I run a very small coffee shop with 3 part time baristas. I have them working all working set schedules which works really well because 2 of them have other jobs and I’m a person that likes predictability.
The 3rd barista is trying to get a second job and he said they might need him to work a day he’s already scheduled with me. It’s on my only full day off with no shop responsibilities, which means I only have one other barista that I can ask to pick up that shift or I work 7 days/week (each day is split into 2 shifts). If the other barista says he can’t pick up the shift, can I say no to the schedule change?
I’ve already gone through a couple rounds of burnout, and I know that working 7 days a week without an end date will cause another. My employees deserve me at my best, but I feel like a big ol’ jerk saying no for a strictly personal reason.
You risk losing the employee by denying the request which will result in you working more shifts anyway.