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! )

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! Bloody Personnel! (uhh, don't tell her I said that...)

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