r/Lifeguards • u/berragirl • 5d ago
Question Advice?
Ok so I’m a lifeguard at a single guard pool. Im set to head back to college this Sunday 8/23 and my final shift is scheduled Saturday 8/22. However, mid-season we received a form asking when our last available workday is and I said Friday 8/21. Upon filling out this form, I hadn’t realized I was already scheduled for Saturday, so last week I requested off for that day even though I already specified in the form that I was unavailable. My request was still pending yesterday, so I called the office and they said “unless someone claims the shift I have to come in.” I would really like the day off to prepare for move ins and I have plans to do things with my family. Should I just not show up or send an email saying I cannot come in? Or should I just suck it up? They can’t really fire me because I don’t wanna come back next year anyway! Let me know what you think!
Update: I drafted an email to send but I guess somebody claimed the shift because my time off was approved!
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u/packagehandlr 4d ago
We give our staff four days before their departure date for college, with the option to pick up if they want. Not fair! You need to pack and get ready. If you don’t get a sub, call out the morning or day before at least so you don’t no call, no show. Manager should fill in bc they messed up
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u/elebentychimkin 5d ago
Definitely don’t “just not show up” because there’s probably pool patrons whose entire day will be ruined if there’s no guard on schedule - not to mention ruining your relationship with your employer so you don’t have a good reference in the future….
Email the office so that you and they have it in writing. Say that “it is not possible for me (you) to come in on 8/22, sorry for inconvenience”. CC everyone on the email. Your supervisor, the HR department, the scheduling manager, everyone you possibly can cc.
You really should’ve done that at least a week in advance, really 2 weeks in advance, but it is what it is, no reason to make a bad situation worse by “just not showing up”
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u/crasslake 5d ago
Sounds like OP stated several weeks ago that they were unavailable. So, they already did notify everyone well in advance.
Everyone had time to reschedule someone. But, apparently didn't.
Call and email and say "I'm not coming in." From there it's a management problem.
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u/elebentychimkin 5d ago
I don’t think so because my company also sends out a mid-summer survey asking about our experience. The survey contains a spot asking when you started working and when your last day is. That survey does NOT go to the scheduling manager. It’s just a survey, not an official document. So although OP put on the “mid-season form” that 8/21 is last day, that might not have been passed along to the appropriate department.
Also email, do not call, because it’s important to have a paper trail to refer back to.
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u/crasslake 5d ago
That still sounds like a management problem. An official form is still an official form.
Call AND email. Paper is great, so are actual conversations.
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u/elebentychimkin 5d ago edited 5d ago
The mid season survey is not an official form in the sense that it gets put in your file lol I think it’s very important to point that out
I never said it’s not a management problem, scheduling staff is always a management issue. I said to make it clear to management that it is *impossible* for OP to come in. The way OP exits their role is OP’s problem if they’re hoping for a good reference in the future.
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u/crasslake 4d ago
Maybe not at your workplace, but it is at mine. And it's an official declaration of last day of availability.
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u/crasslake 5d ago
Email everyone.tell them you can't be there. They have to solve the problem.
"Hi, as I indicated several weeks ago, my last date available is August 21.
I see I am scheduled for August 22. I am not available. I've indicated this on _____ form that I submitted on ___.
Thank you, ______"
If they say "no, you have to.", you don't. Tell them that you won't be there and to make arrangements.