My job told me if I “don’t show up, I quit”, what do I do? They cut my hours and only mine, whilst looking for new hires

Question

I told them I could not show up to the couple shifts they did actually schedule me for because I have job interviews. My manager told me I am not fired but if I don’t show up I quit but I told him I have to look for a new job if my hours are going to be cut like this because I won’t even make enough for rent. What should I do?

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

Your situation sounds incredibly stressful, and it's completely understandable that you're concerned about making rent. The actions your employer is taking - cutting your hours while hiring new people - could potentially be constructive dismissal, which is when employers make working conditions so difficult that employees are forced to quit. 
 
You're making the right move by looking for new work, since your current employer isn't providing enough hours to cover your basic needs. Keep documentation of your reduced schedule, any communications about the changes, and the fact that they're hiring while cutting your hours. This could be valuable if you need to file for unemployment benefits later. 
 
Consider sending a written message to your manager stating that you want to keep your job but need sufficient hours to maintain your livelihood. This creates a paper trail showing you didn't voluntarily quit. Meanwhile, continue attending those job interviews - your financial security should be your top priority. If they do claim you quit when you miss shifts for interviews, you can challenge this with your state's unemployment office by showing that you were effectively forced out through reduced hours while they hired others.

Q: My job told me if I “don’t show up, I quit”, what do I do? They cut my hours and only mine, whilst looking for new hires