I (31 female) work overnight 7 on 7 off (I also pick up 1 day every other week to get my 80 hours and work PRN at two other hospitals on my days off for overtime some weeks, although it’s not every day or every week.) So, the lady that works the opposite 7 on 7 off shift is from another country. Anyway, about 2-3 months ago she approached me asking if I could switch weeks with her so that she would have to take minimal PTO hours for her month long trip back to her home country. This trip is supposed to begin in 3 weeks and we are 3 days away from switching weeks. I am scheduled for 8 nights of overtime during the time she is gone (80 hours). I have rearranged my schedule and turned down overtime at the other hospitals that I am unable to get back. She called today demanding that the manager put the schedule back the way it was bc she has decided not to go on the trip due to her son needing to study for an entrance exam. While I understand that plans change, I am losing out on a lot of money (that I was banking on bc my dog just had a very costly surgery). I would also like to add that I took off on the wrong day for a concert this month and when I realized, I requested off for the correct day and did not expect for the person scheduled to take my shift on the wrong day to give me my hours back, I just ate the time. I feel like she knew her son had to study before now and she shouldn’t be allowed to just say “I’m not going, give me my schedule back” without a valid reason (like a health concern). I feel that she should have to eat at least some of the time off since I rearranged my life and turned down shifts at other places to work for her. So, AITAH?
UPDATE: I just got off the phone with the director. I barely had to say anything on the call. He sided with me partially. He said that he will ensure that I get 8 overtime days (10 hour shifts). The schedule will be updated Sunday and will be sent to me Monday for approval. He also said that he will be having a talk with coworker about how going forward, after the schedule is made, there will be no backing out. Whatever she takes off, she has to eat if she doesn’t go in the trip. He said that the only reason she thinks this is acceptable is because in the past they have been so short staffed that it’s been a total relief if she cancels or moves her dates because they don’t have coverage, but that it’s unfair to me so it stops now. I’m very happy with this and glad I didn’t have to plead my case too hard.
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Backup of the post’s body: I (31 female) work overnight 7 on 7 off (I also pick up 1 day every other week to get my 80 hours and work PRN at two other hospitals on my days off for overtime some weeks, although it’s not every day or every week.) So, the lady that works the opposite 7 on 7 off shift is from another country. Anyway, about 2-3 months ago she approached me asking if I could switch weeks with her so that she would have to take minimal PTO hours for her month long trip back to her home country. This trip is supposed to begin in 3 weeks and we are 3 days away from switching weeks. I am scheduled for 8 nights of overtime during the time she is gone (80 hours). I have rearranged my schedule and turned down overtime at the other hospitals that I am unable to get back. She called today demanding that the manager put the schedule back the way it was bc she has decided not to go on the trip due to her son needing to study for an entrance exam. While I understand that plans change, I am losing out on a lot of money (that I was banking on bc my dog just had a very costly surgery). I would also like to add that I took off on the wrong day for a concert this month and when I realized, I requested off for the correct day and did not expect for the person scheduled to take my shift on the wrong day to give me my hours back, I just ate the time. I feel like she knew her son had to study before now and she shouldn’t be allowed to just say “I’m not going, give me my schedule back” without a valid reason (like a health concern). I feel that she should have to eat at least some of the time off since I rearranged my life and turned down shifts at other places to work for her. So, AITAH?
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NTA. Did the manager switch the schedule back?
I hope your coworker understands that you will never be able to switch so much as a single shift with her after this.
Nah, you’re not the asshole. She changed her mind last minute and now expects you to just deal with it? That’s wild. You shouldn’t have to eat the loss because she flaked.
That is complete BS. Once a shift swap is submitted to management it should be set in stone unless a new mutually agreed swap is submitted. You then own the new shifts and you cannot back out either.
What if she was.stjll planning to go but you had decided you didn’t want to cover her shifts (for any reason short of illness or bereavement- in which case you would use PTO specific for those reasons)? You wouldn’t get to just drop the shifts, would you?
Generally speaking they have to give a certain amount of notice for schedule changes and you have to agree. You could be a hard ass and said you didn’t agree to the changes and will be showing up as originally scheduled, and not whatever it was reverted to for the coworker’s benefit. But that’s up to you.
This is ridiculous. They should not be able to switch it back without an okay from you. What if you made plans according to your schedule and spent money on tickets accommodations etc. What if you’re simply not available to work those hours anymore?
That’s not how it works at all. You should 100% take it up with the director and let them know you cannot just switch your hours willy nilly and switch everything around whenever you felt like it.
This sucks and they screwed you. you need to very clearly outline how they screwed you:
I am extremely frustrated that my schedule has been changed without discussing it with me first. I rearranged x, y, and z to accommodate this change for coworker. Reverting it back with no notice has now caused a, b, and c problems for me and will cost me $xxx in lost earnings as a result. Please consider this notice that due to her unreliability and the reversion with no consideration to how it would impact me or my plans, going forward I will no longer consider any requests from her to switch schedules. If she is unable to work her shifts for any reason, alternate arrangements will need to be made that don’t include me.
ETA: please update as I’m sure we all want to know how this turns out.
NTA! Honestly go be a problem and mention that it’s quite strange that a shift change does not need mutual agreement? You have made arrangements for this too!! If you want to be a properly prepared problem – see if the place has an employee policy handbook/guidance/policy on shifts and changes.
Would they have honored an immediate switch back without any discussion if you wanted to get rid of the shifts? This is ridiculous flaky behavior, and shifty shit from the lead tech.
NTA – Lead tech is in trouble if you push this which I highly suggest that you do.
Looking forward to your updates after reading your comments. Good luck
Honestly, I’d go back to the lead tech and say that I hadn’t authorised transferring those shifts back to your colleague and ask him to revert it back to you having the OT hours, given you’ve rearranged x and y to take on the shifts. You own those shifts since the agreement was made and shifts updated in the first place!
It sounds as if your skills are in demand. I’d start looking at other employment.
It took them months to get you. And when the word gets out how you were treated, and it should, it will be significantly affect their ability to attract and hire your replacement.
Please be aware- you hold the cards here. It’s time you learn how valuable an employee you are. Stand up for yourself. You’re too accommodating to people who have no interest in accommodating you.
NTA
Say no if you can. NTA.
OP we need an update! Following in hopes of seeing coworker eat her PTO like she deserves!
Nta she can’t change it last minute like that
The thing here is that you’re upset about losing overtime. However, from the company standpoint, they are now not paying overtime. That’s probably why they were so quick to switch her schedule back. So be prepared to eat the loss and, going forward, don’t be nice to this coworker about switching shifts. Management should be finding coverage for her shift if she’s on PTO anyway. That’s their job.
Updateme
At my workplace (Canada) once shift change is approved there is no going back unless both sides agreed. If I take OT in one area and suddenly they do not need me, they have to find me different area. If I go to different area I am paid OT as agreed. If I refuse, I do not get paid.
I am community nurse.
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Updateme!
So did you keep the schedule when you switched
NTA
You already made the commitments and rearranged your schedule for her benefit. I would absolutely refuse to change it again.
NTA
Her poor planning does not have to set you MORE on fire than you already have; you have a life too
Keep it as is, right now the schedule benefits and favors you which is great and she isn’t happy. She wants it to favor her, she makes the money and you lose out.
It doesn’t work like that, she made plans, you changed your schedule for her as a favor, she had a change in plans so now she has to take the loss. That’s how it works and if you explain this to her, she should agree, if she wants to throw a fit about it, then just know this is a person you never want to help out again.
No good deed goes unpunished.
NTA time for her to put on her big girl panties and act like an adult. She should have to work the schedule that has been changed, for her own benefit, I might add.
NTA. But do your best to keep things cordial. Your frustration is justified and a ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ kind of way!
NTA. If you committed to switching, and now she’s changing her mind, you shouldn’t have to suffer and give back the shifts.
I had a co-worker beg me to take a shift so she could go to a funeral (generous leave but this relative didn’t qualify).
Day of guess who strolls in on OT. When confronted they say “what, I wasn’t that close to them.” I just said to not EVER ask me for anything again.
People suck.
UpdateMe!
Never change your shifts again to help her. Make sure you look after yourself first, just like she does.