Contracted hours v hours expected.

[Sameshitdifferentshovel]

Just started a new job in a shop.
It's open 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, Christmas and New Year's Day, yada yada. Shifts can be any time during those hours.
I was offered a part time contract, no set days, which suits me grand, however, I'm on the rota for the next 2 weeks with hours double my contracted ones, fair enough, but I've also had a phone call at lunchtime to come in in the next hour on my day off. I refused because I was busy. This way of running a business pisses me off, because rather than employing more staff to cover long opening hours, it feels like we need to be available 16 hours a day, 7 days a week and to hell with a life outside work.
I'm just having a rant.

I was offered a part time contract, no set days, which suits me grand

I mean, this wouldn't suit many people, but, as you say it suits you, then I don't think it unreasonable that they ask you if you want the hours.

You couldn't make it, and said so, so therefore didn't go in.

I'm not really sure what the issue is. It would be different if they were threatening to sack you if you don't - but I presume if that were the case, you'd have mentioned it.

They asked, you said no. Presumably they had someone call in sick, which can't be predicted and they can't have someone sitting at work just in case. Assuming they were fine with you saying no, then no biggy.

Do not answer their calls on your day off if you do not want to be asked in.

Providing you aren't penalised for not taking the hours there isn't a problem.
I would probably let them know next time I'm in dropping off a piece of paper with your availability "I'm not available on Saturday or Monday but if you have an extra shift on Tuesday I could do that but will need to know by 9am" or whatever your availability is.or just don't answer there calls

Is this a small shop that doesn't use rota software that you could offer to make for them, lots of tutorials on how to make excel schedules on YouTube. Or is it a large company trying it's luck

You can also say you only want to work your contracted hours.

I think this is common in retail. DD has a part time weekend job supposedly set shifts to fit in with college but week they change them without any notice or consultation. So she has to repeatedly go back and tell them she cannot work on Monday at 6am because she has college that day. It is really annoying.

Very common in retail. Was a good way to avoid paying too much holiday pay. Worked for the Arcadia group for years. 16 hour contract but quite often worked 30 hours. When I took my leave though only got paid for 16!

I used to be a customer services manager in a 'budget' store. Open 7am/10pm etc etc
We had a staff budget and never enough staff, I was always asking people to stay on, start early, do extra days etc. most stressful time of my life

Safe to say I don't work on the industry anymore