Full-time Employee, but Only Getting Part-time Hours
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
United States
January 6, 2016 4:08pm CST
My health took a turn for the worse in November. My gallbladder had to be removed. The recovery time seemed short enough. I was told that I would be back in six weeks.
When I returned I found that I had gaps in my schedule. Normally I work 37 1/2 hours a week., lately it is much less. Today I started at 11:30 and worked until 4:00. If I had enough earned time to use in place of the hours I missed it would be okay. However, I used most of what I had left when I was out on medical leave.
So now I have to ponder whether or not to seek different employment. I have been doing this job for almost 10 years. I love my work and hope not to have to find something else. But, should the reduction in hours continue, I may have no other choice.
22 people like this
27 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
7 Jan 16
If I wanted to find a new job I think I would do it while I still had a job so that just in case you don't find one at least you have one.
3 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I have years of experience with office work so I plan on venturing to our local employment office this Friday to see what is available. It will at least give me an idea of what to be when I grow up.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
7 Jan 16
@AbbyGreenhill I am anxiously awaiting the day when I can say I am officially retired. However, I can't see myself sitting around and not doing anything.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
7 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly I am not sitting around doing nothing I didn't mean to imply I was.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Jan 16
@infatuatedbby after talking with the scheduler it was because she was having problems filling the gaps with new clients for me.
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
14 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly Was there a reason why your employment won't give you full time anymore though?
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
7 Jan 16
Yes, I can see how you would want more hours Elusive. I am glad you are on the mend after surgery.
Tho you may want to look for other work, are they cutting everyones hours or just yours do you know?
And would not maybe another company be cutting hours too?
I know you love this job so I would hate to know you would have to leave it.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
I plan on going to the local employment office to see what is available. Not sure what is going on, but I'll get my weekend and Monday schedule and go from there.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@TiarasOceanView thank you my dear friend.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly Yes go from there Elusive, no harm in looking either. I wish you luck my friend.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan 16
Are they reducing your hours on purpose to get you below a certain threshold where they won't have to pay you benefits anymore, or is this just a slow time of the year at your work?
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
6 Jan 16
I hope that isn't the case Jeff. Although I have worried that it may happen and has been the topic of discussion for my other full-time, benefited coworkers as well.
This work never slows down. We get new clients everyday and often do not have enough PCA's to cover them.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
6 Jan 16
@moffittjc I agree with you on the Obamacare issue. It really was a great idea, but one that needs some tweaking. Universal healthcare for all is something that should happen.
I wondered just today if they were doing this on purpose to get me to leave. Having just lost one of my favorite clients, I really wasn't certain I wanted to stay. But, my other clients tell me everyday how much they appreciate me. That is enough for me.
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly I hope they're not doing it on purpose either. We have been told countless times at my place of employment to limit workers to less than 37 hours per week, because if they end up averaging more than 38 hours per week over the course of the year, we have to offer them full benefits. When all us managers complained that it wasn't fair to those employees, we were told to thank Obamacare for causing the situation. Although I think Obamacare had good intentions, it looks like in reality it's hurting as much as its helping.
3 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
I plan on talking to the scheduler tomorrow if my schedule for the upcoming weekend and Monday is lacking.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
7 Jan 16
Is there a reason in the reduction? I would ask it may only be temporary.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
I haven't seen any of my coworkers to ask if their schedules have been reduced.
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
8 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly I would find out, can't hurt to ask........ at least I don't think it can.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
6 Jan 16
I hope so GG. I really don't want to leave as I have been with them for 10 years. This even when we merged with our local hospital and then were bought by another hospital. Change isn't easy.
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Jan 16
That's weird. I had my gallbladder out several years back. It was and out-patient procedure and I was out of work a matter of a few days and then was back at it. I think they schedule people back from surgery at less hours for awhile incase they need time to recover and get back to full bore again. Can't you ask?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
I was out for 6 weeks because the doctor put weight restrictions and couldn't push or pull anything, or twist. How does one not do any of these things when you are a homemaker and personal care attendant? My work wouldn't allow me back until I was able to work at full capacity. Now they say they are having difficulty filling in my schedule with clients.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@celticeagle We have several agencies in our town. Ours is the only non-profit.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (167015)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly ...That is weird. Wonder what the difference between our conditions would be.
Are they running out of business. ?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
8 Jan 16
Many employers use any excuse to get employees off of full time so they don't get benefits.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@BelleStarr I may look into private duty if I need to. But, I am hoping things get back to normal soon.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
8 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly My son is a nurse and the hospital he worked for did it to him. He left and went into private care.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Jan 16
Actually, I didn't need to speak to her. The scheduler is getting me the hours, finally.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
15 Jan 16
@simone10 Me too. Just got my first paycheck of the year and it did reflect the deficit in hours.
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
14 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly Well, that's good. I'm glad that it has all been worked out for you.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
23 Jan 16
I have found that I am not the only one not getting hours. I guess it is a company problem.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
25 Jan 16
@lokisdad by the time my day has ended I am pooped. It leaves me little time to go home and do my own housework or go visit my family. My husband is younger than me, I'll let him take on the second job.
1 person likes this
@lokisdad (4226)
• United States
25 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly It might be and this would be a time that would test loyalty to the company. Stay and work through the tough time and work a side job when you can either on your days off or opposite shift.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 Jan 16
is this a winter trend? or signs of something that is going to keep getting worse?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
It has happened before when I was out on leave for other medical reasons.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
9 Jan 16
@Jessicalynnt I do have a full schedule for the weekend. Hoping it was just because the scheduler had to reassign people,
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
9 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly so perhaps subtle punishment for having to be out?
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
7 Jan 16
@Plethos Most likely so. Get rid of the benefited employees and save a bundle.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
7 Jan 16
They have hired a lot of per diem workers, but I have yet to actually know of any that work other than when people are out for vacation or illness.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
7 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly - i see, a "cost cutting" move to skew the books in thier favor.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
7 Jan 16
@trivia79 I am a Personal Care Attendant.
1 person likes this
@trivia79 (7828)
• El Segundo, California
7 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly And that made your salary decreased. What is your job by the way?
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
14 Jan 16
Someone told me it could be because they want you to leave. It could also be the company may be afraid you will get hurt and they don't want to risk putting you back to full schedule. I do agree with scheng, there is only one way to find out for sure and that is to ask.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
15 Jan 16
She stated that she is having problems finding people to fill in my schedule. I offered a solution to the problem asking for companion hours with some of my clients. Unfortunately they don't get paid enough for companion hours. I did get one client this weekend that had companion hours. You still do the same tasks with them.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
15 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly Hopefully it works out for you.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
My health is okay now. Strength is what is the problem now.
1 person likes this
Anyway get well soon.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
6 Jan 16
I would like to think that I am an asset to the company. However, since this new company has taken over, I tend to think they would rather have only per diem workers.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (50981)
• Canada
6 Jan 16
@ElusiveButterfly I didn't realize that your company has been taken over, that has never gone well in places that I've worked at after a take over.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
6 Jan 16
@Juliaacv The hospital that we worked for decided that we weren't making enough money and sold our agency. Really? We are a non-profit. I don't fully understand that one.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I was given clearance to return to work at full capacity.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
8 Jan 16
Is it possible to pick up shifts from other employees? Sometimes I've found that when some of the help is lacking in hours, others are getting many more than desired and a swap can take place. I hope you can work it out with management, or whomever does the schedule, otherwise it could end up a blessing in disguise. It would be better to find out now, if things don't end up working out, then after you've been there for even more years.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
8 Jan 16
I realize that nothing is consistent but change. If it is to be, then it will be.
1 person likes this
@keepitsimpleyo (32)
•
7 Jan 16
Well talk with your colleagues or supervisor just in case they have deliberately reduced so as to not overwork you since you have just been back. Also always try finding new job side by side if you are not totally satisfied with it. good luck!!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
7 Jan 16
I'll see what the weekend brings as it is my weekend to work. Normally I have at least 7 hours each day.
1 person likes this
