Now what?

[.Mikha'el.]

So I heard a while ago that the position at the grocery store I work at was being phased out by the company that bought the store chain a couple of years ago. Hours started getting chopped radically. I was even off the schedule for several weeks. I started looking for work in other places: electronics stores, book stores, office supplies stores, even a nearby bowling alley.

But then last week I got a call from a coworker, B. He asked me to take over for him because he was feeling rather sore, so I came in as soon as I could. I worked the rest of his shift, and then went back to the job hunt. Last week, I got another call from the manager of the store, and he wanted several more shifts for me, covering for B. B is in his late 40's, and he can't always handle the physical labor that the job requires, and is rather prone to injuries and the like. I heard B had come down with some kind of virus.

Two days ago, I got a phone call. It was from the manager at the bowling alley. He wanted an interview. I set one up, then headed to work. Towards the end of my shift, the assistant manager asked me to work again the following day, and I agreed. B had come by the store, and told both me and the assistant manager who was in charge that day that he'd be off for at least another month.

This morning, I had to reschedule the interview with the bowling alley until the following day. Today at work, I asked the manager if I were required to work again the next day. He hadn't heard what the assistant manager had been told about B being off for another month, and scheduled me not only for several afternoon hours for tomorrow after my interview, but also thirty for the following week, and I have every reason to assume it'll be that way until B returns. He also told me what I already knew about B switching jobs at work in the fairly near future, suggesting I'd be getting a good portion of his hours once that happens. I have always been of the assumption that B switching jobs is related primarily to what has been said about the position being phased out, though the manager said nothing to me about whether that is in fact taking place, and if so, when.

Here lies the problem. What the heck do I do if the bowling alley decides to hire me? It could result in me working up to a total 45 hours a week for the next while until B gets back. That's not feasible, especially as a student. For the record, I'm taking 9 credits this semester. It almost makes me want to ask the bowling alley to withdraw my application, especially given the significant restrictions it places on my availability for the next while, completely unfair to a prospective employer. However, I have no idea what will happen at my grocery store job when B goes back to work. Do I drop to zero like I was, or do I stay at thirty hours a week until the position is totally eliminated? If I do end up at zero, I would hate to have given up working at the bowling alley simply on the basis that it might not be practical to work there at the particular moment they were considering hiring me....

I really cannot afford to overburden myself, especially with my studies, but I also can't be in the place of having nothing either. Any suggestions here?

 

[Poster0]

I dont know friend. Take it one day at a time, i guess.

 

[orangeness365]

That's a really tough decision. I don't have an answer for you. My sister was interviewing for a new job because her old job told her she had until december to get a new job, but then the job she's at told her that they were extending the contract actually until april, so she had to tell the people she was interviewing with that the contract job was extended and turn it down. I mean, she could have gone for the new job, but decided to stay with the old one. It's really up to you, I think.

 

[miss-a]

There is nothing wrong with discussing this with your manager. He/she wants you to succeed at the job as much as you want that. Burning you out won't help anyone. Somewhere in all of that could be a compromise that helps everyone. So pray first that God shows you favor in the conversation and situation, then then talk to your boss about your willingness to do as much as you can but also your concern that doing too much will be a detriment to all concerned. See if you can work out a win win. I'll be you can. Remember, whatever happens if you're God's kid, God has you covered, now and in the future. He takes care of His own.

 

[Krissy Cakes]

Pray about it.

Praying for you.

 

[orangeness365]

An update on my sister's job. So they were going to extend her contract until December, and then they changed it until April, and my dad just told her to go find a new job and start applying elsewhere. You can work wherever you want to.