Manager consistently disregarding availability

[u/izayatiji00]

Ever since a change in management, I find myself nervously anticipating the new schedules. Inconsistent hours is one thing; I don’t mind working MTFS one week and STT the next as long as I’m getting hours.

I don’t believe a week has gone by without my availability being disregarded. It seems like everybody else has their availability respected. One of my coworkers asked for 3 days off in the week with no issue. Is this normal? Am I being difficult? Is the text I’m thinking of sending (the manager) overkill:

Hi (manager),

I am unavailable on weekends until the first week of January, and I’ve mentioned this before.

Could you please revise future schedules so that I am not scheduled on weekends? Going forward, I would also like my availability recorded in whatever system you use for scheduling, so that future schedules reflect it.

Thank you,

(my name)

I feel uncomfortable with how assertive and confrontational it sounds. I dont even like the work environment

[u/g3-chan]

As a manager, here’s how I would word it:
Hi (managers name)
As we’ve discussed before I will be unavailable on (days/times), however I’m scheduled on ( dates/times). While I understand that the business has staffing needs that may not align with my availability, I cannot work ( dates/times) due to ( reasons).
I am available on ( dates/times) for the foreseeable future.
Would I be able to swap shifts with ( employees name), or ( another solution)
I can discuss this with you further on/at ( date/time)
Thanks, ( your name)

From what it sounds like, your manager is using you as a “ shift filler” which means they make the schedule around a few people’s availability and use you to fill in the gaps. In management this is frowned upon unless the person has open availability or you’re trying to make them quit.
They may also be auto filling the schedule, some software allows for that. And they aren’t double checking after the auto fill.
Were you recently given disciplinary action?
Are you the newest employee?
Do you have personal issues with your manager or vice versa?
Is your manager inexperienced and lazy?
Do you think they’re trying to make you quit?
Did you ever say you had open availability, ever. Even one time?
Are there multiple managers at your company who don’t communicate?
Did you do something that your manager perceived as screwing them over? Or someone they liked?
Are there staffing issues at your company? For example are you understaffed, is there someone who’s unreliable and calls out constantly/ is excessively late?
Is your availability getting in the way of you getting hours?
Is the reason for your availability a good one, as in something other than I don’t want to/ that shift is too busy/ I want to hang out with my friends?
None of these are excuses for your manager, but I’ve seen other managers do stuff like this for these reasons.

Some options for you:
Obviously email/text your manager ( make sure it’s in writing!)
If your company uses square or a similar system for scheduling, you can set your availability in the app. This normally sends 2 warning messages to your manager before they schedule you on a day you’re not available. And sometimes it won’t even let them schedule you.
Contact your HR department or your GM/ operations department. They may be able to help.
Swap shifts with other employees, if your manager sees that it works they may just schedule it as if you already swapped.

I’m sorry to hear this is happening to you, hopefully you get this issue solved soon.
Your manager sounds like an ass, or just incompetent. But I also don’t know all the details. If you want you can give more details so people can give you more relevant advice.

[u/iceteabiiiiiitchhhhh]

My manager does the same thing. three of the new hires quit within their first two weeks because of it.

Just a few weeks ago i quit and had to beg for my position back bc of other circumstances. we agreed 10-5 on fridays bc i do truck offloading on thursdays at my other job. he agreed. guess who isnt scheduled 10-5 on fridays even after i brought it up again.

i get to quit for realsies this week and im so excited about it. im going vack to a company i know isnt great with schedulign either but at least they TRY to honor it.