Just went from 20 hour work week to a 16 hour work week.

@writersedge (22563)
United States
January 3, 2008 6:02pm CST
I really hate that I have lost 4 hours per week at work. My boss informed me last night that I will only be working 16 hours from now on. The after Christmas slow down. If it slows down too much, then I will be down to 12 hours. If I can get it to pick up, I could get my four hours back. I've started looking for another job. I didn't make enough money at 20 hours, now cut to 16. I was hoping that since I did such a good job of sales during the Christmas season, that I would get a bonus, not have my hours cut. But I only did well at seasonal sales, not the core sales. This is part of why I didn't want to get into sales to begin with. Take care
4 people like this
11 responses
@Carnanco (70)
• United States
4 Jan 08
While some employers are downsizing after the holidays, others need to replace college students who are going back to school. You may be able to pick up a second part time job. Or you may be able to make some money at home. I write a blog full of work at home jobs, opportunities and information. There is a link to my Work at Home Center in my profile. Good luck!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Thank you carnanco. Mostly college kids are hired as extras where I live. Three stores just closed at the Mall. They are only there during the holidays and the same with a couple of kiosks. Maybe factories, but they mostly just hire extra for X-mas, too. I would love to make money at home. But other than Mylot and Helium, most of them have books or packages that they want you to buy. I don't want to spend money to make money. Especially since I don't have it to spend. I will check out your link. Thank you, I will need good luck. It takes so long to get a job up here that you really hate to loose one. Take care
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Jan 08
I post new actual jobs to my blog a couple times a week, so subscribe and you'll get them in your email. Plus I have companies that hire regualarly, and some free opportunities too.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I checked it, I read your blog about mylot. I calculated that at the rate I'm earning pennies, I would be able to get 25 per month (all things being constant and equal) after I have 300 or more articles. I did check out a couple of your listings. It sees to be a good blog. Take care and thanks
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I picked up a temporary seasonal retail job too during the holidays and now that its over, they don't have any hours for me and 50 others LOL I thought I did a great job and was hoping they may keep me on but was told that there are no more hours LOL well I did only sign up for seasonal but did fill out another form for them asking us whether we were interested in continuing our employment with them after the holiday season, and then get told Jan 1st that they don't have hours for us LOL Oh well I think I may just have find another part time day job too :) hope you get your hours back!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Thank you, I like my job, I hope I can get my hours back, too. But they want 2 thousand dollars worth of sales and I'm not even at 1 thousand. I will be lucky to keep this job at all. Wow 51 of you. That's a lot of people for seasonal. Have you fill out regular, then tell you they don't have any. Amazing isn't it? Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
4 Jan 08
I used to work in retail and did the seasonal hiring - I was a manager so I had a job all year. It was rough on the people that we could not keep after the Holidays. I'm a full-time CPA now and we're gearing up for our busy season. If you have any CPA firms around, check with them and see if they're hiring help for the tax season. Again, it's going to end after April, but it will help out for a little while. If you're looking for something more permanant that you can control, I also have a part-time home business that I run out of my home. My husband will actually be going full-time with it this spring. We're pretty excited about that because he's not happy with his job right now. Feel free to check out my profile if you'd like to get a little more info on it. I'd love to talk with you and see if it's something that would work for ya. PM me if you'd like. Have a Great New Year!!!
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Whoa, that is a long time to just now get the "seasonal" treatment. If I can't help you, then I hope you are able to find something more suitable. Have a great day!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Yes, I was surprised that this job was somewhat seasonal since I've been working for the company since June. But things peak and then wane. I will check out your profile and offer, probably next week. I have my hours to put in this weekend and some interviews next wee. Take care and thanks.
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Jan 08
That really sucks because the money lost means that you have to find other means to fill that gap....working two jobs is also harder meaning you have to hop from one place to another ...good luck and take care...
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Exactly! But at least he gave me two weeks notice and he had to really plead my case to get that to his supperiors. So I'm greatful for that. My boss is a considerate guy. So at least I can try to make up the difference and I have some interviews next week. Thanks and take care.
@danjam (1)
5 Jan 08
hi, just wondered whether you have tried to claim for any benefits as your contacted hours are 16 you might be in a postion to get help.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
In my state, you have to work 26 weeks full time before you can get unemployment. I was on unemployment last year, but my time is almost up. I was laid off from a full time job in February of last year. So buy the time I applied, I might get a day or two of help. Then I wouldn't qualify again. I need 26 weeks of full time work again. So, yes, I have checked into it. My husband makes pretty good money, it's the debt we've incurred that creates the problem. Two people working singly with crummy paying jobs for a long time tends to make for heavy credit card debt. It's the credit card bills that are killing me. If we didn't have debt, we could live on one income. Thanks, that is a really good point that you made. People shoul always check to see what's available. Thanks for your response.
• United States
5 Jan 08
you should try to make some extra money doing surveys,etc online .
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Electricity is very expensive where I live and I have a dial-up system. Unless a survey paid a lot, I actually loose money. Unless you know some really good paying ones. So far, I've been online for over an hour doing surveys and gotten 6 cents. Thanks and take care
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
6 Jan 08
A dollar? Wow! compared to Helium and Mylot, that's incredible. Thank you very much. I'll have to check it out. Take care
• United States
5 Jan 08
if you go to inboxdollars.com they pay you one dollar for each survey and they really dont take long at all.
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
How frustrating. I've had similar things happen when I worked in retail - one month I'd get 20 hours per week, another only 8 or 12. Now I run my own small business, so I'm busy all of the time. (Although in the beginning, I only had two clients, so it was very slow, and I worked a couple other jobs at the same time).
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Yes, if I don't pick up my earnings on Fridays, I could loose that day, too and I could end up with only 12 hours. If my Sat and Sun go low, I could be down to 8. What a pain. I've tried different self-employment jobs and I only have broken even. Mostly I can do a lot of the same things as other people. Take care
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
Some people are not good at sales. I never was. I hope you find another job and something that you like to do. That is why I quit outside work, because I never made enough at office work, and then I got demoted from secretary to steno to file clerk, and in between was doing odd jobs as cleaning a residential home, and being a ward aide so instead of advancing I was going backwards. Too bad writing does not pay that well.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I got congratulations from my boss for 3 weeks in a row before Christmas because I sold out of dog treats for three weeks in a row. That's about $180 in treats per week. Plus all the other sales I did. Then after the holidays, you didn't sell enough on Thursdays, so we have to get rid of your Thursday hours. It wasn't that I didn't sell enough overall, it was that I didn't sell very much in one of the evenings and after Christmas there are less sales. Before I got there, sales were at about 300$ a week, a few weeks later, they were at $600 a week. So I doubled sales. Actually, I'm not bad at it. There are just lots of ups and downs. I was hoping to get a bonus for all the treats I sold and instead, I received 4 hours less employment. I have to work outside my home for 5 more years before I can do my state retirement. I don't know if that will be enough money when I retire. Mostly I've been making less money as I get older, too. Yes, I wish writing paid better. But in my case, I'm a so-so writer, so I don't expect a lot. I actually wish I was better at a lot of things. I have some interviews next week. Thank you vey much, I hope I get a job I like soon, too. I think I've talked about as many people as I can into buying pet food. Take care
@baidutom (13)
• China
4 Jan 08
i am sory to hear that ,but i can do nothing with you,sorry/
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I think you mean you can do nothing for me. Thank you. I'm sorry right now, too.
@alamode (3071)
• United States
4 Jan 08
Maybe this is a good thing... you can use those hours to find what truly makes you happy! Do you have a library or newspaper close? Could you post on more blog or article sites to makes up the difference? May be a blessing in disguise, my friend... think positive(ly)!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I'm positive that I'd better get something soon! He did give me two week notice so I can try to get more work to make up the difference.Other reps from other companies didn't get that, so it's great. I wish he would have done this before X-mas. Since I had a job offer that overlapped this job. If I had known, I would have taken it. I hope it's a blessing in disguise, I'm running out of jobs to get up here. I've had so many, I can't even count. I also hope you're right that I get something that makes me truly happy. Take care
@Monkeyrose (2840)
• Canada
4 Jan 08
I really am not a big fan of sales at any point in time. I understand though that in January most retail stores have to cut hours. Sales get really slow. I'm surprised though, did you not make a good commission over Christmas? I think you're right to look for another job though. 16 hrs a week is definately not enough to live by. Lol I have 21 hrs for my first week of my job next week and thats not even enough.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
5 Jan 08
If I didn't have a husband, I'd be in deep trouble. Even with him trying to pay over half of the bills, winter is really rough, now this. I think you're walking a mile in my shoes, or maybe even more so. I thought I had done well over Christmas, but Thursdays were very light. They paid me about 44 dollars and I usually only made about 20 dollars on that day, but I usually more than made up for it on other days. Loosing 4 hours, it could be worse, but it also could be better. Thanks and take care.