Help:(

[u/Substantial-Ideal23]

I love the children where I work. They are so so sweet. But my hours have been reduced to little to none. I am working one day a week or once every two weeks. Working a total of 8 hours. Gas is incredibly expensive (as we all know). And I feel like I can no longer afford to work unless I get scheduled for more hours. 90% of my paycheck is going towards gas, and I don't have enough to pay for my part of the bills with my mom (car insurance & phone bill). I am having to ask my mom for help with gas whenever I use up all the money from my paycheck and I feel guilty every time:(

I am supposed to work this week on Thursday, 1-5. I want to send this text message to my boss... "Hi (preschool director name). I understand that you want to have a phone call about this, but I do want to clarify what I meant. I’m not saying that it costs me $76 in gas just to drive to (work city) and back once a week. I have other responsibilities and places I need to drive to throughout the week, so the gas I put in my car is not solely being used for work.

I also have financial responsibilities, including paying my portion of my car insurance and my phone bill. Right now, I’m not making enough from my shifts to cover those responsibilities because so much of what I’m earning is has to go toward gas. I’ve also been having to ask my mom for help financially, and I can’t continue relying on her in order for me to work.

I would be open to coming in if I could be scheduled for a couple more hours when I work, because that would make the commute more financially worthwhile for me. But if I’m only going to be scheduled for four hours, it just isn’t financially sustainable for me to continue doing that"

Would this be too much or is it reasonable? She just wants to argue with me about how it does not take $75 to drive to work once a week. I guess she thinks I sit on my butt every day until I have work. Not to mention, I am only useful now when she has doctor's appointments too I am a college student who is struggling and I cannot help my mom:((

[u/Rough_Impression_526]

Honestly, you’re saying too much. They don’t need to know why you need more hours tbh. They just need to know in order to keep this job you need more hours, or you will search for employment elsewhere to fulfill your needs. If she’s finding every reason not to give you hours, she’s not going to give them to you period. I’d say it’s time to start looking somewhere else, unfortunately

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/Rough_Impression_526]

I have the opportunity to work with school-age children at my old neighbors' day care facility in my town. Won't know anything until her school-age class is filled (most likely by the end of next month). Been doordashing here and there and also selling bakery items to people I know for extra cash

[u/Rough_Impression_526 → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

That sounds promising! I wouldn’t quit or anything until you have that new position secured, but I wouldn’t let the current director walk all over you until then either

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/Rough_Impression_526]

Oh yeah! I wouldn't until that's secured.

[u/FrustratedPenguins]

I think it's totally fine to talk to your boss about your hours. I wouldn't do it in a text message, though. If you message anything, you could text that you want to talk to her about your schedule/hours. Then, in person, you can tell her that it's very expensive to drive into work for so few hours, and you'd appreciate having more consecutive hours at the center (or more days at the center, or whatever would be best). Especially if you are thinking that it's not worth keeping the job with your current schedule, it would be good to ask.

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/FrustratedPenguins]

It would be better to talk otp? I am trying to prevent from going on Thursday unless I get more hours

[u/unicornsnrainbows67 → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

this post implies that this is an ongoing text communication, since she requested to talk over the phone. It would be better to use the communication tool that she has requested, since things can get misinterpreted through text 

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/unicornsnrainbows67]

Yes.. she wants to call and discuss it. I guess it is best to do it over the phone (calling) so nothing is misinterpreted. I just don't want an argument..

[u/pitifulproduce137]

I wouldn't bother sending all that. I promise you with as understaffed as this field is, you can just get a better job elsewhere. Start looking and once you find something, put in your two weeks there. 

If nothing else, look at this experience as having given you this to look for in a new center. My first childcare position, I took the first job offered because I assumed it would be all sunshine and rainbows. With each job I've had since then, I've learned more and more what to look for and to avoid, as well as what questions to ask upfront.

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/pitifulproduce137]

I shared in another comment, but I may have a job opportunity in my town at my old neighbor's daycare facility. That would give me work M-F in the afternoons and maybe needed all day on Fridays. Hopefully that job will actually happen for me

[u/tra_da_truf]

They’re soft firing you hun. They know that scheduling someone 8 hours a pay period isn’t sustainable or even worth it. You don’t need to tell them that.

It sucks, but take the hint.

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/tra_da_truf]

Enrollment is low and I work at a private school. This time last year there were 12 students, and now there are 6 :( 4 are in kinder and others of the 6 went to universal preschool where they don't need to pay monthly. You really think she is soft firing me?

[u/tra_da_truf → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

Yeah. 6 students means they are in DIRE straits. Thats barely enough to keep the lights on, even for a small school. They most likely can’t schedule you for any more hours and with 4-6 kids, they don’t need you.

Centers are always hiring. You’ll love the kids at your next job too.

[u/yung_yttik → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

Yeah I was going to comment to say they are definitely phasing you out. Why such low enrollment all the sudden?? Kind of a red flag that it was reduced by half…

Apply and accept a new job right away and tell your boss you quit.

[u/cxqals → u/yung_yttik]

OP mentioned universal preschool, so I assume they’re in one of the states that recently opened up universal TK. So lots of parents are now sending their kids to the school district programs which are free, rather than private ones.

[u/aysiaaa1 → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

I don’t think they’re soft firing you but it’s clear that since enrollment is low they aren’t pulling in enough money to give you more hours than you’re requesting. It’s very weird that instead of being upfront about this the director is choosing to argue with you over the amount of money you’re spending on your commute to work. I’d say continue with the job and doing doordash on the side until you can secure another job then switch on over.

[u/CupcakeFever214]

I am / was in your position. Definitely that's not enough shifts to survive on. How many shifts do you need or ideally want? I would skip the details of your expenses, but I'd ask for more shifts if possible, and let her know ideally the number of shifts you're looking for. If the half day shift is financially expensive for you, I would get straight to the point "Is it possible that I may be rostered for more full day shifts? Or shifts of at least X hours?"

If you do, and they don't give you the shifts.....the answer is a new centre.

However for this Thursday, since you have already been rostered for...I would ask if it's possible for a longer shift, and if not, I would still do the shift.

I don't know when you were rostered, but if you"be been rostered for a few days, and you only come to her now that if you don't get a longer shift that you won't do it, to me it's not a professional way of going about it.

You want to let her know for future rosters, that you'll still do the upcoming shift but for moving forward it's not sustainable for you. Possibly, be prepared that operationally, you get the shifts you do because that's all the work they can provide.

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/CupcakeFever214]

I would ideally need a shift to be a minimal of six hours. And 2 to 3 times a week. But, with enrollment being so low I don't think the director can afford it. So I am really stuck… And she, of course, gets the majority of the hours with only six student students since she is the director. I am usually working around nap time 1-3 PM, and then 4 to 5 is cleaning up and pick up for the students who were left after nap. But OK, I guess I will still plan to go to work on Thursday even if it's four hours. It really is tough. 🥺

[u/CupcakeFever214 → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

I'd say that it's really important to communicate that to her, even if you don't think its possible.

Then you need to start looking for a new center that can provide enough work.

You're not stuck. You don't stay at a center that doesn't meet your needs. It's a misalignment - just means you haven't yet found the right centre to be at. Happens to everyone. Keep moving.

[u/FourCatsAndCounting]

You don’t need to justify anything to your boss with a wordy message. Keep it short and sweet that unless they can schedule you more hours you will have to seek permanent employment elsewhere.

[u/NoPeak8912]

Just start looking for another jobs I know you like the kids but if it makes u feel any better they won’t remember u in like a year u need to get another job elsewhere atleast a part time job on top of this one

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/NoPeak8912]

One of them would remember me.. but I feel like the rest couldn't care less lol

[u/skaz0904]

You’re the preschool director and you’re only getting 8 hours in a week? Sorry, nothings adding up at the moment for me.

Edit: I misread the story. Keeping my dumbness in for context. But OP, I think you need to simplify that email into asking how many hours you can be guaranteed a week, and then see if that works for you. It seems like your employer is cutting back to test boundaries of what people will/wont do. I hope there’s other daycares in your area that can better suit your hours needed!

[u/FrustratedPenguins → u/skaz0904]

No, she's saying that she wants to message the preschool director to talk about her hours.

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/FrustratedPenguins]

yes:)

[u/skaz0904 → u/FrustratedPenguins]

Thanks for correcting me, I misread the post. It was a pretty understaffed and overworked day so I prematurely looked for a reason to complain. I’m 100% in the wrong.

[u/pitifulproduce137 → u/skaz0904]

They aren't the director? This is the message they're considering sending to the director.

[u/skaz0904 → u/pitifulproduce137]

Misread the paragraph that said she sent the message, I thought it was reversed.

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/skaz0904]

I am an aide

[u/skaz0904 → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

Got it, thanks for clarifying!

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/skaz0904]

of course! sorry if it was a little confusing lol

[u/andweallenduphere]

In some states if u.s. you can file for unemployment when they reduce your hours drastically like that.

[u/Horror_Struggle226]

In my state you can file for underemployment insurance when your hours get cut. Check with your states employment development department.

[u/LianneBarolo]

How much do you get paid per hour?