To wish my colleague would stop phoning me to swap shifts?

[hiddenhome]

Two of my colleagues work elsewhere, so our manager works out our shifts around theirs.

Sometimes she puts one of the colleagues shifts down before she has had a chance to get her other place's shifts, so I generally swap to accommodate her. She rings up at the end of every month, but has been ringing more often recently.

Two weeks ago she phoned me to swap some shifts which I did. I put them into my phone so I know where I am (starting to get forgetful these days). Today, she phoned me to swap more shifts that week (the week I've just done swaps in)

She tried to pressure me and tried to dress it up as doing me a favour, but I just fobbed her off as I don't like this. I've swapped these shifts and don't want to go through it again.

One of these days I'm going to miss a shift at work because I'll be so confused about what I'm working.

[SilvercloudRainbow]

Sounds like you're being taken advantage of. Only swap if it suits you, otherwise tell her it's not gonna happen.

[hiddenhome]

I wasn't even sure if what she was asking would suit me when she phoned earlier on, but I was so confused as to what she was asking that I just said "no" to get her off the phone I'm happy with my shifts that week though and have no need to swap.

[tiredemma]

This is my idea of rota hell. How far in advance do you get your rota?

[JackieTheFart]

We sometimes shift swap in our place as we do alternating Saturdays. If I'm asked, I normally say no as we have DSS on my non-work Saturday and I'd rather not miss him. Also, it's a pain in the arse doing back to back Saturdays (although I know I get back to back Saturdays off).

Tell her no. I that it's starting to become really confusing so maybe she should try and arrange things better with her employees rather than relying on you.

[hiddenhome]

Well, we get the next months shifts about a week before they start It's because of these two new nurses who must get their shifts at short notice.

[tiredemma]

You work for the nhs? Are you not on electronic rota yet ? (EMAPS). This is really bad organisation on your managers part.

I have to put out a rota 8 weeks in advance. Why is your manager allwing the ward rota to be dictated by the other nurses jobs? Do you have a rota policy?

This sounds like chaos.

[hiddenhome]

I work in a private care home. They work in the NHS though.

[tiredemma]

So in general you only know a week in advance what you will be working?

[HollyBerryBush]

Don't answer you phone when you see their numbers

[hiddenhome]

No, we get the next months shifts about a week before that months rota starts, so at the end of the month we don't know what we'll be working at the beginning of the month ifyswim.

Once I get my months shifts she starts phoning to swap though.

[hiddenhome]

I can see who's phoning on my mobile, but not the landline. She just keeps phoning and leaving messages until I answer or get back to her

[HollyBerryBush]

Don't return her calls, or even better, just say "no"

[hiddenhome]

I said "no" this afternoon [assertive emoticon] I'll just have to keep doing that. I don't like being put on the spot that's all.

[tiredemma]

Just say sorry you have a life/ family outside f work that you have to plan yourself.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

So, have I understood correctly? The colleague who phones you to swap shifts has a second job, which also rotas her for shifts. Sometimes both her employers want her at the same time, and so she asks you to swap some shifts with her so that she can meet the demands of both employers. Is that correct? Does her other employer also issue their rota at short notice? Can she not swap shifts at her other job rather than always asking you? Or is she doing this already?

It sounds as if she needs to talk to both her employers and see what can be done, rather than pushing you to be her solution.

[expatinscotland]

'No, that doesn't work for me.' Over and over until she gets the hint.

[greenformica]

Agree start being less flexible. 'sorry that's too tricky, I need to stick to the original rota thanks'

[rabbitlady]

have you thought of this one? i see hollyberrybush has suggested it. don't answer the phone.

[hiddenhome]

I have to answer the phone really because it could be for a legitimate reason.

I'll just have to keep repeating that once I've swapped shifts, that's it until next month. Repeatedly messing around with the off duty is going to lead to trouble.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

"I'll just have to keep repeating that once I've swapped shifts, that's it until next month."
You're being pretty decent to your colleague to swap at all. I hope she appreciates it.

[DoJo]

'Sorry - I've made other arrangements so that doesn't work for me' and that's it. You can't be expected to keep your free time free in case they want to rota you on at short notice, so don't let them assume that you can be infinitely flexible.

[MidniteScribbler]

Tell her that any shift change requests must come from management. Once they start seeing how often she is changing things around (and they have to deal with the hassle of asking around for who can swap) they'll tell her to pull her head in.