New job and not enough hours. What would you do?

[Calbrunette]

I have a new job and I'm not getting the hours I was hired for (20/wk). It's a clinic job and there just aren't enough patients. There's a lot of changes going on and in an effort to be cooperative while things were in transition, I think I misrepresented myself as being OK with so few hours. If I have to work extra, that encroaches on my other days off and defeats the whole reason I'm part-time. I don't want to leave so soon after being hired. I will speak to my boss this week but need to be prepared if there is no improvement. And does the organization have any responsibility in all this?

What would you do?? 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Get it in writing next time, LOL. Meanwhile, ask when you can expect to be scheduled for the 20 hrs/wk they hired you for, because that’s the basis on which you accepted the job, and would have to reconsider if that’s not going to happen. 

[Daisy4RN]

I would speak to them and explain your situation and clear up what ever you think you have "misrepresented". You could tell them that said you were OK with it (fewer hours) because you thought it was temporary but that you really need the 20hrs, set scheduled etc (or whatever was agreed upon at time of hire). If they think you are OK with the new status quo they probably won't change your schedule because the flexibility works better for them. See what they say and go from there. They don't necessarily have any responsibility to change it back because they can do whatever they want. You do need to be prepared either way to do what is right for you if they don't change it back. If you decide to look elsewhere just remember it is easier to get a new job while you still have the old one and don't burn any bridges. Good luck!