Been rotad to work when I already made plans

[stressedandunimpressed]

Heh. I can't get into my old mumsnet account. Second time's a charm hey?

I've made plans for: me, a few friends and my sister to go out, have a meal and a good old catch up. I've booked the table and I'm paying for the meal too, thought it would be a nice treat as myself and sister haven't seen our friends in a while. I made the plans on Wednesday because I thought I had Sunday afternoon and evening off, I even booked a babysitter. I got a message on the work phone and updated my rota and now I feel really disappointed and a bit bothered that I may essentially lose money.

For those who'll say "Just reschedule" I dont know when I'll be able to reschedule as Sunday is the only day myself, my sister and our friends are free for the afternoon

The thought of cancelling everything is making me feel hellishly guilty

Was I unreasonable to call and let work know Im not available? Please be gentle, I'm willing to be told I'm being silly over this.

Just tell them no.
You weren't scheduled on, so have plans.

They will have to sort something out with someone else.

It’s hard to comment without knowing how your work does things; it seems pretty unfair to have your rota changed at the last minute. When I’ve had work rotas I’ve always had at least 2 weeks notice of when I’m working and if they want to change it they check with you

Obviously don't cancel the meal, but make it clear to your boss that you need to know your shifts more than 2 days in advance. Not at all unreasonable.

Will it cause a problem with your job? Like less likely to be given less hours on a zero hours contract? If not then YANBU. You need to to have some life outside of work.

Just tell work you have a prior commitment booked at a time when you werent on the rota.

I work on a zero hour Contract and unfortunately sometimes this happens and i have to say to work i cant drop my plans and come in so reschedule me for another day.

When do they usually let you know your shifts? There should be an agreement in place, I wouldn’t be happy to suddenly be asked to work at such short notice.

I’d explain to your manager you have plans as you weren’t rotated to work and that you need more notice.

Is is that your work is going to be difficult about it or that you want to work to have the extra money?

Was the rota already published when you booked the dinner?

It depends if they have changed the rota or if you just assumed you wouldn't be on that day?

I think you've missed some of the critical info we need to know...

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I was scheduled to finish on Sunday at half past two. I was in the middle of finalising plans when a message popped up on my work phone and I updated the rota and now I've spent an agonising hour waiting for them to get back to me

@everyone It's not going to cause problems. They're saying I'm not going to get hours in, but yet they didnt actually give me any hours this last week. So their logic is a bit skewed in my mind. My problem here is: I planned a meal, my boss gave me extra hours that I wasn't aware of because I already got my Sunday hours and I'd cleared it with someone to have my kids in the day while I organised a baby sitter for the evening and now I'm sitting and getting anxious while they take their sweet time in getting back to me

@Lochroy Ahh yeah, Im sorry about that. My head's in a jumble, hasn't been my day today

I was meant to have Sunday afternoon off from 3pm which would have given me two hours with my DC's until I went out with friends. Turns out I'm working instead so called the on call phone, said I couldn't work Sunday afternoon (After three pm) And they're making me wait it out while I stress and worry myself silly

They rotad you with too short notice, that's how I read it.

You've made plans for next Wednesday, and they've just told you they've changed your rota with 4 days notice?
YANBU to tell work to stuff it, give more notice.

@MoistBandana No I made plans on Wednesday just gone (21st) for Sunday (25th) afternoon, sorry I should have worded that better. It's been a hell of a day and Im tempted to lock myself away, have a good cry and what not

Are you on a zero hours contract?

If not how much notice do they have to give you for a shift change, or for your shifts in general?

@Owlsinmybedroom Im on a zero hour contract. And they literally give us no notice, they'll just change the rota and expect us to take it. My boss and supervisors are a bit useless

Don't feel bad for the first thing.

It's on them, not you.

A zero hour contract should work both ways, in reality the bosses just use it to their advantage.

Tell them you can't, your busy, it enough notice.
Go enjoy the time you've planned.. and look for a better job. 😉

The whole point of a zero hour contract (which are a bag of shite to be fair) is that it gives both you and your employer flexibility.

They don't have to schedule you if they don't have the hours for you. You don't have to accept any hours that don't suit you.

So you don't have to work, tell them you have plans and thats that.

If I were you I would be looking for a new job though as they sound like shit employers.

If they didn't give you hours last week they clearly don't care about mucking up your finances and work life. Stop caring about them and find someone better to work for.