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How to make requests on the job?

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Justmehere

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I need advice on a silly and probably OBVIOUS employment matter.

Context: I'm working my way off disability after several years on SSDI. I have huge insecurities about being capable and accepted on the job. One job that I do is a reoccurring contract to be a manager in a position that usually lasts about 4-8 weeks a couple of times a year. For privacy sake, I'll be vague on the job position itself. I generally ask for nothing regarding scheduling or accommodations, and I work extra hard. (Show up early, leave late, etc.) I refuse to ask for accommodations for this job for many reasons that are besides the point of this thread. I'm starting a new contract in this position, and I have a new boss. I was in a good groove with my old boss, but it was inevitable he would move on to a better paying job. My new boss is great, but still learning a lot.

Problem: I came in to help my new boss interview and hire new staff. It was fun. She also told me today she is moving me from one location where I’m super busy and super comfy, to another location, where I will have more responsibilities. The location she moved me to is a 1 block from my home, and they know I don’t drive. She said that's why she moved me there. Easy commute. That was really thoughtful. It wasn’t yet the final schedule and I didn’t have time to say much.
There is another location about 1 mile away that is busier. She moved me to the slower location.... but I do better when I'm busier. My old boss saw me excel in a busier location, and was naturally adamant about keeping me there because I did so well when many do not do well. No one knows I have PTSD, or that my nerves are less of an issue when I busy.

I want to request to be at the busier location, further away. I already had one other scheduling request and had to fix that. When I fixed it, I said I'll work whereve they need me - and I will. Now to make another request, it feels like I'm being an ass. I just helped hire staff, and we all talked about how much it helps to have people who are willing to work any of our locations. I already said this week I'd work wherever they need me. But like, I didn't think they'd move me to the super slow location.

And the insecure part of me is worried I’ve already messed up with this new boss, because they move less skilled employees to slower locations where most do better.

But she just asked me to help interview new staff with other too staff... so that’s probably not it... ?

I am weirdly stressed out about trying to get up the courage to ask to move to the other location a mile away. This should be THE LEAST of my concerns.... but whatever. I'm stressed out about this thing, while not stressed about anything else with this job, so.... how do I do this? Or do I even do it at all?

Would it be reasonable to casually say: "hey, I like to be busy on the job - if it ends up being the same to you all, can you move me to the ____ location because it tends to be busier? Transportation wise, it all works out just fine for me. If it doesn't work, that's cool too." My boss and I will be working together all day tomorrow and there will be down time to casually bring this up, if I choose to do so.
There is an employee that knows and likes me well, is helping my boss put together schedules, and had asked me about which location I wanted - and I could also just ask her to see if it can be arranged for me to work at the busier location.

All of this came up as we were walking between rooms to process paperwork and conferencing together to select which ones to hire. So not much time to talk.

Or should I just drop it entirely? I have zero confidence that I know how to handle this stuff. I feel super stupid to the point I’m stupidly stressing. Can’t sleep. Every contract I work, there is usually one thing like this that I get super worked up about, while being able to take the rest in stride. Maybe some outside perspectives will help me get my feet under me about this more quickly.
 
Would it be reasonable to casually say: "hey, I like to be busy on the job - if it ends up being the same to you all, can you move me to the ____ location because it tends to be busier? Transportation wise, it all works out just fine for me. If it doesn't work, that's cool too."
Absolutely 100% reasonable, especially phrased that way.

You noted the boss was still learning, but seems to really respect you. A request like this usually adds to the respect since it shows self-awareness and self-advocacy, which bosses who aren't crazy like to see.

It also shows that you'll respect their decision either way since it's a request, not a demand. There may be a reason you're in that location you're not aware of.

You got this!
 
And the insecure part of me is worried I’ve already messed up with this new boss, because they move less skilled employees to slower locations where most do better.
Or she’s putting someone she trusts in charge of the morons speed-challenged, so that expeditiously means sometime in the near future, not the 12th of Never, and urgently means now, not look busy & make excuses. Because you understand the demands of getting all the locations running smoothly together, and the lackadaisical pace at the slower locations isn’t the response time needed to keep everything moving at a uniform clip.

That and she likes you, so she’s tying to do you a solid. No way for her to know your idea of a Cherry assignment isn’t BossMan in Tropics pass the mojitos, but Skippering a ship through a tropical storm! Wheeeeeeee!!!

Would it be reasonable to casually say: "hey, I like to be busy on the job - if it ends up being the same to you all, can you move me to the ____ location because it tends to be busier? Transportation wise, it all works out just fine for me. If it doesn't work, that's cool too."
Yep. Absolutely.

Taken with a large grain of salt (explained below)... I’d personally change the phrasing to “Just so you know, I’d be thrilled to work at the busier location, unless you really need me at the slower one close to my house, in which case it’s all good/cool/etc.”

IE ...THIS would make me happy, but I’m your man (woman)... because it makes saying yes easy for them, for either, and Americans -especially American Women- hate saying no. (This is why I’m a 2nd, not a leader. I make leader’s jobs easier for them, rather than selling my own agenda.)

My best friend would kick my ass for phrasing it the way I would, because I “should” make it hard for them to say no (and easy to say yes) to what I want, (and make them question their worth as a human being, should they even think of sending me where I dont want to be). She considers that child’s play. Real grownup negotiation -to her mind- would include bonuses and compensation attached to -not what she doesn’t want- but what she DOES want, just to keep her extra happy. But she IS a leader.

Ah.... words :p

Point being? Go for it. You’re fine. Even coming from someone who puts bosses wants ahead of their own.
 
@somerandomguy - your reassurance helped! I read it mid-panic attack and it helped me slow down and feel more normal. Thank you.

Taken with a large grain of salt (explained below)... I’d personally change the phrasing to “Just so you know, I’d be thrilled to work at the busier location, unless you really need me at the slower one close to my house, in which case it’s all good/cool/etc.”
Actually, I like this! This feels more doable. Yeah, it is less likely to get what I want from a negotiation stance. But I rather be the super team player if I make the request at all. It’s got a positive “put me in coach” / “I’m your gal” attitude that I want to have.

If she really is trying to do me a solid, and it actually seems possible that is actually the case, then she’ll know what I’d be the happiest doing - but that if there are other reasons, she knows, no problem. I got this. She can count on me.

I am learning to like being a leader more and more, but I also like making leaders jobs easier. As a location manager, at either location, I’ll lead plenty.

Now to remember to breathe... :)
 
Asked her! Went over super well. :) She scheduled me the other place. Said she was trying to get me better pay, which I didn’t request. Also said she wanted to promote me to a higher position - but I would have to have a car. I don’t have one. So she said she wants to maximize me as much without one.

Wow. I mean, wow. This is so cool and yet I’m heartbroken because I want that higher job. I left smiling and now I’m home, and in tears. Damn it.
 
Justmehere,
I am so happy for you that you get the location you wanted but if you still want the higher job, you can casually still mention that you love your job and you want to stay in this organization. This is all strategic talk at work place and trust me you do not stop. Every time, future talk or location talk come up, you put your interest there.

You may still get that job and you can even express or share you would get a car if the job is there.

I am so happy for you. I used to hate asking things at work until recently. Men are so much better at this than women...so no wonder somerandomguy jumped to help out right away.
 
I won’t be getting the higher position. I don’t meet the requirements and won’t meet them by Monday. These are very short contracts and there isn’t time to make plans for meeting requirements in the future. I either meet the requirements by Monday or we move forward as is. I have no means to afford a car the next 24 hours. I can’t promise I will get a car if I get the job. This is very low pay work. It’s the best I can find while trying to get off disability.
 
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I didn’t really think about it from the reference letter angle.... that is a good point.

I may have made a foolish decision. I put my place up for a sublease. Figure if I can get it rented out for two months, I can use the rent $ to rent a car. I found all be info in shelters and I have a discounted rec center pass. I spent the morning packing up valuables for a storage unit and applying for a hotel voucher and a shelter spot. I also applied for crisis rent assistance at a non-profit in town.... explained my weird situation in full.

This might be a really a stupid decision.

Give me an opportunity to work and prove myself, I will run after it so hard. This is my one open door after years of trying to find any.... I mean Voc Rehab deemed me “permanently unemployable.” They did so, three times, despite handing them paychecks. This job is just a few weeks but if I can do this job; maybe everyone will stop saying that there is no hope for my employability.

The position has probably already been filled. At least I’ve given my all to make it work. I’ll have my usual position no matter what, and it will be a little easier with a rental car anyhow.

What am I even doing?! I don’t know.

I’m guessing I really need to work on making requests, holding boundaries, and, most of all, believing in myself and not being so irrationally insecure and weird about everything.

I might be just screwing this all up more.
 
For future reference, love... SUMMER is the best time to sublet & camp to save money. Unless you live in the desert. Then winter is spot on. ;)

Still, subletting let’s you keep your home base in a pinch (without having to scrape together 3 months worth of money for 1st Last Deposit, like losing it would, for a new place). It’s a creative and smart solution IMO to voluntarily deal with a little hardship for a limited amount of time, to avoid crisis-hardship for an extended and unknown period of time.
 
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