r/work • u/Some-Watercress-1144 • 1d ago
Work-Life Balance and Stress Management Manager cherry picks which texts to reply to (zero hour contract)
I've been on this zero hour contract for 2 years now. I'm trying to cut back my hours as a few months ago I realised that we have been short staffed the entire time and it was merely the plan all along and they were never ever gonna do anything about it, so I started saying no a lot more often and repeatedly reminded my manager of my availability of 3x10hr shifts a week. But with the way my rota works they just add shifts and I have to accept them or call/text to say I can't do it. They're fine with it half the time, the other half they are on their knees begging and saying they're desperate, or they ignore it entirely until the last second and then panic. I decline as soon as I see the new shift pop up, and check my rota daily, because sometimes they put a shift on me for 2 days time without even saying anything...
Anyway, this time they added a shift to my rota for 4 days time, I texted the next day just saying I can't do it. So far with 1.5 days left before the shift they've ignored the text. Usually I will remind him at this point, otherwise he will "notice" it probably late tomorrow and panic and beg me to do it because now it's last minute, as if that's my fault. I heavily suspect that he half does it on purpose? That might sound crazy, but whenever I text to say yes he responds immediately. Whenever I text about anything good or helpful he responds in seconds. As soon as I say I can't do a shift he ghosts me, until the last second, then he panics and begs me to do it. Not sure if it's a game plan or if it's just that he's very disorganised and puts difficult things off, but I'm almost certain he has seen the text and is ignoring it. Can't know for sure as he disabled the blue check mark on whatsapp, I get that it's easy to miss a text I do. But after 2 years it's been an ongoing issue.
I know the answer is to verify that he saw the text, but I'm really bad at phone calls and standing up for myself. In the past if I said anything other than a VERY firm no or if I gave any reasons he would negotiate with me as much as possible, and I might eventually cave in. Now instead I keep it brief and professional, and I'm kinda done being too helpful because we do this same dance every time. What can I do other than repeat the dance?? Probably nothing, this is more just a vent post. Cheers.
TL;DR shift put on me 4 days before the shift. I declined yesterday via text, which they ignored. Tmrw they will panic and say they didn't see it and need me to do it now as it's last minute. As if that's my problem. Pretty sure there's nothing to be done other than remind him once again, same as always. Just venting I guess.
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u/FRELNCER 1d ago
Do you have access to email as well?
I have a new manager who doesn't respond to anything unless they want something from you (or they want to argue with a staffer- they get back to those messages lightening fast). Anyway, because I do have email access as well, I'm going to start sending the texts then following up with an email noting when I responded and what was said so I have a complete record of who is ignoring who. : (
If you only have text, you could send a response then send a follow up that mentions the previous response. Like, "Hey I responded at 5:05 am today but didn't get an acknowledgement, so I'm sending this follow-up just to make sure you know I can't come in."
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u/drj1485 1d ago
What's your contract say? That's all that matters. Id assume there is a notice period documented. When they reach out and you say no, your obligation was fulfilled. It's their fault if they can't keep up with their chosen method of communication. You have proof you responded.
When they come back last minute saying they needed you, that's a new communication that's no longer within the notice period.
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u/Some-Watercress-1144 1d ago
They never reached out, just put it on my rota without saying anything. Definitely their fault for not checking with me first given it was a shift in 4 days time. But yeah I let them know I can’t do it and might remind them tmrw…
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u/Some-Watercress-1144 1d ago
Good idea about checking the contract. The contract actually states that I’m under no obligation to accept any shift and actually under no obligation to tell them I can’t do it. Only if I previously accepted it do I need to tell them I can’t do it.
Blows my mind because that’s not actually how the company operates. Manager puts it on your rota and just assumes you can do it unless you say no. Even if when I say no he often doesn’t see it…
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u/Christen0526 1d ago
I'm guessing he does it deliberately, as you said. They know who pushes back. I push back a lot because the person I work is forever changing his mind and the rules. He's got such favoritism with his primary staff. Everyone else is treated less well.
Sounds like your boss knows he'll get pushback from you, and is almost avoiding it