A reader writes:
In August of 2024, I left behind TV information reporting to change into a social media supervisor for museums in my metropolis. My profession in TV information was stuffed with manipulation, toxicity, lengthy hours, and missed holidays. My new job was a typical 9-5, with occasional weekend occasions for a number of hours. It was the boring job I wanted.
The native theater and museum (they’re mixed and owned by the identical firm) took an curiosity in me, and the CEO supplied me a job with them. I used to be informed I would wish to work weekends about as soon as a month for exhibits, and I used to be okay with that. After trying on the schedule posted to the theater’s web site, I made a decision I used to be okay with working a number of weekends. So, I accepted, excited for the chance to develop on this firm. I emailed my soon-to-be boss a listing of dates I used to be unavailable that I knew exhibits had been on. I requested for a schedule of all occasions, however was informed, “We’ll speak about it while you begin right here.”
Nicely, I began in January and so they gave me the occasion schedule, and I see why they waited to do it till after I began. There’s something each. single. weekend. This schedule is DOUBLE the quantity on the web site. Everybody failed to say that we host personal occasions, some two weeks lengthy. There have been issues like my child sister’s birthday celebration that I didn’t ask off for and household weekends as a result of I assumed we had been closed! I really feel betrayed and lied to. And once I introduced it up, I obtained the stereotypical “we’re an occasions venue and you might be anticipated to be at these occasions.” It felt very paying homage to my job in TV information, the place we had been anticipated to dedicate our life’s to our jobs.
If I had identified in regards to the personal occasions (a few of that are 12- to 16-hour days), I’d have by no means accepted this place. My new boss informed me I’d solely work two exhibits a month on my first day, however once I requested for added days off after receiving the schedule, I used to be informed, “Other than the times you beforehand despatched me, I’d count on to work each different occasion day.” I didn’t depart TV information to nonetheless be unable to see my household.
I can’t inform if I’ve been fooled or if I ought to have anticipated this, and I don’t know what to say to anybody that received’t lead to me being fired.
I don’t see why you must have anticipated it while you had been informed you would wish to work one weekend a month.
You took them at their phrase.
The issue is that they apparently lied to you.
The query now’s: if these schedule necessities aren’t going to alter, do you continue to need the job? What you must do is determined by that reply.
For those who’re prepared to depart over it, you may be extraordinarily assertive about it. Sit down along with your boss and say: “After I was being employed, I used to be informed I’d have to work one weekend a month and I accepted the job on that foundation. I couldn’t have accepted if I’d been informed I’d be anticipated to work each different weekend. Since that’s not potential for me with my commitments outdoors of labor, how ought to we proceed?” If she says it’s not versatile and also you’ll have to work each different weekend no matter what you had been promised, then you must say, “If there’s no flexibility on that, it’s not a place I can keep in. What’s your desire on how we proceed from right here?”
An enormous caveat: even when your boss says she’ll allow you to off the hook for a few of these occasions, you must nonetheless proceed with a number of warning. Except her perspective is “this was a horrible miscommunication and I’m so sorry it occurred and we need to work this out,” it’s extremely doubtless that you just’ll find yourself being pressured to work extra weekends than you need to, no matter what she says now.
For those who’re not prepared to depart over it … nicely, first, I feel you have to be! They lured you into this job below false pretenses, so even for those who’re not able to depart tomorrow, you have to be actively searching for one other job so you will get out. But when it’s essential to keep in the meantime, you’d do a softer model of the above, which might imply one thing like: “After I was being employed, I used to be informed I’d have to work one weekend a month and I accepted the job on that foundation. I couldn’t have accepted if I’d been informed I’d be working each different weekend. What’s the easiest way to resolve this?” If she says there’s no altering it now, you may say, “I can attempt to discover some flexibility in my schedule, however since I used to be introduced on with the promise of 1 weekend a month, can you give me some flexibility in return? Can we work out a schedule that’s nearer to what I used to be informed can be required?”
Possibly that may lower down on a few of your weekend scheduling whilst you’re caught there, perhaps it received’t, but it surely’s value a strive.
Additionally! Who informed you initially that you just’d solely be working one weekend a month? If that was a unique particular person than your present boss, and if they’re larger up than your present boss is, it’s value going again to them, explaining what’s occurred, and asking if they’ll intervene in your behalf, as the one who promised you that. They could or is probably not prepared/in a position to, but it surely’s value a strive given their function in what occurred.
