My s**tty job. Pleas help me out.

[Tallulah]

I'm not sure if this problem is serious enough for LHH, but I thought it a little too heavy for General Chat (I don't want to bring everyone down... ha ha!) So mods, feel free to move this if it doesn't fit. :)

I have something of a dilemma on my hands, and it is beginning to get me down.

Since June last year I have had a job that I really enjoyed, and when I went back to university I still worked weekends. A few months ago, (although by this time the novelty had worn off) this was cut down to either Saturday or Sunday, which pissed me off somewhat. And it's gotten worse. For the past 3 weeks, ever since I phoned in sick over Easter, in fact, I have not received any shifts, so this has prompted me to search for another job.

I am on a 'zero hours' contract so technically they are not obliged to give me any if they dont want, but even still, the five or six hours a week I was working prior to this incident brought in the money, just covering my rent (leaving my substantial loan open for more interesting things! 8) )

Are they not giving me shifts because they can't afford to pay part-timers (this was the excuse they gave for cutting my hours in the first place) or does it have something to do with the fact that I phoned in sick? (I only did it because I was in London, and transport everywhere in Britain is impossible during the Easter weekend.) I don't think they know that I *ahem* faked it, but are they trying to punish me for something I can't help (that includes the transport system! -_- )? Or are they assuming I don't want the job any more (I don't, but that's beside the point. I still want shifts for the MONEY!!)

Enough background, I think. Here is the real dilemma. I have been trying hard, I mean REALLY hard, to find another job. In the past three weeks, I have handed in eight application forms and/or resumes (or CVs, as we Brits call them), mainly for part time retail jobs but I have applied for some bar/restaurant work as it's just something I've always wanted to do. On top of that, I am still looking out for any other recruitment signs in shop windows, and nip into the job centre to see if I can find anything relevant.

My problem is this -- should I chuck in my existing job now and hand in my resignation, or should I do this when I know I have a new job lined up? I am angry at the way my current employers are treating me, but I don't know how to tell them that I have, frankly, had enough. If they are acting upon orders from Head Office (who also forced all stores, not just us, to play a ridiculous CD laden with ridiculous football songs and endless soundbites of David Beckham scoring from the same free kick, just to promote the ugly new England shirt) then I do forgive the people in the shop whole-heartedly, because they are really nice people. On the other hand, I don't want to end up with no job at all (I'm trying to be positive but it's hard; I am not really a very confident person).

So, what do you guys think I should do? Yes, I tried asking my mum, but she just blinded me with employment law! :retard: Bloody Personnel! (uhh, don't tell her I said that...)

Thanks for taking the time to read this; I hope it makes sense!

[_J_]

Uhh... Well, that sucks. I'd wait 'till I had another job lined up. You never know, you may get some shift in the meantime on the off chance. So, I'd stick it out unless you really can't stand... doing nothing >.> There's no much else you can do but keep going to interviews and making sure that your CV is everywhere (so to speak). And if all else fails you can sponge off your parents!

[Ariah]

Yeah, I'd wait until you had another job lined up too - just to be on the safe side. I recently changed jobs and wanted to leave my old one as soon as possible, but I waited until I had another job secured just in case - you don't want to end up struggling (even with the current shift problems). How much notice do you have to give if you did leave that job? (Although if they're not giving you any shifts at the moment I guess that isn't really much of a problem).

[Hoshi]

This happened to a friend of mine that I used to work with. The best thing is to confront your employer and ask why you're not getting any shifts. Don't quit your current job until you have another one lined up...

[Mysterious Being]

I suppose it depends on why you are working. Do you really need a job? Is it worth having a job that's going to make you miserable for x hours a week just to get the money? Can you survive if, worse case scenario, you don't get another job for 6 months? Of course, considering you're not getting any hours, it probably doesn't matter all that much. But what are the chances that you'll get hours later on?

I suppose if you really hate it, and can continue to live off the money you are getting from that allowance thingo then quitting your job would be alright. You could quit on principle (which I think is what you're kinda thinking of) but I doubt it would do anything.

So I suppose that you should wait for another job. It probably won't take you that long if you are searching as actively as I think you are. You're bound to get a job sooner or later, and I think now is already later by the way that you are talking about it.

But if you are not likely to get any more work in your current job, you could quit, just to send a message to them. Of course, you would have to tell them why are quitting...

[Sujin]

wow that sucks.... at least you have a job.
i think you should know whether or not you can get another job before you quit, because if you quit and you are not able to get another job, you basically have no way to get money.

[Sofa King]

You said you are going to a University. Have you checked if they have a job center where people help student get other jobs and even jobs (paid internships) in the major that you are studying in?

I'm not familiar with the system in London since I live in the US.

As for you current employeer, if you knew it was "impossible" to get to work during Easter, you really should have let your supervisor or manager know ahead of time so you wouldn't be in a position to lie. Could have easily avoided the problem (if there was a problem) to begin with by getting your hours cut down.

Anyway, if you are looking for another job, I go with newspapers and online sources to help you. Check here (http://london.craigslist.org/) on the job sections. Its update daily. Hope that helps and best of luck.

~blank :)

[Tallulah]

Thanks for your advice, everyone. I wasn't really expecting so many replies, as a lot of you are still at school and don't have to worry about things like that.

Blank, you do have a point. My mum, being er, my mum, didn't really want me to skive off in the first place, and I guess I should have made more of an effort to go in -_-

I did really want to find a new job before this happened, but I thought, as long as I'm getting the shifts, I'm okay where I am.

Anyway, I'll have a word sometime next week, and maybe pop my CV into a few more places, even if they aren't specifically searching for anyone.

Thanks again, everyone! :D

[Minion]

Try the newspaper, is al I can say. I lost my job in feburary, i wanted to quit, but they wouldnt let me. So I made them fire me. Anyway, try a job searcher for your local area or something. That's all i can think of.

[Beatrix the Goddess]

The most important thing to do is check what sort of notice you're expected to give in your current job; so that if you get a new job you can tell them when you can start working. Incidentally if you weren't asked to sign a contract I don't think you're obliged to give any notice. But you need to know how to juggle the in-between time; I definitely say you should keep your old job 'til you get a new one - any job is better than no job, even if your current one isn't brilliant. But you know your student loan is there for you to use :) And if you're in London you must have got more than us poor sods who aren't :P About £1,000 more isn't it? Given that, you can afford to be slightly choosy about the new job you do.

[blitzking99]

The same thing happened to my sisters. When the colledge students came back they got zero hours which aint fair. But whence colledge started again they got their hours back. What I would suggest is either look for a new job while you have all this free time off or stay there and be used.

[Tallulah]

I went to the shop today and asked the manager in charge, Michael (the scary one, who blatantly isn't scary at all! :P ) and he told me that I hadn't informed Steph (the manager proper, who is in charge of the rotas) that I was back available to work after my, ahem, illness. Nevertheless, I told him I was looking for another job, and he was cool about that. I have to give one week's notice (technically it would be none, but the rota is done a week in advance)

So, thank you everyone for your help and comments of your own experiences, particularly the usual suspects, i.e. BtG. You've done it again! :)