Q & A Table of Contents
Am I Repeating A Mistake?
From: Sarah, Seattle, Washington
Question: I recently took a job at a veterinary practice in the next town over, about 30 min away.
At the time of the interview I stated that I was willing to work either full or part time but that
if the practice chose to work me any less than 40 hours per week, at the $9 per hour that I'd
asked for, I would be forced to take a second job. I said that for that reason I would appreciate
a set schedule from the get go so that any secondary employment could be worked in around the
needs of the first employer without a lot of hassle.
After being hired, having been assured that I would have no trouble getting 40 hours since the
practice is so short staffed right now, my schedule stayed the same for two weeks in a row. A
month into the position, having not been scheduled for 40 hours for any of those weeks, I accepted
a second position elsewhere.
I went to that same office administrator, who also makes the schedule, and told her about the
second job and asked for a set schedule that best fit her needs so that I could then tell the
second employer when I was available to work. As yet my schedule continues to change weekly which
means I am only working the second job one day a week. So, I'm still not making enough money to
support myself reliably; I work 6-7 days per week but sometimes work very short shifts that are
barely enough to justify my time and gas money; the secondary employer is being forced to what I
feel is more than his share of accommodating; and I feel as though I'm being screwed with
personally.
Also, this office administrator schedules all hands on deck early in the AM when there is less
going on and short staffs the afternoons when things get crazy. I am not a morning person so
having to be there first thing is undesirable but doable and I'm frequently there after hours to
reorder the chaos left by the day so I'm tired most of the time which I worry will begin to affect
my performance soon.
The secondary employer says that closer to the summer he may have a management position available
for me but that position will probably be no more if not less than what I'm making at the vet
clinic and still only part time. I am learning a lot of very valuable skills at the clinic that
could earn me better wages at another veterinary practice but this line of work is not my ultimate
career goal. It's merely how I earn a living now while saving to go back to school.
The current situation is killing me as I have very little opportunity to see my family, friends or
even my live-in boyfriend. How can I approach the veterinary office administrator yet again to ask
once and for all for a set schedule without seeming confrontational? I was under the impression
that I'd made myself clear both times the subject came up.
I run into this problem a lot and have left a few jobs after only a few months in the last year
because what I'm promised in the interview and what actually happened are never the same. I really
want to put professional roots down somewhere but obviously I'm doing something wrong.
Response: Negotiation only works when it leads to a mutual commitment each of the parties will
fulfill. While it is nice to be able to rely on a handshake to seal the deal, your experience
shows why it can be crucial to have a written document — a contract if possible — that outlines
the commitments of each party.
You must also look to your interests before — and during — the negotiation process. You want the
job in order to make money, but unless the pay and the schedule are appropriate you will not reach
your income goals. The other issues about taking a particular job — professional interest,
convenience, working conditions, etc. need to be prioritized as well. However it is clear that
the guarantee of enough hours to provide sufficient pay is way above any of the other issues you
find important.
Unless you check to make sure your office administrator — or anyone else in the hiring process
understands and agrees to a work schedule that guarantees you a sufficient income — you cannot
expect to get what’s in your interest.
In your present situation, find out how much your office administrator — and any of her superiors
— value you and your work. Is the administrator the ‘drop-dead decision-maker’ in the office? If
she is ‘just following orders’ it can make sense to see whether her superiors are more amenable to
conversation with you leading to a real commitment. If you are valued, if they do want to keep you
on the job, then you can ask your administrator or her superior for their thoughts about your
schedule/income needs and how they fit with their priorities. If they express a clear
understanding of your priorities, if they express a clear commitment to fulfill those needs, then
it is fair to ask for a written commitment to a schedule/income arrangement that works for you.
You should also be paying attention to your BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement).
It doesn’t sound as if the current situation is very promising. Perhaps looking for another job
before dealing with the current situation would make more sense. You should take a close look at
yourself — your work history, work habits, interests, and other factors — to figure out the best
way forward. How can you make yourself a more appealing employee? How can you make a better job
choice?
You have gotten yourself into the same situation repeatedly. Clearly you’ve fallen into a non-
rewarding pattern. Change yourself so that you can change the way others respond to your
priorities. You have suffered a painful lesson. The only way to derive value from that lesson is
to make sure that you learn from it.
Good luck,
Steve
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