Working Weeknds

[MJ48]

I am currently working part time in LTC. Recently I have obtain another part-time job with a home care agency. I like doing home care. However, when I was hired, it was discussed that I would be available every other weekend and I would send them my availability for other days. This week I was sending them my availability for the next month and realized that with both my part-time jobs that I am working every single weekend. My manager at the home care asked me to confirm that I am available every other weekend as discussed. I sent her an email stating my concern that working every weekend would cause me to be stressed and burnt out which neither of us want. In the end I stated that I don't think I can do every weekend but can work some and that I still want to work for the company. But now I have this overwhelming feeling that I might get fired cause I couldnt agree to keep to our original agreement. But at the same time I cant work every weekend. Am I being selfish? I so feel guilty but for my sanity I just dont think I can do it. Also the weekends that I do work for the home care agency I work the Friday before and the Monday after. I feel guily for not keeping to our agreement but at the same time I cant be stressed out and burnt out. Any advice?

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Emphasis mine.

Yes that is what I thought. I had thought that I just had to be available and not be schedule to work. And in reply to the comment above I guess it had not sunk in that I would be working every weekend until I had it all planned out. I did state in my email that I am willing to work some weekends just that I dont' think I can do every other.

By making yourself available on certain days, you are essentially agreeing to work on those days. They may choose not to use you those days, but until they specifically tell you you're not needed on those date(s), you're on the hook.

You have to clearly make yourself unavailable on the days you don't want to work. If that is not possible--and it doesn't sound like it given that both jobs are expecting alternate weekends--then you need to decide which job you like better, and let the other one go.

Sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I worked every weekend for years -- my choice, of course. But I fail to see what is so awful about doing so that you cannot keep your commitment. It seemed as though both jobs were very clear about their expectations that you be available for every other weekend. Or did you believe that you could work 8 hour days at one job and 8 hour nights the other?

[Daisy Joyce]

Alright, so you didn't "get it" in the moment that being available meant that you would totally be scheduled.

But as someone who works for agency, they love people who they can send to cases on weekends because it makes them look good.

Don't feel guilty about quitting if you must, but now you know better.

And FYI, agencies also don't really care if you're miserable and burn out. They can always replace you.

That's the humbling truth.

[Daisy Joyce]

Emphasis mine.

By making yourself available on certain days, you are essentially agreeing to work on those days

It depends on the agency.

I work for more than one agency, and I will periodically send all my bosses my list of available dates. Then I wait to hear back. I don't always get scheduled every day I *could*, and sometimes I don't hear back for several days or even longer. If something else come up, like a personal appointment, I go ahead and make the appointment.

My agencies will phrase it, "are you still available on such and such date", and I say yes or no.

But at least to me, asking for availabilities and getting scheduled on the spot is way different than the agency asking for a list of hypothetical dates and then taking their time to get back to you.

But that has just been my experience.