So my boss scheduled me to work right during classes/rehearsals and I don’t know what to do or say.

22 Comments

1. Lydia ScottMarch 21,2026 at 8:04AM UTC

   That sounds like a really tough spot to be in. You’re balancing school, rehearsals, and work — and you communicated your conflicts as soon as you received your schedule. That’s responsible and professional. It may help to have a calm conversation with your boss explaining that your rehearsal schedule is released late on Thursdays and you notify them as quickly as possible. Clear communication can go a long way, and you deserve understanding as you work hard to manage both your education and your job.

2. AnonymousMarch 21,2026 at 12:11PM UTC

   Maybe next time don’t use ChatGPT and be authentic with your advice.

3. AnonymousMarch 21,2026 at 12:16PM UTC

   I know it’s difficult when you really need a job to help pay for things in school, but there are other part-time jobs out there. An employer hiring a student should recognize school comes first. My part-time employers understood that when they hired me as a student. No part-time job is worth a failing grade when that job isn’t part of your future goals. If after telling your boss that you’re graded on this he still doesn’t budge and none of your coworkers will step in to take your shifts, I would prioritize school and get another part-time job. I know it might seem like the wrong thing to do, but if your graduation is impacted by this job, you will look back and regret it. Have the conversation with your boss (not your director. They expect you to prioritize school and understand the expectations upon enrollment) about all the options and see from there if they’re willing to be flexible in order to make your decision to quit.

4. AnonymousMarch 21,2026 at 12:20PM UTC

   You need another job. If you are in grad school for music, then that has to take priority. The graduate program expects that.

5. AnonymousMarch 21,2026 at 3:11PM UTC

   At this point, it sounds like you have 2 options:

   -Keep this job and see if you can get an excusal from your director about your performances. Maybe you could ask your director if you could get a new performance schedule that doesn’t conflict with your work schedule. I’ve seen classmates do that when they had conflicting work schedules. They’d ask for homework extensions, for example.

   -Quit the job and get another one, preferably one where the manager is more flexible with your work schedule.

6. AnonymousMarch 21,2026 at 3:19PM UTC

   School is far more important so do what you can rescheduling work but school and your degree are far more important.

7. Liza SivekMarch 21,2026 at 4:08PM UTC

   Agreed but so is food and rent. Try to find another PT job that's knows ahead of hiring what your dealing with and I wish you the best!

8. AnonymousMarch 21,2026 at 9:58PM UTC

   All of the options. You may need to find a way to make your priorites work in a different way (may mean a different employer with the flexible schedule you require for your education).

9. GwenMarch 22,2026 at 12:20PM UTC

   They knew you were a student when they hired you. Talk to your school, explain that this keeps happening (may happen again…) and see if they can make allowances for you. Also be looking for another job as this one doesn’t seem to care.

10. Mara Jevera FulmerMarch 22,2026 at 3:31PM UTC

    School and the performances are a key part of that. Your graduate school work is your priority.

    If the employer isn’t willing to change, I’d talk to your school about possible employment that can work around your schedule.

    Have you also considered teaching private music lessons? Those can be set up around your schedule. Or, if not, work in an office on campus. As a grad student there are often positions available to help students earn the money for the incidentals that may not be covered by scholarships or tuition-wavers.

    Regardless, you’re not going to grad school only to be undermined by an inflexible parttime job. Focus on your priorities. Those rehearsals represent your future. Don’t sacrifice that future!

11. Syann StevensMarch 22,2026 at 3:33PM UTC

    A or C. Since this is a job, the hiring process is generally quicker...and if they put their foot down and let you go, you can find another one faster than if you were looking for corporate work. You're paying money for that class, and if you took on debt to not pass, that will add up faster than missing work.

12. GirlBossanova934974March 22,2026 at 5:44PM UTC

    I like Option C. If I were the supervisor, I would go with C and then figure out a way to get the time and/or tasks made up on MON, TUE, WED, and FRI. Seems pretty simple to me.

13. Suna GurolMarch 22,2026 at 9:54PM UTC

    A and C

14. Liz MilneMarch 22,2026 at 10:55PM UTC

    You are a student: rehearsals and classes come first.

    You could ask if rehearsal schedules can be released earlier, or you can ask your boss to hold off giving you hours until you've confirmed the hours you need for performances etc.

    Or find another part time job, one that doesn't clash with your school work

15. AnonymousMarch 23,2026 at 9:43AM UTC

    Your college is far more important in the long run than a part-time job. Talk to the rehearsal director, explain your situation, and ask that schedules be completed a day earlier. If that can't be done, give your boss advance notice that you might have to cancel a shift due to the rehearsal schedules not coming out. However, I don't know why your theater director doesn't have a consistent rehearsal schedule (Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-6 PM, for example). I am sure that when rehearsal days/times are unpredictable, it wreaks havoc with others' schedules as well. Most college students have jobs and this could get in the way of other classes, appointments, etc.

16. AnonymousMarch 23,2026 at 12:44PM UTC

    I am going to take a different view point. Could this part-time job lead to a full-time job when you graduate with a degree you may not be able to use in the job market (unless you are planning to be a teacher)? Ask for the rehearsal schedules in advance of your work deadline-there have to be others in the same situation. For this time, ask your work manager if there is any chance of a change of schedule.

17. AnonymousMarch 23,2026 at 2:17PM UTC

    Is it possible to find someone you can switch a shift with? Otherwise, try option C, and see if that works. If this is retail, most managers understand that you have to schedule around other required jobs and that this job is secondary. It's not easy for them to make everyone happy, but if they are assigning people without understanding the other requirements, it is time to find another "side hustle."

18. Tami CannizzaroMarch 23,2026 at 3:26PM UTC

    School first. Your ultimate goal is to graduate, and excel at school in the process. Key learning: accept jobs that are either more flexible for students or where you can adjust your schedule, i.e. I can't work Thursdays.

19. Kym HinesMarch 24,2026 at 3:52PM UTC

    I agree with school first. Talk to your boss and be very clear about the importance of the rehearsals. If he doesn't want to honor that, then you have a decision to make.

    When my daughter was in college, she had to switch part time jobs a couple of times because the jobs were repeatedly scheduling her for times when she had important school meetings, and she couldn't reason with them when they did.

20. AnonymousMarch 24,2026 at 10:53PM UTC

    I'd just tell them that they knew that it was outside of your availability due to you being in school when they hired you, and that they need to adhere to your availability due to your class schedule.

    I went through a similar issue when I was still working at my last traditional employer and going to college, they repeatedly attempted to schedule me outside of my availability with the full knowledge that I was attending school as a part-time employee. I eventually took it to HR, as my junior and senior supervisors kept scheduling me outside of my availability; and after I had that chat with HR about it, I didn't have any more problems with being scheduled outside of my availability.

21. maria roseMarch 25,2026 at 1:41AM UTC

    There should be a continuity to your rehearsal schedule that should allow you to give your work /employment a set availability that will allow them to give you a work schedule that doesn’t comfy. I get the impression that the OP has left availability a bit less clarified for their employer and even though the OP claims that they don’t get the rehearsal schedule/performance schedule until Thursday night, they neglected to mention if they had asked the director for the performance schedule if they could have it a week in advance when the started both working and attending the rehearsals/performances since it appears that the OP was attending rehearsals /performances before getting the job. What I don’t understand is the OP expects the job to last minute arrange the schedule if rehearsals follow a schedule pattern. I am more inclined to preclude that the OP has told the job that they have an availability that is predictable when it’s not. Not knowing what the rest of the graduate program schedule includes, this OP was hoping to work on the night/ days that they didn’t have rehearsals/performances and have time off for personal reasons. For example, they intended to work and go to graduate studies and rehearsals and work only Monday through Friday and didn’t realize that rehearsals would take the majority of the time available. So if they want to continue to earn money while attending graduate school, they might have to cut back on their personal time to eliminate the conflict between the rehearsals and the work schedule. Clarify and expand their availability based on their knowledge of the pattern of the rehearsals is the best way forward and will eliminate any confusion or need to make changes in the work schedule

22. Kathy SijanMarch 29,2026 at 12:28PM UTC

    No one will switch days with you? My daughter did this all the time when she waitressed and even now as a cardiac sonographer.