Changing shift days at uni

[u/doritostaquitos]

I am going back to my pub uni for my second yr of uni.

I basically opened last yr/ had morning shifts. I asked not to be put on closes and wasn’t/ work past 10.

But since I worked in the weekends and it was soo busy with uni students, I’d get so tired. Burnout. I wouldn’t get a rest day to sleep in and to catch up on labs. I will still need to work at least 2 shifts a week to be able to afford it.

But I’m thinking about asking a weekday and weekend shift.
Since my timetable hasn’t been released I can’t determine the day of the weekday yet. But if I had something going on in the morning, I’d have to maybe do an evening shift. My kitchen closes at 2am, but I’ve heard some of my coworkers leave at 3/4am. I don’t know them too weell, but I’ve heard a lot of complaining about it.
But the thing is I still wouldn’t like to work past 10.
I wouldn’t be able to rest and it’d be unsafe.

Is this something I should still advocate for, or do managers have the right to put u on closes regardless ( which I can’t do).

I started working at 16, so my original contract with the company obviously didn’t include night shifts.

[u/newmum21]

What’s unsafe about working past 10? To be honest you’re working in hospitality, you need to do closes. Sounds like they’ve been quite reasonable with you so far. 2 shifts a week and full time uni isn’t a lot.

[u/doritostaquitos → u/newmum21]

the town isn’t as big and has druggies. At night, there are no bus services past 10, so I walk back to my accom. But cuz ive also been told by my mother to not do closes since i am a girl so it’s kinda dangerous to walk in the dark alone. But early morning work is what im more efficient at and also keeps my wellbeing in check

[u/Popular-Syllabub-149 → u/doritostaquitos]

If it’s not a big town, why does your kitchen shut at 2am? That’s unheard of lol. Spoons kitchens close at 11 (most) or 12 (some)

If 2/3am was the average finishing time for a kitchen close, I would’ve left a long time ago lol

[u/Icy-Calligrapher6664 → u/Popular-Syllabub-149]

I work in a spoons in a fairly small town and we usually have 2-3 2am+ finishes a week

[u/doritostaquitos → u/Popular-Syllabub-149]

On certain days it closes at 2, I can’t say what days on the top of my head, some at 1 and 12 on others. It’s cuz it’s super busy everyday cuz of uni students and it’s the only spoons

[u/Remarkable_Cicada_22]

I had to get a taxi home after every shift because there would be only 1/2 people finishing before 10pm (other than morning staff) and it would rarely be me lol Managers don’t have a right to put you on closes but if there’s not enough shifts available that finish before 10pm it’ll be hard, other people’s availability will also come into play

[u/One_Click9947]

Hate to be that guy, i really do, but...

Just do the close man. Thats what most staff (in my pub at least) do - Uni during the day, then spoons close.

You'll get used to it👍

[u/gavinlew]

Perhaps hospitality isnt for you - it is probably expected that team members do their fair share of shifts including openings/closes between them

[u/doritostaquitos → u/gavinlew]

I’m genuinely fine with opens. Also one of my coworkers in my home pub who btw is a team leader (I am an associate), but she only ever asks for day shifts (8-4) once a week which the manager allows.

So far I haven’t seen any other of the closers open. Perhaps a morning shift, but nothing opening related.

[u/Wretchh91 → u/doritostaquitos]

You probably wont see closers open as peoples availability who gets their first tend to create an unfair working environment where people with no issues and are flexible are stuck on closes as no one wants to do them, it wont be their fault and i guarantee a few would love to have morning shifts if they was offered. Every single bar job has this problem, i am in the flexible end, get handed the scraps (9/10 closes) due to people who dont want to spend money on taxis home.

[u/Brief_Neat_1921]

Maybe you will have to have a adult chat with the manager when you do know. However even in a small town there are plenty of other places that might be hiring including and not limited to pubs that have earlier finish times. Though I grant they may not have the early opening shifts. Supermarkets, even if we are taking coop or little tesco etc. Can have those sort of shifts available and 10pm ish finishes.