Colleagues in my workplace annoyingly seem to get their own way?

[Bridewel1]

I work in a large convenience store as a supervisor and some colleagues just seem to get the shifts they want bar me and one or two others. Our shift pattern is flexi but the manager seems to give everyone similar shifts every week with the exception of needs of the business and when someone's on holiday. I like to be flexible as I'm part time and get the hours in. I normally work 30+ hours. So my preference would be mainly early morning shifts and maybe one late and one afternoon as I think this is fair. I usually do 4 of 5 shifts and when I started 2 shifts were early then I was given a third early shift. But as we've been desperate for staff recently one woman was hired and was basically told that as she didn't want evenings so she'd rarely get any just so she'd take the job. And annoying she's bagged to if my morning shifts. Also another member who's been there a while managed to get the mid morning shifts she wanted too. I do do at least two mornings on different days now but have lost the other 2 to the new lady. I was hoping I'd be doing 4.
I was shocked the other day when I asked the manager if I could swap my late shift with the new girls early as I had an appointment and he replied that he can't as she doesn't get to sleep till about 2 after a late ( she's done one late since starting). I've asked if I can do more early shifts and manager just says I'll still do earliy shifts but it still only seems to be 2 recently. For a number of years I was doing at least three untill the new lady started. I know we're supposed to be fully flexible but it just annoys me that others get their own way. I'm a good worker as the manager always compliments me and I'm always come in a short notice and work extra. I feel as if I should speak up more about this and not let them fob me off but I'm not very good in situations like this. Sorry for the long post. Rant over.

Well you need to speak up and say what your preference is. Are you prepared to leave if you don't regularly get the shifts you prefer?

Hi op. How about making a note of these incidences over the next month or so. Then request a private word with your manager and ask (respectfully and calmly) why some people seem to get the shifts they want and you don’t?

Even better if you do this once you have looked around for other employment opportunities and once you have an offer you could then add “if this continues I may have to look at seeking work elsewhere” … you could then use this as leverage in your negotiations.

If they value your input a smart manager should be trying to accommodate your wishes and perhaps more importantly, being fair to his team and treating them equally.

Good luck!

The job I’ve just left was like this.

Some staff didn’t want to work weekends - they got away with it and we’d be short staffed every weekend.

You need to leave. Honestly.

Threaten to leave if you're prepared to actually do it. The manager is being very unfair

It’s so annoying isn’t it! I’ve had the same in the past and got so fed up of other people doing exactly what they wanted to do. I eventually left it was the only way to save my sanity.