topic Re: Cutting Hours at a Job in Community Chat

Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 00:57:59 GMT

I have a good job. I left this job about 8 years ago, vowing to never go back, and then I did. They took me back. I'm effective at what I do.

The rub is, it is very physical and I am beginning to have some recurring ailments that cause pain. This job makes it worse.

I want to reduce my hours drastically (from 40 to like 16); fortunately, I can afford the monetary loss.

I guess the hardest part of this is accepting the fact that I have to scale back. I hope my boss will comply. He's said he would,but I have yet to see it in action. I'll have to leave it can't happen. I'm trying hard to keep my chin up but gosh I hate this.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sooner — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 01:18:22 GMT

This sounds trite and I am not at all discounting your pain (both physical and spiritual) at this move but remember, you are blessed to be able to do this, and you have hope your boss will allow you to continue on a reduced basis.

Changes like this and like retirement when they are life-changing and accepting a new situation. Keep your chin up and count your blessings, and maybe look for a new activity to fill your time and interact with new people.

There are book groups at libraries and online; classes you can take like painting and crafts, educational programs you can listen to online, and puzzles you can work, or something you can bake. Call a friend, relative or neighbor and talk about something you both enjoy, not the world situation, drink a cup of tea or coffee and watch the birds and squirrels!

Come here and talk to us! Best wishes to you! I hope it all works out for the best!

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 01:27:24 GMT

Yes, @Sooner,I would love to mingle in a different way - not necessarily at my job.

Thank you for the affirmation!

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

BirkiLady — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 02:32:26 GMT

@Sweetbay magnoliaAccepting limitation of any kind is difficult. I'm sorry you are having health issues, but also delighted you realize the work cannot be your top priority at this stage in life. Have you and your physician talked about Disability? Perhaps that should be your first step. Let him/her know your plans so it's in your medical chart.

Give the 16 hour work week a chance. See how you feel after a reasonable amount of time. If you are vastly improved, perhaps you could increase the hours to 24 per week? You won't know until you've given it a try. Best wishes on a life with less pain.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:14:29 GMT

You're right, @BirkiLady. Fortunately, I am at a place in life where work doesn't have to be the top priority. Seems like only yesterday that was unthinkable.

I am hobbling around this morning trying to figure this out. Thanks for the good advice.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Imaoldhippie — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:24:30 GMT

In my experience the longer you stay at the job and continue the physical work and stress the more it will effect you as you get older. I have specific ailments due to lots of physical and mental stress when I was younger.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

shopperqvc — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 10:03:44 GMT

@Sweetbay magnoliaMy cousin decided she would retire from her full time position and then be hired back by the same company part time working a few hours during the daytime so she could be home evenings to take care of her Mother. The boss agreed to that and she started. That lasted a couple of weeks and suddenly she found her schedule was mostly afternoons and evenings getting off work at 9 PM. She went to the boss and told him that wasn't what they had agreed to. He told her that was what they needed her for. Then the schedule changed to where it was evening one night, morning the next, then evening again, so she'd get out of work at 9 PM and back in at 8 AM. She finally had enough and retired again. What I'm saying they, many times, will agree to something and then do something completely different. Your 16 hours can turn in to 30 just because they claim that is what they "need". I know every boss is not the same, but many don't like the employee dictating what they want to do. They are the boss, and you do what you are told to do. A back-up plan of how you want to spend your time after career is over may be a good idea.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

CalminHeart — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 10:11:34 GMT

I'm retired and working a part-time on-your-feet job. I can spend 8 or more hours on my feet in a day. I've noticed that it isn't as easy as it was when I first retired. I also noticed it this year when doing yard work....mowing, weeding, etc.

At the same time, i am thrilled I can still do these things. I was nearly crippled with arthritis and a bone-on-bone knee a few years ago. Insurance finally approved knee replacement. I can straighten my leg, walk, stand, and do things that I hadn't been able to for a loooong time.

Getting old isn't for sissies.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 10:16:23 GMT

Yes! @shopperqvc, you have nailed that one! I've started getting "better" hours (for me, that means early, not late shift) since I agreed to pick up more hours.

I had a "kwappier" schedule when I worked less. Not sure I want to go back to that.

My boss tries to keep people happy, but he has to answer to someone, also.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 10:19:56 GMT

@Imaoldhippie, my husband and Mom say the same thing (both older than me!).

I guess sometimes they know best.

I had a dream, in which I defied "authority". I think my subconscious was trying to tell me something.

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
In my experience the longer you stay at the job and continue the physical work and stress the more it will effect you as you get older. I have specific ailments due to lots of physical and mental stress when I was younger.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 10:23:20 GMT

@CalminHeart wrote:
I'm retired and working a part-time on-your-feet job. I can spend 8 or more hours on my feet in a day. I've noticed that it isn't as easy as it was when I first retired. I also noticed it this year when doing yard work....mowing, weeding, etc.

At the same time, i am thrilled I can still do these things. I was nearly crippled with arthritis and a bone-on-bone knee a few years ago. Insurance finally approved knee replacement. I can straighten my leg, walk, stand, and do things that I hadn't been able to for a loooong time.

Getting old isn't for sissies.

Did I mention that I have a hip implant? Yes, that has solved many problems, but part of the need for that surgery was work like this. Not sure I want to go through revision before I should!

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Nataliesgramma — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 10:26:06 GMT

I hope it works out for you....

At my old job, when I asked to cut my hours....it only worked for a month....then I was being asked to come in on my days off and work an extra hour or two on days I was there...

Pretty soon I went back from 20 hours a week to 35...

I just retired...

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 11:51:50 GMT

Yes, @Nataliesgramma, they do that.

I'm "retiring". For good!

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

shopperqvc — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 13:38:10 GMT

@Sweetbay magnoliaMy Grandmother always said what you use the most, is where you end up with the most pain. If your job involves the use of your hands, you can count on arthritis in your hands. If you were kneeling for your job, your knees will hurt you when you are up in age. When Grandma came to this country, her sponser got her the job of scrubbing other people's floors. She was on her knees all day, every day for quite some time before getting another type of job. If they had been able when she was alive, they would have had to replace both knees. It's whatever takes a beating the most. We are better off to change what we do from time to time. The same repetition is bad for our bodies.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

vermint — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 13:47:57 GMT

@Sweetbay magnolia I'm sorry you're having to go through this. My brother had to retire at 57 because of severe arthritis (no kidding, it's in every bone in his body, including his sternum--which his dr. said he'd never seen before), and some back issues for which nothing much can be done. Anyway, it's been an enormous change for him, and he's had some difficulty adjusting. He can't take part much in any activites so that's made it even harder. He has taken over the housekeeping, but must do it very slowly.

Because of this, I know a bit of what you are feeling. I'm looking at retirement in a couple of years myself, and am already planning some different things I will get involved with.

Good luck to you!

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

SeaMaiden — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 14:44:20 GMT

@Sweetbay magnolia My last job I was at before I retired, I worked for 25 years. The last 5 or 6 years my Osteoarthritis became so bad I had to use a crutch to walk about. My job was retail sales. Fortunately, I was able to sit and do some of the work like pricing incoming goods.... and working the front checkout counter where I could sit on a stool occasionally to get off my legs. I had two bad knees and two bad hips.

I cut my hours down to three days a week( 24 hours) from a full 40 hour week. I lost my insurance.... but, it was worth it to me to not have to suffer so. And fortunately my Husband's insurance kicked in when my insurance stopped.

When I went in for my double knee replacement June of 2013, I had planned on returning in about 12 weeks..... but came to the conclusion that I had just had enough with the job/ and just working my entire life since I was 17 out of high school.... and it was time to retire for good at age 58 in 2013.

I went on to have two more surgeries to replace each hip after that.... my husband continued to work the next 5 years and He just retired A year ago this past June from his job of 30 plus years.

I would hope your boss would accommodate your request for less hours. I was fortunate that my bosses wanted me there enough to work with me and hire others to fill in on the extra days I would not be working. I worked for a family business, so they were like family to me, and very kind.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 15:24:45 GMT

All who have responded, I thank you.

I have arthritis (osteo). I also have the home of my dreams, and a dreamy husband.

This is what I want. I gave notice at my job this morning.

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

hckynut — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 15:41:49 GMT

@Sweetbay magnolia

I guess I don't understand your problem, maybe because I have never had a job that meant more than income to me. My jobs were hot/dirty/very physical, and some dangerous at times.

I returned to 1 of my jobs with the same big company, which required heavy lifting, and in awkward positions, after back surgery that removed my ruptured L-3/ S-1 Lumbar discs. Did I want to? Not really, but to keep my paycheck at 35 years old, I needed an income. I also had worked for this company for 16 years at that time.

Sounds like you have an easier decision than I did because at that time I could not afford the monetary loss. Were it me? My body means more to me, if I had the monetary means, than any job I would ever consider. Which means more to you?

hckynut(john)

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

Sweetbay magnolia — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:04:19 GMT

Thank you, @hckynut. Yes, I need me more than they do!

Re: Cutting Hours at a Job

shopperqvc — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:20:49 GMT

@Sweetbay magnoliaEnjoy your retirement, you've earned it. Find something you like doing to occupy your mind. The arthritis hurts, but stay as active as possible. It actually hurts less as long as you don't over do. Learn your limits, but keep active. This is the next part of your journey. Make it the best part.