Full-time employee informed he's going part-time despite having to complete the same amount of work per day: 'I didn't see how all this work could get done'

This is a classic case of an employer trying to have his cake and eat it too.

Whatever happened to the self-explanatory concept that a full-time employee should be working full-time hours at a full-time rate, while a part-time employee should be working part-time hours at a part-time rate? This should not be a revolutionary idea, and yet somehow in this job market, it is.

Employers are increasingly trying to normalize the idea that workers should be encouraged to fulfill full-time expectations at part-time pay. That's exactly what happened to this remote worker, who was suddenly informed that, because of budget cuts, there would be a sudden change to his pay structure.

Not only did this mean that the author of this tale was immediately moved from full-time to part-time status against his wishes, but it also meant that his workload was not going to change. Someone make that make sense for us! This guy was expected to complete the same number of daily tasks and responsibilities at half the pay within half the amount of time. One can just imagine how this will inevitably turn out for the company…

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  • A man with glasses looking stressed at his work desk.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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  • To make matters worse for the author, he was also being given small additional tasks daily from his manager, who seemed to internalize this false assumption that the author would be willing to put up with all this unfair treatment. 

    Sure, the job market may be tough right now, but workers should not feel so discouraged that they have to put up with unjust payment structures and agreements. At the end of the day, at-will employment is and will always be a two-way street. No matter how much pressure management puts on you, you, as the employee, cannot lose sight of your agency in the situation.

  • "How do I politely tell my manager I can't get the same amount of work done now that my hours have been cut?"

    My job recently switched from full-time to part-time, but strangely, my task list has remained the same. Just delightful.
    via numbers-trust1p
  • When we were discussing this change, I made it very clear that I didn't see how all this work could get done. His response was simply: 'We're confident you'll be able to get it done in the new
    via numbers-trust1p
  • timeframe.' I've documented this entire conversation and forwarded an email with the details to my personal email, just in case.
    via numbers-trust1p
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  • The problem now is that my manager keeps throwing small, annoying tasks at me that take up a lot of time and could easily be
    via numbers-trust1p
  • done by someone else. This is distracting me from my 3 main projects, one of which I am solely responsible for delivering.
    via numbers-trust1p
  • So what's a professional way to communicate that since my hours were cut, my output will also decrease? I need to make it clear
    via numbers-trust1p
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  • that I can't do all these extra things *and* my core work at the same time. I'd love to be able to hint that this is a consequence of his decision, but professionally, of course.
    via numbers-trust1p
  • A man with glasses looks at phone with his hand in his hair while sitting at his remote work setup.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Hoyce_McGurgle ⚫ When this kind of conflict comes up I always say "I'm working on X right now, which do you want done first?" and then focus on that one first. Just get it in print to cover yourself.
    via numbers-trust1p
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  • JohnnySkidm Do NOT finish the same amount of work in less hours. If stuff falls through, oh well. That's on management.
    via numbers-trust1p
  • Inspiringhope11. "I have task a, b, and c to finish today. Which should I prioritize? You've asked me to do x, where should that fall on the priority list, since my time frame does not allow for a, b, c, and x to all be completed."
    via numbers-trust1p
  • LuckyWriter1292. Don't finish the same amount of work - "my position has gone from full time to part time, I will not get the same amount done". I would look for something. else as well.
    via numbers-trust1p
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  • bstrauss3. Words "Hey, boss, need some help. Now that I'm p/t, I need you to help me prioritize the workload and figure out what can be deferred or moved to somebody else."
    via numbers-trust1p
  • TitaniumVelvet • I ask the manager to prioritize. They cut hours but not work so now he gets to decide what's most important cause it can't all get done.
    via numbers-trust1p
  • A man writing at his desk with his laptop open looking stressed.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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employment issues workplace-stories remote work part time job work workplace Horrible Bosses full time employment
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