucked up hands. My fingers bend backwards, I can't straighten them, and they always hurt. Of coarse I chose to play the flute. With my recital coming up I've been practicing a lot, and my fingers have really been hurting. When I was cutting fabric last week my hand completely froze up. I couldn't move it for an hour. That completely freaked me out. This is my future. So I asked to be put on register. My manager (the one I like) agrees, yet even though everyone knows I'm constantly being called up to the cutting counter. And customers don't care that my hands are in pain and I don't even have the strength to work the scissors. They just want to get out of there. I've been using a rotary cutter, but got in trouble for it because it's not "regulation." A CW (whom I absolutely hate, she's the kind of person that takes an hour to help one person or will disappear and make you do her work) complained about me not cutting. She said she was older and achy too. I asked, were you diagnosed with arthritis? No? Do you have constant pain? No? Oh yeah, do you practice flute 5 hours a day? No? Are you going to be playing music as your future? No, you're stuck here. I had to go get a doctor's note. Isn't that stupid?

Sorry about the long rant, I just had to vent.

[Nurian]

If you can survive, I say go. If you have to blackmail someone just to get time off, they obviously don't care.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Sounds like it's not worth it to keep working there...

And the manager should be fired. Frankly, if I were you, I wouldn't have bothered worrying about how things looked at the end of the night. I'd have told the newbies to do their best, taken care of the money, and left.

If you do decide to stay, and you have a list of days you need off again, put the list in writing, have the manager sign it and keep a copy. Then if they schedule you for those days, remind them that you have the authorization in writing. It shouldn't be your responsibility to find someone to cover the shift if they have already authorized for you to have the day off. When I moved back from PA and went back to the bookstore part-time, I told them before I even started that I couldn't work the Saturday after Thanksgiving, because I was going to be at a wedding. Of course, she scheduled me to close, and I reminded her that I had already told her I couldn't work, and she changed the schedule herself.

That said, if you don't need the money, I'd leave. If you do need the money, start looking for another job. The good thing about the holidays is a lot of retail will be hiring soon. (I may be biased, but bookstores are usually good places for a part time job, especially if you like to read. )

[tinamarble88]

Aw I'm sorry you have to go through these things at work. I'm thinking of quitting, but the only thing is stopping me is the money.

[Naaman]

How easy is it to get another job?

If it's hard then a craptastic job is still better than nothing

[Aethian]

One, about your hands there are exercises for the fingers that our flute players used. One got them from their doctor that are for people with wrist problems. So ask your doctor or a nurse, if you have a med part in your school ask one of those professors. If those fail, try a med supply store.

Two, The management there is starting to be a joke. Time to call corporate on their asses.

Three, your sanity is more important then stories to us. You know the college libraries almost always need pages and they have to work around your schedule, could try there if it's just pocket money thats needed.

Best of luck to you Babe.

[crashhelmet]

As a fellow musician and a former H.S. Music teacher, I can tell you that you are approaching the most important part of your education. Everything you learned in class up to this point was just a "Here are a few things that might help you do your job" lesson. Your internship is where you're made or broken.

With that said, put your future first. If music is what you want your future to be, ditch the job you have and get something that will be better for you in all aspects. Believe me, the kids you're going to deal with are going to make some of your worst SCs seem enjoyable. You don't want the added stress.

CH

[South Texan]

I agree with those before me. You need to think about yourself and what you have been working to achieve.

The store's managers are and will continue to think only about themselves and how their careers are going - meaning their scheduling will be whatever works for them and keeps the store running. You are of value only because you can do your job well. Sadly, that is the nature of most businesses. That you have other goals and ambitions really means nothing to them even though they may be friendly and seem interested in what you are doing.

You cannot let your loyalty (admirable though it is) get in the way of your future and all you have worked for. If you can afford to quit now, I say you should do it as soon as possible.

[MaggieTheCat]

I say leave while you can. School is much more important than a part-time retail job right now, especially if you're going to be interning. That's your whole future; the job is just a few bucks in your pocket. Even if you need the money to make rent, try to find some other way you can get by for a while during your most important semester(s) of college.

Also, regarding management, I would so not stand for that BS. If you're feeling nice, politely remind them that you had given them LONG in advance a list of days you needed off and that you won't be in on those days, even if they schedule you for them. If you're not feeling nice, don't tell them. Just don't show up. When they ask where you were, tell them to consult the schedule you gave them 3 months ago or whenever it was. And regarding closing by yourself? Yeah, I so would have called corporate about that, regardless of whether you needed to blackmail the manager or not to get a day off. That is ridiculous. I would probably still call corporate now for everything they've put you through.

Start documenting! Write down every day they schedule you to work that you already told them you can't, every time the managers ditch, etc. etc. You could really go out with a bang if you wanted to, whenever you do decide to quit.

Of course, I'm in a vindictive mood right now and the above suggestions will more than likely burn a lot of bridges, especially with that particular store, if not with the whole company, so if you want a chance to be re-hired with them, you may want to disregard some of the stuff I said. Which is perfectly okay.

[Teskeria]

Definitely leave them. If you can get another job, do so. If you can get by without one, leave asap and then look for another where they will respect you. When the managers are making you do THIER work, because they dont want to be bothered, or they want to do something else, then you need to leave. You are not getting a managers pay. Ypu should not be doing a managers job. when a manager can't be there, another manager is supposed to cover, not a regular employee. Definitely contact corporate (in a nice way if you need to keep options open) and let them know what is going on.

[flutes_and_fabric]

One, about your hands there are exercises for the fingers that our flute players used. One got them from their doctor that are for people with wrist problems. So ask your doctor or a nurse, if you have a med part in your school ask one of those professors. If those fail, try a med supply store..

Best of luck to you Babe.

I know the exercises they're probably using. I wouldn't have survived this long without lots of work. My fingers are very fast, but not strong at all. I haven't been able to open a soda bottle...ever hehe. Thanks for the well wishing ^^

As a fellow musician and a former H.S. Music teacher, I can tell you that you are approaching the most important part of your education. Everything you learned in class up to this point was just a "Here are a few things that might help you do your job" lesson. Your internship is where you're made or broken.

With that said, put your future first. If music is what you want your future to be, ditch the job you have and get something that will be better for you in all aspects. Believe me, the kids you're going to deal with are going to make some of your worst SCs seem enjoyable. You don't want the added stress.

CH

The school I'm at now does not have a very good reputation at all. Most of the kids have been really good to me so far, though I don't know how that will last once a few more week's have gone by and they get used to me. The "leader" really likes me because I helped him with a trumpet problem he's never been able to fix, so I think he told the kids to be nice to me. I'm the only one that was placed in a worse off school, but for now it's not too bad. Just a few fights. Now, being left alone with the kids, no idea how things would go, but I think it's a good experience for me.

[depechemodefan]

I would quit. It won't get better. Once people (like that MOD) start doing wrong things, they will keep it up. There will be more days where the MOD is taking time off, even if you talk to corp.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Clearly, your future is in music and not at the craft store, and you're entering a crucial part of your education, so I vote you give your two weeks.

[Refkeila]

If it were me, personally, I wouldn't even give 2 weeks AND I would call corporate/whoever's higher than the manager and send a formal complaint in writing about how management treats the job.

[Mnemjian]

That's really terrible. It made me angry to read that! I wouldn't count on them "allowing" you to work only one day a week next semester. I'd say forget about it. You'll have more time to study and work. If it's a money issue then try to get federal grant or even just a student loan is better than having to put up with that BS at work. How dare they take advantage of you like that, really. They should really treat you better and if they don't then screw em