need advice about work-Update n° 18

[debthaven]

Hullo YM people. Sorry this may be long.

I am an adjunct professor. I have two jobs (plus a seasonal job, that doesn't factor in here.) I worked too many hours last year and I need to cut back next school year.

This year in first semester, I worked 3 days a week at Job 1, and 1 day a week at Job 2. Four long teaching days was too much for me, with the prep and marking. In second semester, I worked 2.5 days at Job 1, and 1 day a week at Job 2. That was fine. (There are always fewer classes in Sem 2.)

I want to teach 3.5 days next year. Job 2 asked me to increase my hours. They asked me for 2 days, I said I'd do 1.5.

This is the important part: that means I'll be going down from 3 days to 2 days at Job 1, my main job.

My annual review at my Job 1 (my main job) is the last week of April. That is also when we give our "wish list" for next year's classes.

I know my boss will be shocked that I want to reduce my hours by either 25% or 33%. (I'm still hesitating). We have a great relationship, but I do not see her regularly because she is on the "main campus" 3h away.

So, should I email her to tell her I'll be reducing my hours next year, or should I just wait until my annual review to tell her in person? I know she will be shocked, because everybody generally wants MORE hours, not fewer hours.

I want to tell her that I plan to reduce my hours beforehand, but I'm hesitant. This is really weighing on me, because it's pretty much unheard of to voluntarily reduce one's hours where I work. But I know that I would sleep better if I "got it off my chest". That is my main reason for wanting to tell her by email beforehand. But if it's not a good idea, I'll hold out.

Thanks for your advice.

ETA: They cut our hours a few years ago, hence Job 2. There are also rumors that they will be cutting our hours again, hence my deciding to accept the extra hours at Job 2 when they were offered rather than wait to see if the rumor about the reduced hours at Job 1 was true, and then scramble to find hours elsewhere.

[Shooby]

Why dont you just work Job 1 or Job 2 and just pick one of those and quit the other?

[debthaven]

Because neither job offers enough hours. That's life as an adjunct. I have colleagues who work 3/4/5 jobs. I'm lucky, I only work 2 (not counting the seasonal job that I am planning to give up after this year).

ETA: Shooby I did work only at Job 1 for five years ... then they cut our hours, by a LOT, and I then had to find a second job. I learned my lesson, I will no longer put all my eggs in one basket. I plan to juggle these two jobs till I retire (in 3.5 or 4 years).

[Shooby]

Ok.  I understand that.  But, since you mentioned wanting to cut hours, that would seem like the easiest solution.  However, cutting at Job 1, will that possibly endanger that job?

[debthaven]

No. I may be less popular with management there, but it won't endanger my job. I'm middle-aged, no little kids, no kids living at home FT anymore. I live closest to school so I never take off for transit strikes (very frequent here), I drive in instead.

I'm eminently reliable LOL. I have no worries about them firing me.

[Shooby]

OK.  Well, if you can craft the hours you want, then sounds like it will work out.

[geenamercile]

I would email Job 1 if I wasn't worried about it endangering the job.  If they are going to cut hours it may be preferable to have someone volunteer and I might just tailor the email in that light.  I have heard the rumor going around about cutting hours, I am now at a point in my life where I do not want to fully retire but would like to see if dropping X amount of hours would be possible.  Then at the review, if you hadn't heard back yet I would bring it up as after really thinking about it, my wish is to really do Y amount of hours.      

[plugginaway22]

I would probably wait for the end of month review appointment and tell them then.  3.5 days sounds great, but you also do a lot of work outside those hours with the grading?  

[debthaven]

Geena I can't mention the rumors without getting the only person who would know in trouble. I am "sworn to secrecy", and it's still only rumors for now. But I like your idea for the interview itself. (If those rumors are true, I'll find out then.)

Yes Pluggin, tons of other work outside those hours. That's why I want to go back to 3.5 days.

[geenamercile]

Then don't address the rumors per say as rumors.  Maybe address as in, I know in year X peoples hours were reduced due to budget issues.  If there are the same concerns this year please be aware that I am willing to drop down to X amount of hours at this point in my career.  Then you would be using your own common knowledge and observations to address the issue and not that someone told you about the concerns.  

[Shooby]

In my experience, it's best to just ignore rumors.  You have your job until you have your job.  Yes, always be prepared just in case because you never know.  But, if the job is eliminated, then there really isn't anything you can do about it so personally I wouldn't worry about it but just always be prepared in case.  And honestly, in all the years of all kinds of rumors, most of them never happen anyway.

[Waffle]

If you tell your boss ahead of time, how about saying something like  There's probably someone looking for more hours, so I thought it might be helpful for you to know that I'd like my hours reduced?

[janee]

I would wait to tell her in person.  Would it have an impact on your review?

[debthaven]

Janee I'm sure not.

Thanks everyone for your advice, I appreciate it!

I realized that I have the first review (out of 8 on my campus). I've decided to tell her in person. Since I am first, she'll know before seeing any of the others, some of whom may want more hours. There is also a person transferring from the main campus who will get hours too.

I like Geena's and Waffle's ideas, I'm going to phrase it like that.

Thanks again!

 

[debthaven]

Haha, I heard this evening that a colleague is grumbling about potentially having to give up some of her hours because of the person transferring from the main campus. 

So I'm sure my boss will be relieved to learn that I am opting to reduce my hours there. Win-win!

I'm still planning to tell her in person at my review, but if ever it comes up beforehand by phone or email, it doesn't feel like such a big deal anymore.

Thanks again!
 

[debthaven]

Update ... I had to fill in / send my copy of my Annual Review document to my boss. It includes the number of hours/days I did this school year, and the number of hours/days I am requesting for next year.

I realized that just by filling in that form, the cat is out of the proverbial bag before my actual meeting. I could have held onto the file for another few days, but it was finished, and I wanted it sent off.

So in my covering email, I told my boss that I knew someone was transferring from the main campus, and that I thought it would help her in organizing next year to know that I want to reduce my hours "somewhat". (I left next year's numbers vague by referring to "days" rather than "hours" worked.) That gives me another week to decide on how many hours I want to lose. 

I'm relieved.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Good to get it out there without having to call attention to it.

[Anne_in_VA]

Apr 16, 2018 20:32:02 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Good to get it out there without having to call attention to it.

[debthaven]

Update: My review this morning went very well. In the end I asked for 9 slots next semester instead of the 12 I had in Semester 1 of this year. (I wanted to ask for 8 but lost my nerve, and going from 12 to 8 would have been complicated and a bigger drop in income.)

I would have liked 2 fewer slots (total between both jobs) in Sem 1. In the end I will have just 1 fewer slot, but that's still better than this year (and a smaller drop in income).

Thanks!


 

[sesfw]

Debthaven ....... this will be easier on you.  It's ok to love what you are doing but you need down time to regroup also.

Have fun with some of your time ........... good luck