How do i politely refuse extra hours at work with no hard feelings?

Question

A couple of months ago i got a saturday job in a shoe shop. Im at school at the moment so i've just been working saturdays and sundays, but now the summer is coming up and it's a busy time they want me to work five or six days a week, full time. I really dont want to do that much, im happy to do one or two extra days but i have other stuff i want to do and at the end of the day it isnt my full time job!! Problem is, most of the other kids have agreed to do lots of hours, and my manager has been kind of pressuring me into it a bit so i dont know if i should say no or just accept the hours begrudgingly? If i say no, how can i do this without them making my life a misery? help!!

Answer 1

i normally use family problems but to get thet to work you have to do it every now and again

Answer 2

Well I don't think they will make your life a misery after all it is your personal choice on whether you work or not. I am unsure what your doing in the week ...whether you just want to chill out and do just a few extra days or whether you have a another job...or if you have other commitments. I would write down all the shifts that you can do over the summer and type this up as a polite letter to your line manager. If possible, I would ask if you could have a’ quick word with him/her....or if you could arrange to speak to him/her when they are not busy'...I would then just explain that you have written down the shifts that you can do for the company over the Summer, acknowledge it is not full time but that you have other personal commitments and that at the moment these are the shifts that are you are available and that you would be happy to do one or two extra shifts. You shouldn’t have to explain why you don't want to do more than a few extra shifts...but I know some places take it that they are letting the team down and some can be nasty about it...but I am hoping your manager at least is not like that and you should try to say all this off the shop floor. If you think you are dealing with someone who will try to bully you then I say fight fire with fire and tell some sort of white lie such as 'you are getting some work experience in a XXXX' whatever it is you want to do so will not be available to work...on such and such a day or you are doing some 'voluntary work ' ...no heartless manager can slash you for that! To be honest if you are thinking of Uni...I would try to cram as many work hours as possible so you can pay your tuition fees in two years time or buy a car!

At University I had to let the manager know I wanted to quit...as I wanted to work abroad in Canada...the manager was ok with it but one of the mindless 'S'HIT Stirrers took it bad. still I had a great summer working in Vancouver....Have I gone off on a Tangent...you could be cheeky too saying you work nights at a store ...the rest of the week as it pays better so no one can grass on you if they see you hanging out with your mates! Or you could say you are helping your parents….anything to get away from smelly feet for the Summer!!!!

Answer 3

Just tell the boss that you have other obligations which is why you took on a part time job. He or she should understand and say "that's okay," but if not, places like McDonald's will go with whatever days you put down and if they ask you can say no, and they won't fire you.

I worked at a factory which had mandatory overtime, and I, mostly worked the overtime because I needed the money, but if I couldn't work a particular Saturday, I would say I couldn't, and they would ask somebody else, and if they said no too, then they would ask for a volunteer from a different department. Sometimes, they would offer me a meal ticket or whatever to say yes.

I know it is hard to say no, but if you can't work, you can't work, so just say you can't. I really don't believe that they will fire you as long as you are doing a good job the days you are working.

Answer 4

I would politely say no ... Obviously you're not interested in working the "extra hours" availability they'd prefer. Should the manager take issue with you on this matter then maybe it's time to find other work. If you are a good worker then your availability should be given consideration. This is after all a part time job and no amount of misery is worth it.

Answer 5

I think you have already done the best thing. Compromise. You have offered to do a few of the extra shifts so you have met them half way. Stick to your guns. Explain that you are happy with the amount of hours you have agreed to as you are planning to do things with the rest of the time off. You could also add that you may be willing to help out a little more when you have free time but don't want to commit to doing any more shifts on a permenant basis.

Answer 6

Involve your parents and they'll back off. Tell them you'll ask at home if its ok because you'd promised your paretns that most of your free time would be spent catching up on your studies/revision. Go back in next time and say you asked your parents and they went crazy. They said they appreciate you want to work hard in your job so you can do one or maybe two extra days but thats the limit. Pretend you're really annoyed and that you'd much prefer to be in the shop!

Answer 7

Now is a good time to learn to be assertive. Tell your boss you are happy to do some extra hours but not as many as he wants. Dont do it because the others have agreed, be an individual. You will face this problem many times in your life, this is a good time to learn. If he is a good manager, he will appreciate your honesty and maturity.

Answer 8

Tell them that you are happy just doing the hours/days you are already doing, and you want to continue having some free time outside of work and school, so that you can continue spending time with your family and friends. There may be days when you get loads of extra homework/course work from school, and you don't want to rush it and get bad grades, just so that you can earn an extra few pounds.

I'm sure that other people will be glad of the extra days/hours.

Answer 9

1. Tell them you have to babysit for your little brother / imaginary godchild and have commited yourself on those days.
2. (excuse two) You are studying and cannot do extra hours
3. Your parents have said you are not to do extra hours considering you are still at school and have to use the summer to brush up on your 'math'

The only risk is that they might get someone else who will do the extra hours but you can get another job anyway. Good luck

Answer 10

"I'm sorry, I have family commitments and responsibilities during the week that I can't get out of. I can work [this much]."

it is not their business what those "family commitments and responsibilities" are--and if they press you for details, you can just politely say that you'd prefer not to talk about it. only a complete asshole would press you past that! your only problem after that point is if you live in a small town and they see you at the beach every day or something like that. but the point is that employers have no right to get into your business.

(what i include in my "family commitments": alone-time, time for working out, writing... you are your own family, too.)

Answer 11

"When I accepted the job, it was for two days a week. I would be happy to add a few extra shifts to my schedule this summer, but unfortunately I've got other committments and can't work more than twenty-five hours each week. You can schedule me in wherever you need me most."

Quick and easy, and gives your boss the flexibility to schedule you during the busiest times.