'Someone changed my schedule without my knowledge': Shift worker gets accused of a no-call, no-show on their day off

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Aug 9, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Yes, the schedule. The cornerstone, the Monolith, of shift work… Obey the schedule—lest you find yourself at odds with some angry shift manager who quotes its existence at you like scripture.

Managers love a good schedule, and they also like complaining about that schedule and blaming the schedule for all of their problems—even when they're the ones who made it. If they schedule you for a shift you couldn't normally work, suddenly, it's "It's on the schedule," "I've posted the schedule." "Sorry, can't change the schedule… You'll just have to make it work!" as if they waited up on a hill for 40 days and 40 nights, etching the dang thing into stone at the direction of some higher power… When they actually just slapped it together haphazardly over the course of an hour on a random Thursday when it was meant to be posted on the Monday before. Even then, they only sat down and actually put the thing together so that they could avoid helping their staff with handling a rush of customers.

This worker shared a series of text messages between their boss and themself, showing an exchange over an issue with the schedule. The messages we have start with the worker responding to their boss, saying that they have "absolutely no idea" why they're scheduled after being scheduled on a day that they didn't usually work and where they had no availability.

You might think that not scheduling workers on days where they have no availability, at least without asking first, would be common sense, but you'd be surprised how many managers do this out of petty spite, desire for control, or simply in order to fill a need without having to have a tough conversation.

The worker had clearly been caught out off guard and unaware of changes to the schedule—but their boss's response was not one of understanding, telling the worker that it was their "response"—ibility to check the schedule every week. As punishment, they were given a no-call, no-show. The worker's response, trying to explain the situation, went unresponded to.

Frustrated, they shared their experience with a popular Reddit sub, where the screenshots of the exchange went viral, buoyed by a heated discussion on the topic.

The worker returned later with an update, telling how another manager who "hates" them had created the schedule… and shared that they are also friends with the General Manager of the company.

There haven't been any further updates from the worker regarding how they are faring in their role under the current situation, but keep reading below to see their original post, the reactions, and the update.

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