Walmart over-scheduling hours; should I complain or suck it up?

[Cecillia]

I'm a full time college student who goes to class 16 credit hours a week. When I first got hired at Walmart two months ago, I told them not once, but twice that I had a 20 hr MAX availability each week... after the second time I told them, my schedules finally started changing to a consecutive 17-18hrs per week. All the way up until this current week things have been okay with scheduling, except for the fact I think they don't understand that I am a college student and some of their scheduling for me is a bit ridiculous. I've already had to miss 3 days -> once because I actually had CLASS during one of my scheduled work days and 2 times because of personal illness (one of which I had been in the ER.... but Walmart could care less...an absence is an absence with them).

Anyway, back to this week. I have been scheduled for 38.5hrs this week... I understand that it's a holiday, but do they think I don't still have to go to school, or that I can just magically pick up an extra 18.5 hrs? I do have school both Monday and Tuesday in fact... my uni doesn't give off the full week, and I'm sure a lot of the other students who work at the Walmart which I'm at has the exact same problem.

Anyway, how can Walmart be allowed to just ignore my availability and over schedule my hours like that? And do I have any right to have it corrected, or am I supposed to suck it up because it's a holiday and just do the work? Obviously this has me very stressed out, because if I desired to work close to 40 hrs in a week, I'd go get a full time job.. not a part time job as a sales associate at Walmart.

 

[nascar88gyrl]

Been there, done that! Wal-Mart is notorious for telling you one thing and doing another. You are also told, "We'll work with your other schedule." That's a crock of crap! They don't want to because they know there are plenty of people out there lined up for your job. I had to go through the same thing with Wal-Mart about 25 years ago. I was working 56 hours a week at a full-time job--I was in my 90-day probationary period at that job (which I'm still working). Wal-Mart was scheduling me for 20 to 24 hours per week and would sometimes overlap my other job's hours. My final day at Wal-Mart was horrible. I was a cashier, it was a Saturday, and I had been so busy that I didn't have a break. I was about to urinate on myself, so I had to call a customer service manager to my register so I could go to the restroom. I was furious! I wrote a resignation letter, handed in my smock and employee discount card, and I've never looked back!

Keep complaining. Don't suck it up. Your education is more important than Wal-Mart!

By the way, I don't know if it stilll holds true, 38.5 hours is considered "full-time" at Wal-Mart.

 

[malica]

Legally, they have every right to schedule you for whatever they want. You have no "rights" in regards to determining how many hours (so long as it's not over the legal maximum hours you're allowed to work each week which is set assuming you work full-time) or when those hours occur.

Your options are to either accept the hours you're given or quit and hope your next employer is more understanding and cooperative on your desired number of hours you want to work and when you're available.

 

[Teresa]

If they have your availability down in writing in any form they have to go by it. They cannot schedule you for any time they please. It isn't legal despite what you may hear. They have to let you sign or initial something that shows you agree with the schedule change or else wait for you to go and tell them your eligibility has opened up. You just need to ask whoever is doing your schedule, why they did this in spite of your eligibility? I know someone who straight up quit her job with Walmart because they were not willing to work around her class schedule. It could be you have a manager there who is jealous of your college opportunity. It sounds crazy, I know, but that does happen because I've seen it although they would never admit that's what it is. I don't know weather or not it's convenient for you to quit, but you may have to look for another job. It's possible that you may be able to get a work study job on campus which would be much more convenient since you are already there. Whatever you do, do not let Walmart interfere with your college education at all. Good luck to you.