To ask how to say no to coworker?

[ChocolateToffee]

One of the ladies on another shift has asked me to cover her weekend in October as she has a wedding to go to. She cant get time off because someone else already has that particular weekend off.

She has asked me to swap but I really dont want to. I wont get paid extra and have to rely on her to work one of my weekends in return. I just dont want to deal with the hassle.

How can I tell her no without sounding nasty?

Yeah I think you are right Orchid. For some reason I just assumed people would somehow magically know what I'm talking about. I think I need a coffee lol

I will have 2 days to cook meals for the week, do washing, walk the dogs, clean the house and have some down time
Isn't that what quite a number of people get? A two day break, in the UK usually a Saturday and Sunday? That's the usual working pattern, particularly for office workers.
Or it could be worse, you could be like my DH who never gets two consecutive days off, only one day off at a time. But again this is usual in hospitality and retail.
At the peak times at my work I have to work for three weeks straight, seven days a week. Again, in my type of employment that is normal and expected as it's only once a year.

Agree with pp, get her to do your weekend first, then you won't have to chase her up.

Boyskeepswinging sure, I bet they finish at 5pm though and have time to do some stuff after work. I start at 7am, finish around 7:30pm depending on when my relief gets in. Then I do the same but 7pm start. You have time to work, eat and sleep on 12 hour shifts. At least I do anyway

Yes boys I see your point but op is working in a foundry which is potentially deadly if you’re knackered.

Will it even be allowed from a H&S point of view? 8 12 hour shifts in a row sounds like too much so I'd just say you won't be able to commit to it so she should make alternative arrangements.

ADDING; I don't think you are unreasonable or 'mean' to turn down her request. We have to take care of ourselves first.

Because I’m dead nosy what do you do? It sounds fairly intense!

If the swap doesn’t work for you just let her know that 8 days is too much. We swap a lot of our oncalls around but most of us will draw a line if it would mean too many days in a row. She must surely be prepared for you to not want to do it so just a “really sorry, can’t do such a long run” would be acceptable?

No, I work at least a 12 hour shift myself. So in my busy period I am working a minimum of 21 x 12 hour shifts with no rest days.

I would say you are busy if you really don't want to.

But when I worked shifts I always did someone a favour if I could so that they would owe you one when you needed a swap.

Posters mentioning H&S should bear in mind that working conditions outside U.K. may be very different.

I have a friend who does shift work They do swap around quite a lot, but she isn't allowed to work more than seven in a row without taking a rest day. And she doesn't work 12 hr shifts.

I thought YBWBU until your update. Working 96 hours in 8 days isn't safe.

YANBU

During the change from dayshift to nightshift we technically get a 24 hour break. That means we can work more in a row.

Why not change your job if the shifts are so awful. Off topic I know but usually pp that do shifts actually enjoy the shift life or wouldn't do it

I work 12 hours and we swap a lot but no way would anyone do 8 in a row or be expected to. In your circs I would say no but you will consider it if she can manipulate it so you are doing what ever number of shifts you are comfortable doing.

Because I'd like to pay off my house and retire early.

You can't physically work 8 12 hour nightshifts in a row and you just need to say that to her.

I feel so dim but what exactly does that mean? Are you manufacturing components? Btw this is genuine curiosity - I work on oncall pattern now which is 24 or 48 hrs on and with swaps I’ve done 4 days oncall with normal work so 12 day stretch, which was gruelling. In my junior days we did 7x12-14hr stretch but got a week off afterwards so totally worth it.

@Thewifipasswordis seriously?! Not many people would realistically fancy doing that - I’ve had people say no because they didn’t fancy two days mid-week!

Just seen your update, you'd be working 8 days in a row 12 hour shifts!! I would definitely say no. Just say that you already have plans e.g it's my dad's 70th so we 're going to visit them or we re visiting friends in x that weekend. I think working those extra days would be very bad for your health.

I would. I was so upset after I did a colleagues shift on the basis she would cover mine so I could go away. I booked the flights and everything and then she said she couldn’t. I couldn’t get a refund either for my flight and I was so upset.

Feeling proud of yourself there Thewifipasswordis? Someone doesn't want to work eight 12 hour shifts in a row, in a physically demanding and tiring job, but that makes them a rotten, horrid person? Differences of opinion can be given without resorting to insults and name calling.