i almost hijacked burgermeisters Thread. I ll start my own.
What they do at my store is stick notes on the schedule board asking people if they will switch days with them and if that person agrees they then ask the manager. Yes it annoys the heck out of me because certain people are doing this constantly. Some people think their personal time is more important than everyone elses. If this time off is not approved they will just not come in and the other person who had that day off originally won't come in either so then we have a problem with 2 no shows.
I believe you work your personal life around your work schedule not the other way around. If you need a few days off for something try to ask for it a couple weeks in advance and don't do it all the time or we just think B.S. i want people to just look at the schedule. Write it down and assume that is what they will be working. If an emergency happens of course we will understand. But if you want a certain day off let management know before the schedule is written. In my opinion we have posted schedules becuase the days change for everyone. we try to be fair and give different people a weekend off every now and then. If we were going to give them the same days every week why write a schedule? you would think that would be imprinted in their brains.
Its kind of like the schedule goes up every week and people gather around it and go "oh i don't wanna work that day will you switch we me sally?" Schedule writting is NOT easy someone had to sit down and carefully plan that schedule for 15 or so people. Inconsiderate people disgust me. *sigh*
Sorry this one touched a nerve. I feel better now.
Since my first day, July 24 (25?) 1978, I have never asked for a change on written* schedule.
EXCEPT for twice when the boss assured me I'd get a certain requested day off. I asked him two weeks before and then reminded him early in the week of and/or the day before. Then guess what? I didn't get the day off (or an early shift to enable me to go out that evening)
He forgot. So then I remind him. "Beavis (not his real name). I had asked you for Tuesday evening off and you said "no problem, it's yours" and now I see I'm working late Tuesday. Can you fix it? I need out by 4:30 or off"
So he changes it. I really really dislike that. Because it could mean that I'll have to ask someone to trade. Which I've never done in 34.5 years. Fortunately he made the change before anyone else saw it. I've traded dozens of shifts with others, but it was always the other person asking. Not me.
Maybe if I had written it on the calendar, it would have been done right the first time. You think?
My boss is super cool with requests. Most people get everything they want. I often see him writing a schedule and he'll ask me if I need anything. I'll say "no thank you, but I appreciate you asking"
* by "written schedule" I mean a written and posted schedule after the agreed upon (in contract) posting time which is 2 PM on Thursday. Our schedule may be pencil written prior to that, but it's not posted until then. On a very rare occasion you might get a peek at a non official penciled in schedule and make a request to change it.
Set schedules often work best, at least in our department. I know uncontrollable factors such as available hours, sickness/ emergencies, civic duties and bad weather make things sometimes challenging, but , knowing if you have a certain schedule every week also makes it easier to plan things outside of work...
Depends on the situation and who it is ...I have my FAvs...the guys who work hard for me....and don't bitch...I do my best to keep my core guys happy ....keepem happy they will always have ur back...especially the old timers
I make scheduels for 50 employees, 16 weeks at a time. All my parttime assistens are allowed to switch between them self as much they like, i just need to know. only around Christmas they are not allowed. Our normal staff has to ask, but I will go very far to help them.
I agree with you, when you say you arrange your personal life around your work. But sometimes things come up.
The bonus is when I show trust in them to switch in between or let the normal staff get there changes is they help me. They almost evrry time stand up and help, stay extra hours with out charging us.
I have had some problems of course. But I talk to them, sometimes they switch there times, but wont dø it if they are asked. Then I tell them how that looks in there co-workers eyes.
But the problem is that we are all getting more of this because of generation Y.
My advise to you fdarn is: Create a Facebook site for your workers, let them post in there. make it a rule, that The one who overtakes the shift, must come to you with a signed note that he/her accept the changes. Then there is no doubt who has to work, you wont get notes.
If you need to here more about how we do it, let me know. Ill send you a PM. I know how frustrating this is. But now I rarely think about it, because it Works.
scheduling reflects the strength of a team, and also the manager, thats the way I looked at it and here's why;
Scheduling must be a two-way street meaning, if a manager asks you to work an extra couple hours, because it is busy, or someone else called in sick, then that manager also has to be flexible with personal requests if someone needs to leave early or come in late on certain days, there has to be a balance. I would also reward the top performers as an incentive for others- because the top performers had a high commitment level and cared about the department.
in one store the cutters asked for four ten hour days,,,giving them three days off- Coming up thru the ranks Ive known many cutters to ask for this, with a reply-cant do it..company policy well, quietly, I did it, it made my job a little more difficult on a couple days, but, from that point on,,,I had happy cutters, and very productive cutters, very flexible with change
I think we all get frustrated from the lower productive workers, always asking for special requests, while the high performance employees, ask for very little, and when they do,,,you make sure you accomodate that
scheduling reflects the strength of a team, and also the manager, thats the way I looked at it and here's why;
Scheduling must be a two-way street meaning, if a manager asks you to work an extra couple hours, because it is busy, or someone else called in sick, then that manager also has to be flexible with personal requests if someone needs to leave early or come in late on certain days, there has to be a balance. I would also reward the top performers as an incentive for others- because the top performers had a high commitment level and cared about the department.
I think we all get frustrated from the lower productive workers, always asking for special requests, while the high performance employees, ask for very little, and when they do,,,you make sure you accomodate that
Very well said. It is a two way street. Management asks me for more favors than I ask from them. Maybe that's why I always get what I ask for.
