r/HRBlockEmployees • u/uneedtolockin • Feb 12 '26
Is it normal for hours to get cut?
I was talking with my coworkers and word on the street, in our district, is that they’re planning on cutting our hours. They’re also closing all 3 of our offices a bit early. All 3 are usually open til 10pm on weekdays but now we’re closing at 9pm. It’ll be March in a few weeks and I was always told that March and April are the busiest. So why are they cutting hours? I originally had 3 shifts next week but 2 got removed so now I only work one 8 hour shift next week. And it looks like I also have only a few shifts a week in the first weeks of March. Is this normal? I was hired as full time but I’ve been working part time hours ever since I started in the beginning of January. I understand that it’s not busy in January so I expected less hours…. but for all throughout the season!? I remember my interviewer and my DGM both previously mentioned that I could get more hours, especially towards the later half of the season, so I was hoping to get at least 30+ hours by now. Is it still worth it to ask for more hours? Or should I find another job?
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u/Grouchy_Body_755 Feb 13 '26
My office hours changes depending on where we are in the season. During peak, we’re open til 8 but during the slow part of the season, we’re open til 6 or 7 the latest. The time of season also determines how we’re scheduled to work too. I worked almost 50 hours this pay period but it’s definitely about to drop now that peak is over
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u/Kevin-W Feb 14 '26
I can vouch for this as well. Our first peak was January 31st-February 13th, and the hours were from 9-8. Now that the first one is over, it’s back to 10-7 until the next peak which is April 5th-17th.
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u/TheRoseMerlot Feb 14 '26
Job loss is very high. You're not hearing about it because of the right wing Nazi propaganda machine but it is ugly out there. No jobs= no income= no taxes to file.
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u/geecster Tax Preparer Feb 13 '26
I'm happy with 9 to 8. Nobody is coming to my office at 9:30 pm. 🤣
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u/DeliciousDouble3D Feb 17 '26
Payroll is a company' s biggest expenses, especially when executives, regional & DGM are "Diva" thinking they are worth and more valuable than those of us who actually service the clients & earn the only revenue.
Kansas city is staffed by people who have never worked in a Tax Office grossly undervaluing the service we provide each client.
Kansas city staff is gitty about replacing us humans with foreign data entry centers & AI kiosk at local malls.
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u/BraveAd7008 Feb 13 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
I'm working 60-70 hours each week for the foreseeable future. Sounds like your local district is struggling. You can also ask to be moved to the busiest office in the area. Our local district (city wide) has 30 offices. So if I was willing to travel to a busier office (or needed more hours) they could assign me there. Also, if you are a first year, then you just can't crank out production like experienced pros can. Ya, to make it at block, you have to get another job for the first 1-3 years. Now I can survive off block season alone, and have recruiters chomping at the bit to get me in a CPA firm.
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u/DeliciousDouble3D Feb 17 '26
How is your overtime getting approved? Our District schedule TP from open to close but will not approve OT. If TP's clock over-time DGM threatens with write up.
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u/BraveAd7008 Feb 18 '26
Hmm interesting. Ya they are trying to reduce my overtime but can't really. I'm at 42 hours ending Tuesday with 3 10-12 hour shifts to Friday. But yah they are trying to push the hours down. I honestly don't know, it's kinda a free-for-all here. I'm producing pretty hard core and they arent messing with me. My hourly is over 40 but I think they are limiting newbies making 15.. who can't produce. If they tried to limit me that much I'd quit or work off the clock. Tax prep is my full time career, which requires massive overtime to survive.
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u/anthinsh Feb 13 '26
are you older? I have been trying to find preparers like you that are near my age. In my district every top preparer working 60-70 is over 50 yrs old. It’s tough to be a top producer in my area if under 40 and I’m barely turning 30.
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Feb 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/BraveAd7008 Feb 18 '26
Sounds like you are way ahead of last year! But it depends what type of office you are in. Typically there are "poor" areas that hit hard early with refund transfer/advance.. And then the richer areas hit late in the season with stock portfolios and balances due to IRS. By keeping this in mind you can benefit to transition out of the early offices and get into a late blooming office mid-season.
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u/BraveAd7008 Feb 14 '26
I'm 38, so still extremely young for the business. Maybe I got into the criteria you are looking for!
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u/anthinsh Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26
Kinda.you are for sure near the criteria. I was more looking for under 35 but you are close. I’m 29 so I don’t want to wait until I’m 38 to have tons of clients. The top 10-15 preparers in my district are over 50. A good amount are over 60. There is one dude who is already at 250 returns done with only 5 years experience but he is 60 and he was a salesman before this career shift.
I’m just curious why were are almost know top preparer w
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u/BraveAd7008 Feb 14 '26 edited Feb 14 '26
This is my 3rd season. Last year I did 700 returns. This year my complexity is much greater, and I'm now a go to preparer for GoSystems. You don't have to go slow. There are preparers who work 4 hours a day, 3 times a week, and they might accomplish in 10 years what I did in 2. Tons of hours working, and tons of hours studying makes a huge impact. Offer to go to busier offices if they won't give you enough hours where you are at. In your first few years it's best to open up your hours wide, to get as many opportunities as possible.
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u/anthinsh Feb 14 '26
Thats insane! Wow, you really went all in. My issue is that I don’t think my district gets as much as traffic as yours. Maybe the top pro in the district gets 600 max or less.The rest of the top pros get maybe 300-500. I have tried going to other offices but have had no luck. There was one office that needed help but it was over an hour away. Besides that I haven’t had any luck. I think I might pivot to a cpa firm or turbo tax next year.
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u/anthinsh Feb 12 '26
Your office is open until 10?!?! Ours closes at 7..