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Pam
Help - How Do I Say NO to my Boss?
Asked by Pam
I have a full-time job at an academic institution. I have been here almost 2 years and work 4 days a week. I do my job well and am liked by my boss and co-workers. However, there is a possibility that I will be asked to work 5 days a week. I was hired for 4 days and I want to keep it that way. Nobody has said anything yet but I want to be prepared to say NO without making enemies. Better yet, I would like to plant seeds now that I cannot work 5 days so they may never ask. Any advice HR people?

A:
Best Answer:
Tell him you have other obligations to meet on that 5th day each week. By saying this, you keep it short and simple, and to the point. It's a way of saying "no" without coming off as rude or arrogant, and usually the other person will understand.

A:
N O means no just say it in his face
Answered by Dana

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"no"
Answered by Callum

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Don't say no. Just pretend to be sick. Then you won't offend anyone. If anyone in that office is so selfish as to be mad at you for being "sick," then you should probably find a different place to work. Good luck!
Answered by Tom

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I actually just read this recently on MSN: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1925-Workplace-Issues-Saying-No-to-Your-Boss/?ArticleID=1925&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=6210863e546941e59faa188337f9454d-298387218-J4-5 Good luck!
Answered by Jordan

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be firm, say no. Show weakness, and your boss will walk all over you
Answered by Elephant Droppings

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"no" works.
Answered by RickyRedwood

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punch him on the face then "NO!"
Answered by $elam

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lol work the extra day, go to VEGAS!
Answered by Ela.P.Hants

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why not 5 days a week ? most people are looking for more hours cause no one can make a living and your shooting down one more day a week of work ?
Answered by Turtle

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JUST TELLEM YOU CANT DOIT!! NO
Answered by walk

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explain your situation, then say no
Answered by Alex

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Lie. Say you have another job, or something...or just be honest about it and say you can't work 5 days.
Answered by Brandon

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Don't start dropping hints yet. When you're asked, just politely tell them that you'd like to keep it to a 4-day work week. However, if they need someone on that 5th day and you insist on keeping it at 4 days, they can fire you. And, yes, they can legally let you go if you don't fit their needs.
Answered by Hokie_Pokey

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Look at your contract, and if it is not current, have it renewed so you can only work four days.
Answered by iCheer86

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Well, be honest and clear with them. With working 5 days a week, an extra day of pay should be inorder as well. But if your happy working 4 days a week then tell your boss that you are not interested in working that extra day.
Answered by artdazer69

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Just say working 5 days would not fit you schedule right now.
Answered by Lauren

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are you the boss?NO! so just do what your told or find another job that's suites you better!
Answered by Woody

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Just say to him what you are saying here in the question... You were hired to work 4 day and you cannot work for 5... Tell him you appreciate everything but you can't take 5 days of work
Answered by bubbles

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Well if the schedule or demands of the employer change and you cannot accomodate them, you are not needed. I am sure anyone right now struggling to find a job, someone would be happy to take your position. Just say no.
Answered by paradigm81

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Try talking to your boss ahead of time, before you are even asked. Say something like "I can't commit to 5 days of work every week at this time, but when my schedule opens up [or whatever your situation is] you will be the first to know." Maybe you can work 5 days a week every other week? Bosses like flexibility.
Answered by dahjaj_ghed

A:
If you just don't want to is your reason, it's not a good reason. If you are going to say no, you will be expected to have a good reason. Otherwise, you will look undependable, no matter how good of a worker you are otherwise. With the way the economy is going, you should be more than happy to pick up extra hours. Part timers are always the first to go.
Answered by marleen

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Most people say no with a simple NO>
Answered by billy

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is there a reason you don't want to work 5?? i'd go with..... " thankyou for the opportunity especially with the job situation today but i am content with 4 days work and i think i will always be happy just working the 4 days."
Answered by Maddison

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If your boss asks you to go to a 5 day work week and you do not want to, you can tell him that since this was the expectation when you were hired, you have commitments that cannot be changed for the day in question. You do not have to give details of what it is, as that is not any ones business but your own. This happened to me though and I will tell you what they did. They told me that if I did not work the 5 days a week then I no longer had a job, because the requirements of the job changed and this made the change necessary for their business. I needed the job, I worked the 5 days...not happy, but I worked them.
Answered by Marco's girl

A:
If your boss asks you about working 5 days, remind him that you were only contracted to work the 4 days. Another issue however, is the contract you affixed your signature to, did you read all the fine print before you signed? There are sometimes occasions where they stick in little things like "hours and availability are subject to the operational needs" or something to that affect. If this was on the contract, and you signed without reading all of the fine print, then unfortunately if they want you to work the 5 days, then you will not have a choice. If it was either from this, or they want you to work the 5 days, and you say no to your boss, just be prepared to look for another job if he says no, and you want to keep it at 4 days. I hope that this helps, but with the way that the economy is they are looking at having people handle more, so they are not needing to have additional people. I am sorry, but this is just the way that it is with the economy the way it is. I hope that I have explained this so that you are able to understand why the boss may have said what he said.
Answered by mtwaites

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It's impossible to say no and still keep your job. If the whole institution is changing their work schedule, there's little even your direct boss can do about it. I understand what you mean by what happens between what you agreed to do when you accepted the position, and what they expect you to do later. I'm going through that right now myself. But realistically, you have to be prepared to resign before you even try to say "no." As valuable as we may be, we are not irreplaceable.
Answered by misslabeled

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Just say that due to other obligations you can only work the schedule you are currently working. You don't have to explain. Say "I'm sorry, I just can't work any more hours because of other responsibilities." instead of "No".
Answered by Suba

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If no one said anything how the heck do you know that your schedule will be changed???
Answered by Original 566


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