Breaking Up is Hard to Do

I think I may have clicked “New Post” a half a dozen times today trying to figure out which topic to tackle. The one that is foremost on my mind right has to do with a difficult decision I need to make.

Do I quit Lottery Yarn or stick it out?

YL has lost it’s allure now that I am required to work a set number of hours and have been denied days off when I have requested them over a month in advance. I don’t need the aggravation of trying to find people to cover a shift when my husband needs to go out of town or if I want to do something more fun than stand around at YL on a gorgeous day.

Have I gotten anything out of it? Honestly, not as much as I thought I would. I have been there four years and I was able to get some furniture for the bedroom and a leather couch and odds and ends. I got a few gifts at good deals too. What seems to be happening now though is I am putting in more than I am getting out.

I teach their design classes and the regulars are always coming back and really seem to like what I do. I bring coffee for them and morning goodies (which I was told I was no longer going to be reimbursed for). I research the topics ahead of time to get more info because the outlines are terrible. I have enjoyed doing it and I get high praise from everyone in the store, you’d think I’d be a bit more of a valued employee but no.

I take the job seriously although I have another full time job that takes priority. I don’t cheat the YL job just because it is not my full time job. I just think that I deserve the same respect and I don’t think anyone there is getting that respect. For example, they scheduled a mandatory meeting after hours on a Sunday. That would normally not be so bad but that particular day is FATHER’S DAY. Who does that? Who tells their staff of whom 90% is part time that they need to be around for a mandatory meeting from 6pm to 8pm ON FATHER’S DAY?

The flip side is, I enjoy just about everyone I work with and I enjoy helping most customers. I am just thinking that the $8.70/hour plus discount really isn’t worth what I am giving up anymore.

Thoughts? Help? Suggestions?

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/11815426069055211963 Kelley with Amy's Angels

    As someone who has had a part time job where the novelty wore off, I know exactly where you are coming from.

    I worked at a scrapbook store and did it to earn a little extra fun money (as well as a discount). I worked full time for a family business which required me to move to Northern MN in the summer. Therefore, I had to leave that job every summer. It wasn't a problem to do that–but when I came back in the fall, it just wasn't “fun” anymore. Change over of staff, mandatory meetings, being scheduled to work only closing shifts (including the weekends) really made me ask one question:

    Am I happy here.

    The answer was no. Yes, I like the people. Yes, I enjoyed the customers. Yes, I enjoyed the extra $$. But in the end, I wasn't happy. So I left.

    And I haven't looked back. : )

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/10023417839687501752 Snooty Primadona

    I worked in the only upper end jewelry store here back when we first got married, on a part-time basis, with a hefty discount on jewelry and gifts. Since all of our friends were getting married around then, I was able to buy exceptionally nicer wedding gifts & BD presents. (They also carried Lladro, Lalique & others.)

    Then, it got to the point where they wanted me to work more & more, which wasn't a part time job. Once all my friends were married, I gave them my notice and never looked back.

    That said, I think you've already really made up your mind. Once those wheels start turning, it's not long until the end…

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/16794387734217000502 Los

    Tough call … Lottery Yarn has some great stuff there …

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/15792389491137279542 Muffy Willowbrook

    As someone who HAD to work a number of part time jobs when I started out in my career, the idea of having the same part time job for four years is mind boggling – and to top that off with little respect and little reward…I think it's time to take your chips and leave the table.

    I'm sure you've made some good friends, so I know that will be hard. But truly – the relief you'll feel once that obligation is out of your life will undoubtedly be tremendous.

    Take a leave of absence – see if you like it.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/00204195066864717389 Diane

    I agree with Snooty… once you start doing the math and running the numbers, your mind has already calculated the inequities.
    I think you'll feel happier without the yarn shop.

  • http://www.blogger.com/profile/11771871442051868808 paige

    If it doesn't make you happy and you don't absolutely have to…let it go. That's what I say.

    Good luck, whatever you decide.