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[FearofUnknown]

@SaltwaterSoul I work a Casual position too, and 1 week when it was very "quiet", I didn't work a whole entire week. But yesterday I got asked if I can work 5 days once it gets busy again. I guess that's just the nature of work -sometimes there's a lot to do and sometimes it isn't. However, there was a job where I only worked about 2 shifts too and then was not fostered for 2 whole weeks. When I asked them why, they said the exact same thing you were told and that's that Casual positions don't have a regular roster due to no shifts being available. I quit that job immediately! No way was I going to be checking everyday to see when I've been given a shift! I really enjoyed that job though.

With your situation, if the Volunteer place really brings you joy, I would say quit your new job. The most important thing is your happiness and if that Casual position is making you feel overwhelmed that is a very good reason to tell Human Resources that you're leaving. 

[SaltwaterSoul]

@FearofUnknown 

Thank you for responding back to me. Yeah, my experience in the past with casual has always been a lot of work, but then again in a complete different area (educator/teachers aid). They always need people, every day. But that's another story. I'm not going back to that as it wrecked me in the end. My current job is in a completely different area, so I guess different way of doing things. But I don't know understand why the manager said he had lots of work, and even after I said this is what I'm looking for, he said no worries we got it here. And then no. Very confusing for me...at my current job they do the roster one month in advance, that's how I know I only got a total of 7 hours for the entire month. 

I'm sorry you had to go through something similar, are you happy with the casual job you got at the moment? I think for me personally, beside getting back to workforce it's the mental aspect of it. I just need something regular to show up to and build on, if that makes sense. 

I had an idea that I could maybe stay on as a casual, but obviously would have limited availability, as my permanent job would take-up 3 days?! 

Thank you for being there 

[FearofUnknown]

I haven't got a choice like you do @SaltwaterSoul , so even if I dislike my job, I must stay with it. I'm back to Part-time hours with the potential for some Full-time hours. I'm still a Casual though, so I consider it a blessing when work is offered to me even though I am physically exhausted. Mentally, I think I am doing my best but I attest that to the fact that I have switched one of my medications.

Do what makes you happy unless you are in a tight situation like me then keep your Casual job. Otherwise, I would accept the paid volunteer role immediately if I were you.

[SaltwaterSoul]

@FearofUnknown 

Thanks for sharing your perspective on it. I'm happy you have been offering some more work and I hope shifts keep coming. How long have you worked there, I think some workplaces have to offer you a permanent position if you been there for about 6 months?  

I have accepted to have a meeting regards the role at my volunteer place, so hopefully something exciting is coming out of it. I know I'll definitely regret it if I don't even consider it. And that role won't start until July anyway which gives me a bit of time to organise things. 

[tyme]

What a dilemma!

I can see you like both roles. @SaltwaterSoul 

Is the role you have been recommended for, a permanent full time role? Or is it partime? I'm wondering if you can keep both if one is part time and the other is casual? This is seeing you actullay enjoyed working at the other place too. 

Are they in different industries? I mean, do you learn different skills from both jobs or are they both similar?

Thank you so much for the update. Sorry to hear you feel you were 'tricked'.

[Ruby26]

@SaltwaterSoul I'm really sorry to hear that you are tricked. The same thing has happened to me several times too.

If your current job is only going to give you 7 hours a month, can you do both roles? The positive thing about being causal is that you don't owe the workplace anything, you can go and work a permanent part time role somewhere else and keep the causal job as "back up" work without telling them anything. 

For me personally, I don't feel safe working for places that use the "bait and switch" strategy. I'm very sensitive to dishonesty, but I understand that's a "me thing". If you still feel comfortable working there, by all means keep working there.  

Just be careful with the new job. I've also had several experiences of volunteer organisations claim they are arranging a paid position for me and then never following through with it. I've been down the "the paperwork just needs to be signed off by management, and the job is yours" track before. You don't have the new job under you have a signed permanent contract sitting in front of you (and even then, sometimes you have a "probation" before the job becomes permanent. 

[SaltwaterSoul]

@Ruby26 

Thanks for your ideas on this, and I'm sorry you've experienced something similar. I feel exactly the same about the dishonesty part. Although I think it affects me more because I struggle with change. When I'm told something will happen, I expect it to go that way, and when it doesn't, my nervous system just goes crazy. I found it very difficult to accept that the outcome I expected isn't going to happen right now. That's where I am at the moment, and now I'm just trying to work out a solution. 

Regarding the volunteer role, thank you for mentioning that. I've been cautious about it too and won't change anything until I've signed an official contract. Everything has happened very quickly and not at all how I expected returning to the workforce. I thought I would find a job, start working, and then just take things week by week, but it hasn't turned out that way at all. And you know how many interviews I went to puh, I really tried to find the right one (a suitable job). Anyway, I can't be too hard on myself.. it's just the beginning. I'll have to try have faith in this..it will all most likely work out somehow. 🙂

[SaltwaterSoul]

@tyme 

Sorry, I thought I had already responded to this, but it turns out I never did.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. The role is a permanent part-time position, around 15 hours a week if everything works out. The jobs are in different industries, so I would probably learn different skills, although some things would overlap such as the social part in it. 

I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll wait and see. It has been helpful to talk this through here, get others thoughts on it.  I think I am going to see how many shifts I get rostered in July and then review things from there. I just think it’s too early to make a big decision. I would definitely take on a permanent position if it’s offered, so in that way being a casual is actually good, I'm not locked in. 

I spoke to the manager on Friday afternoon about the permanent position. She asked if I was interested and talked me through the role. I said that I was interested, and she pretty much said, Well, that's great, then you've got the job. She also mentioned that she will get back to me tomorrow with more details and information. However, I'd like to see an official contract before making any  decisions, so I'll be keeping an eye out for that first before I get too excited.

[FearofUnknown]

My work is repetitive and a little bit (a lot) boring. At least it's not as physically strenuous as my previous job. I complete work tasks efficiently and is proactive in asking for more job tasks. But I guess the work can be too easy that it makes me wonder why I am there in the first place.

Am I being to hard on myself? Can work be easygoing mentally and not intellectually demanding?

I actual tried browsing for more jobs after reaching the 3 month milestone for being hired and there is no way I would ever be able to find another job if I am fired. So I must do my best to stay employed even though sometimes I wish I had my previous job back.

I guess work shouldn't be "fun" and this is how real adults live so I must adapt and accept it. 

Does anyone else find their work/job to be kind of boring too?

[Ruby26]

@SaltwaterSoul thank you, my nervous system goes crazy when I have to deal with dishonesty. I hope it settles down for you soon. Try and take care of yourself as best as you can. This is a huge thing to have to process. I've found job stuff can be impossible to predict. You are doing very well hanging in there and still finding solutions.