How many hours can a fifteen-year-old work?

Why am I not getting good hours at work anymore?

• I work in retail and I have learned to love what I do overtime. In all actuality, I enjoy working in retail and meeting all of the people from various backgrounds that I have interaction with on a daily basis. However, what I do not like about my job right now is how much money I make and how many hours I get per week. I started working at this particular retailer almost a year ago in June of 2011 and was hired as a Part Time Retail Associate. When I was first hired I was getting really good hours a week (35-40) and was really enjoying my paycheck. That continued up until about October when I dropped down to 10-20 hours a week. Then, when Christmas time came around (November and December) my hours picked back up to around 40 hours a week and some weeks I even got 41 to 44 hours because of how BUSY we were during this time. Once January rolled around, business slowed down again and I went back down to 10-20 hours week and it has stayed that way up until now with the exception of a few weeks in March when I got between 34 and 38 hours. The point I am trying to make here is how the retailer treats their employees. The thing that is really frustrating to me is the fact that they continue to hire new people when they don't even have enough hours to give to the associates who have been there long term like myself. I know some people left the store, but I think they should have increased all of our hours to take over those employees hours who left. I don't think its fair that they continue to hire new people and give them the full time hours while I am stuck with 17.5 hours this week and have been there almost a year. I have shown all of my managers that I am very dependable, hardworking, dedicated, and will put 100% effort towards my work each and everyday. I am always the one who they call in when someone doesn't show up to work or calls out sick and I am always the one taking the shifts when someone doesn't want to work. I was named Associate of the Month back in September of last year and am currently the fastest cashier year to date. I was even told at one point back in October of last year that they were going to start training me for Assistant Store Manager, but that never panned out. I believe I am someone who should be offered a full time position with the company because of how hard working I am, but it seems like promotion is horrible with the company and that will never happen. So after all what do you all think I should do about this? I have talked to the store manager before about this as have other employees who have been there a long time and it hasn't helped. What should I start doing to make myself stand out from the crowd so that I get more hours? Thanks for your help in advance :)

• Answer:

  You have bad bosses. There is only so much you can do before you become a prostitute! I'd start looking for another retail job.