Saying no to a shift at work

[My Heart is a Molotov]

Someone from my work called me up today asking if I wanted to work. I told them no, as I have to study for my HSC (end of school) exams. Her tone seemed kind of upset, as if she was struggling to get people to work (though i don't actually know if that's true) and after hanging up I felt kinda bad.

And I started thinking..

In the context of my work as a cashier at a chain supermarket, I am working FOR someone (the boss/company) and not really for any benefit of the community, so I have decided that since my labour is MINE I will only give my time when I am in need of money and willing to work (I'm a casual worker).

But can this approach be flawed in that I may not be supporting some fellow workers by declining a shift even though we are both working for the benefit of the boss and by not working neither of us face losing our job anyway?

The conclusion I have come to for the moment is that I shouldn't feel bad in this situation because the work is only really going to benefit the boss, but if it was in the context of a collective/syndicate/co-op workplace maybe i could feel bad because declning the work may be an act against solidarity, but then again I am also preoccupied with studies, so maybe it might not be so much of a problem.

[Dr Mindbender]

Originally posted by My Heart is a [email protected] 23, 2007 04:07 am
Someone from my work called me up today asking if I wanted to work. I told them no, as I have to study for my HSC (end of school) exams. Her tone seemed kind of upset, as if she was struggling to get people to work (though i don't actually know if that's true) and after hanging up I felt kinda bad.

And I started thinking..

In the context of my work as a cashier at a chain supermarket, I am working FOR someone (the boss/company) and not really for any benefit of the community, so I have decided that since my labour is MINE I will only give my time when I am in need of money and willing to work (I'm a casual worker).

But can this approach be flawed in that I may not be supporting some fellow workers by declining a shift even though we are both working for the benefit of the boss and by not working neither of us face losing our job anyway?

The conclusion I have come to for the moment is that I shouldn't feel bad in this situation because the work is only really going to benefit the boss, but if it was in the context of a collective/syndicate/co-op workplace maybe i could feel bad because declning the work may be an act against solidarity, but then again I am also preoccupied with studies, so maybe it might not be so much of a problem.
When you do work for her, youre making more for her than she pays you so youre effectively paying her to boss you. Who should be the one feeling bad?

[Demogorgon]

Not at all. It isn't hurting other worjers you not doing the shift. It's not their problem, its up to the company to either get someone else or lose money. If you are working in a small team it will be a pain in the arse for other people if you don't do stuff like this, though it is still ultimately the companies problem unless it is a co-op or whatever. As you are not in that situation though that isn't a problem. Granted someone else will end up doing it, but at least they will be getting overtime pay (albeit inadequate). Basically if it doesn't suit you to work tell them to fuck yourself.