RHU ADVICE: How Do I Get More Hours?

From Captain No-Babies

Hello Again RHU, I wanted to ask advice on getting more hours at work. This year, corporate had my manager hire RIDICULOUS amounts of people for the holidays as seasonal workers, but my manager doesn't know how to let people go when their time is up.

This means that there's about 15 people on the schedule, when we normally are running on about 8 people. This wasn't a HUGE deal in December, because I was still about to get about 15 hours a week, which is normal for me, but now that it's January, I've been getting 4 hours a week after being there for over 2 1/2 years, which is longer than any of the other sales associates. In fact, I'm getting the same number of hours as the seasonal workers, untrained workers, and lazy workers are getting.

My manager constantly raves about how great I am and how hard I work, as does the district manager, and I've had multiple compliments to corporate from customers, yet I'm being treated like trash with my hours. My manager also just accepted a girl transferred into our store, even though our sister store in the same complex desperately wants her, and we barely have enough hours as is. I'm not too worried about getting hours for the rest of my winter break, because I go back to school in a couple weeks, but I am very worried about the summer.

I know that over the summer I'd like at least 20 hours a week, but full time would be really nice, however, the corporate policy is that only managers and assistant managers can be full time, and supervisors can have up to 29.5 hours, while associates can have up to 19.5 hours.

I don't want to leave my store, because as much as I complain about it, my co-workers aren't as terrible as some of the ones that I read about and I do enjoy my job.

Should I apply everywhere I can, and tell my manager if I get something and then either quit or work two part time jobs, or should I tell my manager up front that I need more hours, and I'd really like to move up in the company so I can get more hours and see what she can do for me? 

Thanks for the advice in advance!

May all your customers be nice, 

--Captain No-Babies

Comments

[sytra]

I say be upfront, tell your boss that you want more hours and if he can't do that you might have to find work elsewhere. I did that with my boss and it worked like a charm.

This might sound harsh and bitchy but if you are working with people that don't do anything or just can't seem to learn tell your boss who they are.

[Duke of URL]

I would say apply everywhere you can, maybe even management-level stuff where you currently work, and then go from there.

[LabRat]

Trying both tactics couldn't hurt you. They can't fire you for asking about employment opportunities, especially if you word it politely and sincerely about wanting to continue working for said company. But if they can't do anything for you then you have to go where the money is, even if it means quitting a place you like for some place you loathe. I'm also in college and have multiple jobs, some of which suck balls, but since my family doesn't have a spare couple of grand on them to be used for my education, you gotta do what you gotta do, right?

[MK]

I agree with LabRat with trying both tactics. Always explore all your options. One idea would be to see if the sister store you mentioned needs someone. I currently work at two stores in the same mall that are sister stores. I love it because between the two I pick up more hours and the store policies and procedures are either identical or very similar.