I’m looking for advice on what I should do in this situation. So Im a full time employee at a hospital in the US (Oregon) and my regular shifts are 4x10s. My day off during the week is Wednesday. Over the last year my manager has changed my schedule around a few times. I used to have Mondays off but since we are so busy on Mondays they told me I needed to work Mondays and take Wednesday off. I was upset but told them sure I’ll be a team player and change it. The last few months this has been my schedule, Wednesdays off now.
This past Friday, 15 mins before the weekend by the way, my manager calls me to say that I cannot work a 4 day week anymore and that soon I will have to work 5 days. This 4×10 shift is what made me choose this job! I am paid so much less than what I could be making elsewhere but I chose this position so I would have better mental health and great work life balance.
I’m the only one on my team who works the 4×10 shifts. It was something we agreed upon when I got hired. My manager even told me that since I work a 4×10 the “entire team is sacrificing themselves for this schedule” and that “I know your mental health is important but the team is more important”. It’s not my fault the other employees didn’t make this agreement when they got hired!
I told them flat out, with all due respect, no I will not change my schedule. Manager left the call saying they will have to talk to their manager and get back to me on Monday about what to do now.
The more I think about it I’m so frustrated this even is happening. I will not change my schedule just because you’re guilting me into this. It’s not my fault the team is struggling so bad! We need to hire more people. The team is still struggling on the days I am working. TBH we need at least 2 more new people with how busy we have been the last year. Side note my manager also sometimes works a 4×10, they usually take off most Fridays. I guess it’s okay if they do it but not me.
So I know what’s probably going to happen is that on Monday they are gonna tell me “it’s not working anymore” and I’ll be fired, so they can hire someone who can work 5 days. Or I might just bite the bullet and say I’ll work 5 days but can’t start it until June. Then in the mean time over these next few weeks I’ll be applying to other jobs then give notice in June. Cus if I have to work 5 days I will work 5 days elsewhere where I can be paid more. Or find a new 4×10 job.
I know going to HR isn’t smart cus they look out for the company not the employee. But since my manager brought my mental health into this equation it’s rubbing me the wrong way. Should I go to HR?
Btw I wrote this on mobile.. sorry for any grammar mistakes!