After being ignored by manager Jess when accepting a promotion, an after-school care worker withdraws interest and immediately finds themselves left off the roster for a month: ‘I have gotten a second job to supplement my income’

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Etai Eshet • Editor
Dec 17, 2025 7:00 AM EST

This one starts simple. After school care, chaotic casual hours, and a dangled second in charge role that comes with the magical phrase part-time. The worker says yes immediately, sends the email, sends the follow-up, and even adds the very reasonable "Hey, if this is not happening, other work is needed because rent still exists." Then nothing. A full month of digital tumbleweeds while the calendar and the bank account both keep moving.  

Then suddenly, plot twist. The manager claims the emails never arrived, right up until one of those same ghost emails somehow becomes a conversation thread. Now she is thrilled, she is excited, she is posting the job ad tomorrow, she is very ready to interview. Shame about that timeline. By this point, there is already a second job and a clear sense of what slow reply actually means for day-to-day stress. The response is polite, direct, and unforgivable in manager land. Thanks, but no. The delay made this unworkable.  

And right on cue, the roster goes quiet. No official drama, no written warning, just an empty schedule until January and a very loud silence where shifts used to be. It looks less like planning and more like a small boss throwing a small tantrum because someone dared to say I needed better communication and then acted on it.

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  • Declined a promotion and haven’t been rostered on for a month

    Side-profile close-up of a young woman with eyes closed and hands clasped near her face, appearing deep in thought or prayer, conveying reflection, stress, or emotional contemplation in a quiet indoor setting
    via Ben White

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

  • I work in after school care. About a month ago I was asked to be the second in charge, meaning I move to part time.
    via TopMistake8305
  • I was so keen and jumped at the opportunity. I was told by my first in charge to email the area manager (let's call her Jess) and express my interest in the role.
    via TopMistake8305
  • I did, I sent an email that day, and after getting no response for a week I sent another email.
    via TopMistake8305
  • This time indicating | was struggling financially and if I was no longer being considered for this role, id need to find another job, because the hours were too inconsistent.
    via TopMistake8305
  • I was really polite about it. A month passed and neither me or my first in charge heard anything from Jess, until my first in charge told me that Jess told him that she hadn't received any of my emails.
    via TopMistake8305
  • Side-profile view of a young woman with hair in a messy bun resting her chin on her hand while looking out an apartment window, appearing thoughtful or concerned as she gazes at city buildings, conveying introspection, stress, or quiet reflection indoors.
    via A. C.

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

  • That is total bull, as a few days later I got an email back from Jess (in response to my emails she "wasn't getting") saying she is so glad I am keen, and is posting the job ad tomorrow and she'd love to interview me.
    via TopMistake8305
  • I replied back basically saying Thankyou for the opportunity, but I am no longer interested, as it took a month for a response and I have gotten a second job to supplement my income.
    via TopMistake8305
  • I don't think I was particularly harsh, but I did call her out on her response time.
    via TopMistake8305
  • I stated that I still will be working casually for the company. Since then, I have not been rostered on until January.
    via TopMistake8305
  • Luckily I have plenty of work at my new job but I find it pretty disgraceful that I haven't been given any shifts, and I feel the reason is that I pissed off Jess by calling her out.
    via TopMistake8305
  • Any advice what to do?
    via TopMistake8305
  • SecureInstruction538 If Jess controls your schedule then I would move on to another job. Use the experience from it but you have a target on your back now.
    via TopMistake8305
  • bella_bells 19 You can't do anything, you're a casual worker so you aren't owed any hours and you've pissed off the person in charge, it sucks but it is what it is. Just pick up extra shifts at your new workplace and hopefully you get enough so that you can quit and leave Jess to her weird ways.
    via TopMistake8305
  • Sue ginganinga_nz
    via TopMistake8305

  • When promotions are looming, it really shows who wants to develop staff and who just wants a warm body they can ignore until it is convenient again.  

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management workplace discussion promotion employment issues boss workplace-stories hr
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