We have an interim executive director from our home office. She got a complaint from a family member of a resident here that we don't have someone at the front desk early enough. Right not we start at 8:00 and they want us to start at 6:00. Only this one person has complained. No one else cares that we start at 8:00 and end at midnight. But because of this one complaint, the director now wants front desk to start our shift at 6:00 in the goddamn morning. Which means I would have to get up at 4:30 in the fucking morning. I can barely function now, getting up at 6:30.

If she goes through with this change, and I basically came out and told her this today, I'm gone. She wanted to know why. With my anxiety and depression, getting the right amount of sleep is very important. I get very anxious, very depressed, and basically non-functional when I don't get enough sleep. Right now, I'm at the very end of the leash, so to speak, on getting enough sleep and being able to function, because I can't get to sleep until 10 or 11 at night and I have to get up at 6:30 to get ready and get here on time. My depression and anxiety aren't great right now - both are barely controlled, and I know it's because I don't get enough sleep already. My whole life I have struggled to get up at an early time, all through school and everything, and it never gets easier for me. So for this and other reasons, a 6:00 start time will not work for me and will make it so that I will have to quit.

I don't know what to do. I've talked to a couple of coworkers and they don't want me to leave. They say they'll do what they can to make it so that I don't have to quit, but they can't really do anything. I don't want to leave this job. I'm comfortable here. My current hours work so well with my other responsibilities. Quitting would mean so much pain and upheaval and I'm not sure I could deal with that. Finding another job, I'm not even sure I could do. The job market around here sucks.

Guys, I'm so fucked. T_T

[edit] I can't believe I'm saying this...but I'm going to say yes to starting at 6:00 in the GD morning. I can't bear to be without a job. I can't put that burden on my parents. I'm hoping and praying (even though I am not religious at all) that this works out well...or changes soon. Ugh. Good thoughts/prayers please? I think I've lost my mind.

If enough people complain about the earlier start time, maybe they'll listen to you guys and keep the start time at 8. One complaint shouldn't be enough to force anybody to make major changes like that.

Sorry to hear that! My girlfriend struggles to get up early too, her natural sleep cycle actually has her going to bed at 4 in the morning and waking up after noon! Thankfully, she's got classes and work that don't start until then so for now we're able to make it work for her, but you're not alone! For the long term, there are plenty of jobs you can get out there that will let you choose your own hours, or will work with an afternoon-nighttime only schedule. For the short term, this sounds like a cop out, but have you talked to your doctor to see if they have any advice for getting more sleep/managing your anxiety? They may be able to prescribe or adjust medications that could help. :)

I'm used to get up early since college starts at 8 am and I need to commute (so I'm up between 4:30 to 5 am). It can be difficult to wake up early in the morning but I wouldn't give up and I would definitely try to talk to the director. If you can get support from coworkers, that would be helpful as well. If it cannot be done, there may be a need for them to hire someone for a night shift if needed (and you will be able to switch at 6). If it fails, there is also a solution to modify your sleep schedule by making small changes at first. You could also do half-shift or some workaround. I'd definitely discuss with the director first and look around for another job as a backup plan.

Right? But boss lady from corporate is a right nut job. Hopefully, I can get my coworkers to complain about it too.

My natural sleep cycle is going to bed somewhere around 1:00 in the morning and getting up about 11 or 12. When I was in college, I scheduled all my classes after noon, lol. God I wish work worked like that. XD I might have to see about sleep meds. Although once my thyroid is fixed fingers crossed sleep might not be an issue anymore.

My one coworker who has also become a good friend, has said she's going to bring me coffee on some of the mornings. She's wonderful. Talking to the director won't work right now, because she's a crazy, manipulative bitch. She's from corporate (or maybe Hell). When our new director gets here, maybe I can reason with him.

That is sweet of her. It's unfortunate to see this situation escalate quickly after one negative feedback. It is odd to keep the same person on front desk for the same shift as well. When I worked as an intern in a elderly home with Alzheimer residents, the front desk lady often switched with someone else and the operating hours were from 6 to 8:30 at night.

I don't think you should rely on pills to induce sleep. It gets tougher to fall asleep (take that from someone that had insomnia for years). After a few trial and errors, I've come to realize that my body needs a reserve of 5 hours of sleep. During the week, I wake at 5 am to commute to school, which leaves me with 6:30 hours of sleep or less. Your body is an odd machine and I would definitely encourage you to find what works best for you and how to manage your responsabilities and work at the same time.

That is business for you. Unfortunately in the realm of customer service, whatever they want, a company will usually give it to them just to keep the person happy and coming back. Which could mean future complaints, heh, umm...do you HAVE to work the morning schedule or is there an evening thing you could do??