My work has been struggling with for a year with both hiring and retaining employees. Instead of addressing the reasons for this, they force those of us still there to work mandatory overtime to fill the gaps. It's been this way for seven months. Instead of the 4/10 schedule I agreed to, I've been working my day off on Mondays so it's been 5/10 for seven consecutive months.
Recently I decided to change careers, but the class I'm going to take doesn't start till July. I sent an email to my manager two weeks ago that I was no longer available to work Mondays. My manager responded that I didn't have the right or option to say I'm not available on my days off. They scheduled me the following Monday, then called and texted me frantically when I didn't show. I was written up for it later that week. They asked if I was going to come in the next Monday, and I told them no. I then contested the write up, which meant that I would have a meaning with my manager, the senior manager, the regional manager, and HR. I also submitted my resignation for a few weeks before my class starts.
The meeting was this morning. The regional manager informed me that working Mondays was not optional, and if I was to miss another one I would be written up again and fired, even though I have submitted my resignation already. He said it would be a no call no show, and asked if I was going to be coming in if scheduled. I told him no, and that it wouldn't be a no call no show because I was telling him right then that I wouldn't be there. He then called it a willful absence, and reiterated that my job would be in jeopardy. I told him I wouldn't be there, and they have two options: Let me finish out my resignation working four days a week or fire me and shoot themselves in the foot, and that's where the meeting ended.
Before leaving work after my shift, I checked the schedule that had been posted for next week. I'M NOT SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY. Turns out I do have the right to tell them I'm not available. Have a good weekend, everyone!