Is it ok to call off work sometimes?

[Emily]

I've worked at my employer (a nationally known retail store) for over a year and a half now and I've never called off ever while others call off all the time. We have this credit system that if you don't show up or come late it takes points away, but if you're on time every shift for a month you gain a credit. I currently have 18, which is the maximum they allow you to accumulate because I've never called off or have been late.

But I am just so sick and tired of them scheduling me terrible shifts this christmas season and scheduling the seasonal workers the daytime shifts! I feel like as a year round associate I should at least deserve one daytime shift a week instead of all these early morning and overnight shifts. So far I've had to miss my high school youth group's reunion and a christmas party because of my shifts, but now I'm scheduled during my close friends' christmas party! My shift, on a Sunday night, is from 2 in the afternoon until 12 midnight!! I feel like my job (which isn't even a permanent job; I'm a full-time student as well) is overtaking my life and causing me to have no social life.

I'm just so unbelievably frustrated right now. I'm considering calling off. I know it won't affect me at all because I'll only lose two points out of my 18. But I just feel bad because I don't like to leave them without help.

What should I do? do you think it would be ok to call off this one time?

[LovelyOne]

it seems like you've earned it and deserve it. you have the points to be able to take off so they have no good reason not to let you unless they are playing favorites.if they let someone else off for the holiday that takes off or is late all the time instead of you they know you'll just take it and they can walk all over you. take the holiday or which ever day you want your diligence has earned you that.

[J]

No never.

Be realistic. You are setting yourself up for failure by being tooooo narrow.

Look for for work/career at job fairs, networking, internet, work site visits with resumees, volunteering, etc. consider your own business.

Choose a career that helps and does not punish your family.. Be it financially, etc. Think of them first. Expect to have to support your family. If you want to help people do it for their benefit and not for your ego. Professionals help people in need more than anyone so target that if you can.

Avoid student debt tolerance, no debt is best,, ...

Complete thorough realistic research to achieve life sustaining income. Maybe accounting, engineering, law, medicine, computers, ....

Pick a path where you don't start working bankrupt with debt. Don't become another casualty of the Trillion$ student debt. You must earn enough, $200k+ to support a family in a major City. Do not low ball your life and your family. If you can't find work volunteer to get in the door. Try volunteering at good potential employers and go down from there to community service, but get in anywhere and start working/networking, even if its for free.Be a model worker, no yapping, internet, cell phone..start work 30 minutes early and end work 30 minutes after day's end.

Almost 50 million people on food stamps, ~20% of males 25 to 54 yrs not working, lowest SATs in 40 years, debt to GDP over 100%, 25% of global prison inmates with only 5% of global population, etc and whats uncle sams answer to America's problems? Corrupt political paralysis and meteroic debt plague spiking by adding a trillion dollars of debt in 2013 to criminally prop up financial markets artificially. What a mess we live in!

America You are On Your Own. YOYO's the word. Never forget it. Take control of your own lives and ignore what ever fictonal solutions the politicians and corporate bobble heads throw around as their self-profiteering benevolence.

Abandon obese consumer spending debt addiction culture and self enslavement. Cut your lifestyle in half or less of the destructive unrealistic American dream standard....small house or apt..one car or no car .. always have a second job cause the one you have can/will disappear ...save and invest over 50% of your income if you can .... stay with your parents....parents move in with your kids...Rent with friends...rent rooms in your home ..Live like the wage you make today could be the last you'll earn, always.

Most of all maintain constructive positive relationships and forward planning. Have fun at it without spending money. What you are wanting to do is great but do it with a strong dose of reality and caring for your future, family and community.

[Jerome]

Thts normal