So I work as an industrial electrician at a smelter. Rotating shift work. 12 hr shifts. (Dupont schedule if you're interested in looking it up). The schedule is rough enough on your body as-is without taking into account how old, dirty, and hot the plant is. We are short on people (who isnt) so if anyone misses work for any reason someone from a different shift has to cover it. I come in to work on the 2nd to find my name all over the calendar in our shop as covering shifts for people that are taking PTO throughout the month. Nobody asked if I was willing or able to do it. Some of this OT put me working three 12 hr day shifts 7a-7pm followed by five 12 hr night shifts 7pm-7am with no time off to switch my sleep schedule at all.
I honestly want some feedback. Am I an entitled asshole from the younger generation for telling them I'm not going to work those days? I told them from day 1 that I'm OK with this rotating schedule, and I'll even pick up a bit of overtime during my 7day breaks (I haven't actually had a 7day off yet) but i'm not interested in working outside of that time. I destroyed my body enough while I was in the Navy, I'm not continuing that now that I'm out.
For real, is mandatory overtime to cover shifts something I should expect at any job, or was I right to set a clear boundary?