musicmaker Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 ...but today I picked a really bad time to ask a fairly large favor of him (involving my work schedule - I asked to be regularly scheduled for different shifts than he had me down for). He was very clearly upset - the first thing he said was "What if I say no? Ya gonna quit?" I managed to leave his office before he took my head entirely off. Later, as he was leaving, about 10% calmer he told me to take a look at the schedule for next week the next time I was in the office - he'd granted my request. Now, I seem to be coming to the realization that this request was an error in the first place. I'd rather go back to the shifts I was previously scheduled, but I'm actually a little bit frightened to ask (though he's normally very kind, my boss is a mountain of a man and can be very intimidating if he's at all upset). The reason I want to go back is not a particularly good one as far as he's concerned, but neither was the reason I asked in the first place. The only thing I've really thought to do is bring this up in a day or two when he's in a better mood and agree to work the re-scheduled shifts for next week but ask that for any further weeks I go back to my previous shifts. The schedule he had shifted to accommodate this request was, unfortunately, his own. Any thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites
Tony T Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 It's extremely tough for a supervisor to accommodate everybody's request for a particular schedule. Figure out a schedule you can ALWAYS LIVE WITH and put it on a piece of paper. On the top, write: "Permanent Schedule Request" Let him know it's a general request for a schedule you would like to have on a permanent basis and you would appreciate it if he could come closest to it. Then, stick with it and don't ask for changes unless there's a death in the family, a nuclear war in your area, an epidemic of the plague or you have to be at the hospital because you're having a baby. Give the guy a break! Link to post Share on other sites
Author musicmaker Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share Posted January 9, 2009 I understand that it's hard to keep everyone happy, but one of the things he said to me today was basically that I was the one "filling the gaps" while everyone else got the schedules they wanted/needed. Some of them are far better reasons than mine (a few of our employees are still in school). Some are not (one employee simply refuses to work before 11:00). This, along with getting my birthday off, are the only things I've ever asked, so I'm hoping after a brief "cool off" period everything will be ok. Definitely a good idea to emphasize that it'll be the only other time I need to ask for this sort of thing (it will be). Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
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