Needing serious advice =/

I work at the worst job ever: McDonald's.  Whatever.. I get by.

Well, they cut my 20 or so hours down to 10 hours when everyone else besides me is getting 20-30 hours (the part time people).  I have all along expressed my need for 20+ hours, and they neglect that.  I have talked to the general manager as well as the manager who creates the schedule, and neither of them seem to budge on my hours.

This week I had to call in sick because I was.. well, sick.  I was vomiting, having other flu-like symptoms, and was having really strange pains all over my body, I guess somewhat like an achyness.. I feel about 75% better today, but not 100% better.  And I felt horrible about it, but I didn't want to take a risk of getting others sick (though maybe I'd get more hours).. but I just felt like I needed to keep my integrity and just do the right thing by not going in even though I desperately need those hours.

What is the next step you suggest I take?  Should I talk to the owner?  Should I cry and beg?  Should I go in next time and vomit all over the counter?  I am so lost.  I have been applying non-stop at other places.. the issue is, I live in a college town (if any of you are from San Diego, I live in Mission Valley.. all the kids from SDSU, UCSD, USD, City College, and a bunch of other schools live here), so there aren't many part time job openings, and I'm a full-time student, so I can't try to find a "real job" at this point.  I literally apply to 5-6 jobs a week now that I only work 10 hours a week.. but honestly, soon I'm not going to be able to fill up my gas tank to even get to work with that few hours. 

Help!

I'd say you've done the right thing so far but you can't force them to give you hours so that being said...i would talk to the owner about possibly getting more hours and instead of calling in sick next time go in and let them send you home so that you don't look like a flake and at least you're on the clock for a little while. since they already cut your hours it's best not to look unreliable even if you are legitimately sick. 

That's probably a good idea.  I was thinking of going in, but honestly I just didn't want to get other people sick, and the managers probably wouldn't even notice my vomitting for a couple hours in, when I could very possibly get others sick.. I dunno.  Next time I will go in though so that they know I'm not a flake.

It's just frustrating.  I won't be able to afford transportation to work (gas in my car) if they don't give me more hours.. that's my biggest worry.

The buses in Mission Valley are just fine.  I know; I took them for three years.

Busses also cost money.  It adds up after a while.  I work at the location in Clairemont, about a 10-15 minute drive.  I am better off taking my car to work than the bus anyways since I'd have to transfer busses, making my work trip about 45 minutes when it could just be 10 minutes.  Plus, as snobby as it sounds, I'm not going to go from driving a BMW to taking the bus.  My BMW is the one nice thing I have.  Everything else in my life is cheap and I'm very poor at the moment, so driving my car is the one privilege that I feel like I have.. I don't feel as down and depressed when I'm in it.. I feel free and I feel like things will get better eventually.  It's just my one escape.. a luxury vehicle =/

Maybe you're a crappy employee.  When we had a crappy employee their hours would get cut so that they'd eventually quit.  Put in a bit more effort at work and see if your hours increase.

In the meantime, keep looking for other jobs.  You might end up needing to take the bus, or ride a bike to work. Gotta do what you gotta do.

If you're that hard up for money sell your car.  Bet the insurance is crazy on that thing.

yeah honestly it sounds like they don't like you. At my old job, my boss lowered a guy's hours to basically non-existent because he was creepy. He quit.

^See.  Happens all the time.  Businesses don't want to fire you because then you can file for unemployment.  They want you to quit.

So start working harder.  Make sure your supervisors see it (shift supervisors - or whatever they call them at McD's - too).  If this is the reason they cut your hours you'll be hard pressed to find another job if your area is as competitive as you say.  When the new jobs calls for a reference they'll get an ear-full.

I didn't realize beemers got such crappy gas mileage. A ten minute ride to work a couple of times a week burns through enough gas to leave you busted?

Continue looking for other employment don't wait until you are fired or laid off. (That sounds like it is coming soon!)  Instead of asking for more hours find out why they aren't giving you more hours.  Are you available to work anytime? Are you always requesting weekends off? When they ask you to cover another shift, do you? Look at you see what you can fix. Still I would continue applying  for another job.  And when interviewed do not bash your employer stay positive.

Original Post by anglej:

Continue looking for other employment don't wait until you are fired or laid off. (That sounds like it is coming soon!)  Instead of asking for more hours find out why they aren't giving you more hours.  Are you available to work anytime? Are you always requesting weekends off? When they ask you to cover another shift, do you? Look at you see what you can fix. Still I would continue applying  for another job.  And when interviewed do bash your employer stay positive.

 I'm hoping that is a typo! Bashing your employer is a no-no as I'm sure you already know, Kate. Sorry about your job and crappy hours!

I had a hard time trying to find a job in the San Diego area when I came back from college like... 4 years ago. Though, I'm sure my age (19 at the time) and deafness was a factor, anyway. Keep looking, don't give up! Don't forget about job agencies- though some may require you to pay a fee so be careful of that.

hums

Original Post by chrissy1988:

I'd say you've done the right thing so far but you can't force them to give you hours so that being said...i would talk to the owner about possibly getting more hours and instead of calling in sick next time go in and let them send you home so that you don't look like a flake and at least you're on the clock for a little while. since they already cut your hours it's best not to look unreliable even if you are legitimately sick. 

 Anyone else think this was an absolutely idiotic post? She works at a FOOD place and you're suggesting she go in sick? Some people are idiots.

I agree - stay away from the food!

but Kate - seriously, maybe you should set your sights higher.  i don't know what you need in a job or what your job experience is, but fast food sucks.  I can not imagine you feel fulfilled or even interested in your job.  There is nothing wrong with working fast food, but its really hard to be a great employee if you think it sucks.

Why not apply to some temp agencies as a receptionist?  You might find it leads to  a more stable job down the road and it will give you more experience for the next step up or lead to a career path you never dreamed of before.

And your university may have student admin jobs available; check it out!  It's the beginning of the semester and a lot of departments on a lot of campuses are looking for student employees.

Original Post by madamq:

Why not apply to some temp agencies as a receptionist?  You might find it leads to  a more stable job down the road and it will give you more experience for the next step up or lead to a career path you never dreamed of before.

I was gonna say something like this in my first post because some temp jobs can become temp to part-time or full-time but I was unsure because I don't have experience with temp agenices nor do I know how they work. I agree that you should try it out, and you won't have to wear a uniform! :)

Hon, I worked at McDonalds and my mom's been a manger for 20+years there. When they start cutting hours it's usually because they are trying to pull in labor to a certain percent. They start by cutting teens hours because they don't generally have to rely on the paycheck for more than a trip to the mall. It could also be that your performance just isn't up to par. Do you need constant help? Are you slow on the register? These things will cause a manager to see you as less of an asset. Also, you have no reason to go to the owner of the store. He/She really has no ruling on giving you more hours and going above your manager's head is rude. Go to the scheduling manager and tell them that you noticed your hours got cut and you just wanted to volunteer to pick up extra shifts if they come up. THen do it,don't make excuses about how you had plans just clear your schedule and go. Once they see that you are serious your hours might increase.

What is your availability?  Perhaps it isn't ideal for them to schedule you based on the hours you are available?  How long have your worked there?  What are you trained in?  This might factor in also. 

Original Post by chrissy1988:

instead of calling in sick next time go in and let them send you home so that you don't look like a flake and at least you're on the clock for a little while.

Bad idea. When someone is sent home the resturant will be short a person and they have to try to call in a person on the spot which is very stressful for the remaining workers who have to pick up the slack for the missing employee. I work at Burger King so I feel Kate's pain but if she follows this advice her managers might get pissed. They'll say, "Geez, you could of told of you were sick this morning so we could of asked _____ to stay here longer or call ____ to cover your shift, now thanks to you we are short a person!" Plus I applaud Kate for not coming in sick becuase she could of infect the customers food or gotten her co workers sick.

Dearest Kate,

As a Burger King slave I feel your pain. I also had my hours cut down to a low amount (7 to 11 hours somethings, geezus) but ignore the people who are hinting it's your fault. The reason why i got my hours cut down was being the head manager in charge of the schedule was biased and gave her ass kisser the most hours and the rest of the employees got chump hours. Man, she disliked me because I didn't go out of my way to tell her how pretty her hair was or how nice she smelled because ,well, I didn't care. Some of the employees getting more hours than me at the time were lazy asses who texted inbetween making food (gross) but because they told her sweet nothings they got their hours (then later make fun of her weight and attitude problem). Me on the otherhand, I don't view employers as best friends, I'll greet them but not chat to them like they were my best friend. Well, fast forward to present day: I'm getting the hours I want and the head manager still seems to not fancy me but becuase I do my work well and I didn't quit/get fired yet she realizes I'm here to stay.

So the moral of the story is sometimes you can be the hardest worker in town but if your boss is biased and has favorites s/he'll give them the biggest paycheck before you, even if they suck. All you can do is redeem yourself by working your butt off. Eventually the ass kissers will quit or do something idiotic to get fired and before you know it you'll have 25 hours. Keep your head up and yes, talk to the higher ups about your hours before you financial situation gets worse.

Thanks everyone.. I'm going to really take your advice into consideration :)

Honestly, I am not up to par.  I have been working there since July and haven't ever had consistent hours.  I mean, for a couple weeks they gave me like 15-20 hours, but then after that, the consistency just stopped.  I am not learning as fast, there are still a lot of things that I am confused about.. and no, I didn't go in a few times when I was called to fill in for someone, but at the same time, they called me and asked me to come in during hours that I was in class at school, and attendance counts at my college.

I'm going to give them a call in just a few minutes to just ask one last time for the extra hours.  I hate to do it, but I might have to get my dad involved.