Had a Few PTO Days and Don't Want to Go Back to Work on Monday

BunSnoop · ‎05-22-2010

I had a nice 4 day weekend and very depressed about returning to work tomorrow. Yes, I realize I'm fortunate to have a job, but It's so hard to return after not being there for 4 days.

I was an hourly employee. My new supervisor, came up with an idea to make me salary, keep my pay the same as it was when hourly, but now I have to work 10 hours of overtime a week without getting paid anything extra. I've been doing this now for the last 5 months - every single week 50 hour week - and I'm tired of it. When I worked 40 hours it was fine, but the extra ten hours each week is too much.

They had an opportunity to hire an extra person for our department that was just about as trained as you'll be able to find, but the company said we did not need any extra people. There are 4 of us in the same boat as me and, especially with summer coming, we just don't want to live our lives as work. When we get home we're too tired to do anything.

Sorry to complain - I just needed to vent.

lizzief · ‎09-27-2011

How many employees are there in total? It's my understanding that if there are over 50 employees, they are subject to Federal wage and hour guidelines, which include paying overtime after 40 hours. I know this because our small law firm is joining a larger firm, and they were very specific about this particular point. However, if it's a small company, you may be out of luck, but I would still look into State and Federal guidelines. You may even want to consult am attorney who specializes in this area for a legal opinion. If you all pool your resources, it shouldn't cost much for a couple of hours of the attorney's time to research the subject, and it might be worth it to you in the long run. They may even owe you back pay!

jeanlake · ‎03-10-2010

I'm sorry hutchill. Dread is a real and destructive emotion. Google the word dread and read descriptors. I'm semi retired now and thankfully have an decent part-time job. Recently I retired from a salaried, 50 hr/wk job. I supervised, so there were those headaches. And I had a micro-managing, personally unhappy director who rejected ideas to relieve stress in the office. In the office, we called Sunday afternoons "spastic colon Sundays." Can you speak up and ask for hourly status again? I'm sorry for your dread. Do you have subsidized counseling as a benefit? I actually used some of my subsidized counseling benefits to get me though some tough years. It also helped to embrace Neville Goddard's quote -- A change of feeling is a change of destiny. -- And of course, I began developing an escape plan.

"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." Henry David Thoreau

jewelfool · ‎03-10-2010

More and more companies, government jobs included, are doing more work with less people. It has happened to a lot of us. I, too, like ury am developing my escape plan for 2015!

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

It doesn't sound like there is much choice. You either work it or look elsewhere. Not sure of your relationship with the new supervisor. I think I would talk it through with the supervisor.

elated · ‎06-09-2010

I am sorry to hear about your dilemma. Since the companies realize that people need their jobs they are abusing their power---lower wages, more work and less satisfaction. It is hard to work in an environment you do not like. It eventually takes a toll on your health. I would call the labor board and see if this is legal. I think talking to your supervisor would make matters worse if they feel that you have overstepped your bounds. Be careful. If possible, start looking for a new job. I hope everything works out for you.

Marienkaefer2 · ‎03-09-2010

I used to have a job like that. It's hard.

I tried to stay and "stick it out" because I really liked the industry I worked in, but the company atmosphere was too much. Too many changes, and when you start dreading Monday on Sunday afternoon, you know it's time to leave.

I did find another job and quit and moved to another town 50 miles away.

Actually, it turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I loved my new job.

So, sometimes these things happen to push us into moving on or doing something different.

Try looking at it that way. Do the best you can at your present job, but begin looking for a new one.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.--Marcus Tullius Cicero

2000survivor · ‎03-11-2010

I suggest checking with your state labor and wage board. I'm in Arkansas which has specific guidelines that determine if an employer can make an employee salaried. Usually it's a manager, supervisor, or the position must meet definition of professional. HTH too

CouponQueen · ‎10-21-2010

I would discuss it with my Supervisor and if I didn't get any satisfaction I would go up the chain of command.

Anoynmous calls to the Labor Board - are great but they are going to know who called..same as going to an attorney and usually they can fire people as they wish if there is no Union contract forbidding them from doing so.

Stinks for sure..good luck and let us know how things are going..