I don't know if anyone here can offer advice, but I really just need to rant about this and get it out of my system. Be warned, it will be long.

First, I want to say that I am grateful for everyone at work for taking me under their wing and teaching me all I know in the veterinarian world. I didn't know anything 5 years ago when I started as a high school senior and now I have a BA and I'm hoping to get into vet school this fall.

Anyway, yesterday was the last straw that really plucked me. I've been increasingly getting more and more frustrated. Yesterday, since we didn't have any surgeries scheduled (and I was supposed to be the surgery assistant) my boss/practice owner told me not to come in. If it was anyone else who would have been in surgery, I highly doubt they would have been told that...

I'm sorry, but I am tired of being treated like a 2nd rate employee there. Yes, I am sort of in a limbo mode so to speak where I will probably not be here in the fall, but I've been there full time since May. It's been 5 years since I started, and though most of it I've been away at school I always came back and worked during breaks and holidays. I am always the one who leaves early, who has hours cut if we aren't busy or who isn't even scheduled sometimes. This is my JOB... my FULL-TIME job that I use to pay bills (school loans, etc) and help pay for all these expenses with applying to vet school (like flying out for interviews these coming months). I need the hours just like everyone does.

I feel like I am not respected at all by my bosses and even my co-workers are starting to notice. Just the other day one of them asked me if I am tired of being treated like this... of course I am!! I barely even make enough money there hourly as it is. My last paycheck was pathetic (less that $400)... usually I can get at least $500 twice a month.

Plus, the office manager didn't even seem to care when my 5 year anniversary of starting there came and went. Everyone else usually gets a sweater or hoodie for being there year after year. Mine was in October (so these past years I had been away at school). This year I was expecting something but there was no mention of it! Even the high school girl who only works a few hours a week (less that 10 hours) got something.

I am going to be starting Vet Tech classes in January at least, but even then I still don't think I'll be respected. In the contract it says we must work 30-40 hours a week. I confronted the office manager and asked if I'd be getting that. She said 'Oh well you are just an exception.' Really??

I just don't know what to do anymore, I am too afraid to go up and talk to them about it without me bursting into tears in front of them. I have been so angry about not working today last night and even today.

Please help!??

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Not to make it sound so simple but what about looking for a new job with your 5 years experience, you should have an easier time finding something.
Have they always treated you this way?


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Really sorry you're dealing with this. I would also suggest maybe looking for a job elsewhere, perhaps after you've had your Vet School Interview if you can hang in there that long.

Think positive- You are going to be accepted into Vet School and this will become a distant memory.

Don't burn any bridges you may need them for future references.
You're only there for a paycheck. Nothing more and nothing less.

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When you wrote it up, you started with "I'm leaving to go to vet school," not "I'm not getting enough hours at work." Forefront in your mind is that you are a short-timer, and probably in their minds, too. Since you are leaving, they have no reason to invest in you.

You can ask for more hours, but practice ahead of time so that you don't cry. It's a business transaction, not a personal relationship. (For the record, I don't mind if people cry at work, but you don't know how other people will react. It's risky.)

Tennyson makes an excellent point. This group will likely be one of your primary references for vet school. So tread carefully.

Yes, you don't want to have bad terms with this clinic, you never know when you'll need them as a Reference. If you should decide to leave, leave on good terms.

Give yourself some time to calm down, cool off before you talk to them if you decide to do so.

I totally agree with this. Just don't burn your bridges. Also, unfortunately the "new normal" in many businesses in this bad economy is to cut hours when they can.

Do you get yearly reviews? Has anything been brought up in them either by you or them?

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Our 'yearly' evaluations are in May, so of course I had just gotten back after graduation. I really don't want to look elsewhere for a job since I will probably be going back to school in the fall, who is going to want to hire me based on that unless it is a part time job (which I continue to look for). I don't want to quit or even leave this place I am just so frustrated. I know that I am in that state of limbo but that is still no reason to treat me differently. One of the techs there has said she is going to move away soon and I see no difference in the way they treat her and her hours. I know she is a tech, but still... I'll be a semi-tech in January when I start classes so I'll be able to do the same things she does.

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You know, actually from my experience, that is the way it is in a lot of vet clinics.
I am a licensed vet tech and here in Tennessee, I made less money than you. That is one reason why I hung it up. I am maintaining my license, maybe I return to work someday. I earned a lot more money in Michigan but I moved here for my husband.
Do your job, hang in there and go to school in the fall. You wrote before that you will not finish the tech program, so you won't really be treated as a technician or get tech pay since you are not a tech till you would graduate. Just the facts. I have seen it, I have been there. I had to do two internships while in the tech program and I made peanuts, less than minimum wage.

Like others said, do it for the money, the experience and once you are in vet school, you won't be able to work fulltime anymore anyway. You don't want to burn bridges though, like others said, because in the semester breaks, you might want to work there.
Good luck.

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Christa

I don't think it would be out of line to ask for more hours, but do it with the manager and one of the vets you work for. Just be professional.

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