Scheduled to Work A Holiday Not Assigned

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So, at one of my jobs, we're assigned three holidays a year. One year you work Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas. The other year you work 4th of July, Thanksgiving and New Year's.

This was my year to work Memorial Day, and even though it was on a Monday, and I generally do not work Mondays at this job, I was scheduled to work it. Which is fine, since this was my year for that holiday.

However, I looked and saw that I am on the schedule to work on July 4th. Even though I usually work Tuesdays, and July 4th is on a Tuesday, it is technically not my holiday to work since I already worked Memorial Day. My next holiday will be Labor Day, which is a Monday (and I can guarantee you that they won't forget to put me on the schedule for that day).

They are going to be short staffed already and if I don't work that day, it will be even worse. I suppose it is tacky for me to try and get it off since they are lacking on staffing and it will be hard to get people to pick up. At the same time, according to the schedule in the handbook, it is not my holiday to work.

How hard should I push to have this holiday off? I already signed up work a day shift at my first job, and while I could technically make an evening shift work, I really was looking forward to having some of July 4th off.

I was also considering resigning from the job if they end up making me work July 4th, but that is probably a bit extreme, even though they are only following their own polices to their own advantage. I have no doubt they were probably hoping I would forget that July 4th wasn't my holiday to work and that they could get an extra holiday out of me.

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Not to mention, I'm a little leery about working on holidays, since technically we're supposed to get double our wage when we work our holiday. However, when I worked Memorial Day I only got holiday pay for 3 hours, even though I know I was there for at least 4 hours.

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Oh to have your problems.

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Start by approaching the person who does the scheduling and asking about it. You may not have to "push" at all. It could have been a simple oversight. If they tell you you're stuck with it, then you have to decide how important having the day off is and "how hard to push".

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It's not tacky to point it out that's it's not your holiday and you shouldn't be scheduled that day. It could be a mistake (although I'm cynical and doubt it).

If they say it wasn't a mistake and insist you work, then it's another issue. But no, not tacky at all to approach the scheduler/manager.

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You need to email the person who writes the schedule ASAP and cc your manager. Do not make the mistake of waiting until closer to the date or having a verbal discussion about this.

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No problem - kindly bring it to their attention and let them know that you understand how difficult scheduling is and that, since 7/4 is rapidly approaching, you'd be happy to help out this time around and take off the holiday of your choice later in the year (LD or Christmas, assuming you'd actually be interested that...)

Not sure how far in advance you can access your schedule but personally I think it seems kind of late at this juncture to throw a fit, and it's within your capability to help them, though not your preference. It would certainly be the kind thing to do, but it shouldn't go unacknowledged. According to your assigned 2017 Holiday schedule, you could have plans to be in a different state or who knows where on 7/4. Employees do plan their lives around things like assigned holidays, and they know that very well. That said, isn't it fairly likely that this was an oversight that came about from the fact that you usually work Tuesdays?

Within reason, take opportunities like this to demonstrate goodwill. Give them the benefit of the doubt this time around.....(then make sure you get your holiday pay!)

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

How long have you known that you were scheduled for the holiday?

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Specializes in Urgent Care, Oncology.

I would probably just bring it to their attention and work the 4th of July but politely ask/demand that you will not be working Memorial Day in exchange since it was supposed to be your holiday off. If they agree to this, get it in writing. That way if they're short staffed in the future it isn't your problem, and at least you've worked the proper number of holidays so others cannot complain.

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I don't know how much quietly working a Tuesday summer holiday would actually add to my karma but I think I'd take it.

And I'd just cancel my fabulous Tuesday plans.

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No problem - kindly bring it to their attention and let them know that you understand how difficult scheduling is and that, since 7/4 is rapidly approaching, you'd be happy to help out this time around and take off the holiday of your choice later in the year (LD or Christmas, assuming you'd actually be interested that...)

Not sure how far in advance you can access your schedule but personally I think it seems kind of late at this juncture to throw a fit, and it's within your capability to help them, though not your preference. It would certainly be the kind thing to do, but it shouldn't go unacknowledged. According to your assigned 2017 Holiday schedule, you could have plans to be in a different state or who knows where on 7/4. Employees do plan their lives around things like assigned holidays, and they know that very well. That said, isn't it fairly likely that this was an oversight that came about from the fact that you usually work Tuesdays?

Within reason, take opportunities like this to demonstrate goodwill. Give them the benefit of the doubt this time around.....(then make sure you get your holiday pay!)

We can only see our schedule online about 3 weeks in advance. So yeah, I probably should have looked sooner but I just thought that since in my hire agreement it stated that 2017 was my year to work Memorial Day, Labor Day and Christmas and not 4th of July, that I would actually only be held accountable to those holidays only. I suppose it's possible that it was an oversight, but I'm still highly suspicious since they made sure that I was on the schedule for Memorial Day, a Monday, and I typically don't work Mondays. And I feel like a prick for bringing it up but at the same time...it was not my assigned holiday to work.

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I would probably just bring it to their attention and work the 4th of July but politely ask/demand that you will not be working Memorial Day in exchange since it was supposed to be your holiday off. If they agree to this, get it in writing. That way if they're short staffed in the future it isn't your problem, and at least you've worked the proper number of holidays so others cannot complain.

Too late to demand Memorial Day off since that has passed. But maybe I'll request Labor Day off instead.

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