In January of my senior year in high school, I decided to go out and get a part-time job. I applied at several major retailers at the mall -- the ones popular with my age group. Within a week of putting in my application, I was invited for an interview. During my interview I was very honest with them about my current availability and what would/could affect that availability over the next several months. Since they called the next day and offered me a job, I was under the impression that they didn't have a problem with the issues that would affect the hours I could work.

Originally, I was supposed to begin work the week following my interview. That got postponed for an additional three weeks, which meant I wouldn't have much time in under my belt before I began asking off. I had hoped to work for at least six weeks before I had to ask for special favors. When I went in to pick up my first work schedule, I talked to the assistant manager who had interviewed me and hired me, reminding her that I would be unable to work several days coming up due to the fact that I would be out of town competing in the state DECA competition. She again reassured me that it wasn't a problem and suggested that I write down my availability for March and April and give it to her so they had the information to refer to. On my first day of work I did that. I personally handed her a typed copy of days and hours in which I knew for a certainty that I would be unavailable.

The week of the DECA competition rolled around, and lo and behold, I was scheduled to work 2 of the 3 days I was out of town. I again went to the assistant manager and reminded her that I wasn't available. She said, "Try to find someone to work for you." At that point, I'd only worked 3 shifts, so I didn't know too many people to ask. I did ask them, but none of them could do it, so I posted something on the bulletin board. No takers. I worked the night before I left for the competition and talked AGAIN to the assistant manager, relaying to her the efforts I'd made. She told me it was no problem and thanked me for the efforts I'd made.

As soon as the store opened the next day, I called in to remind the store that I wouldn't be working that afternoon and that no one had taken my shift. The person that answered the phone said they would relay that information to management. The following day I did the same thing. This time the store manager answered. When I told her who it was and why I was calling, she informed me that I was fired since I hadn't talked to her the previous day, stating that it was store policy that I had to talk to a manager if I was calling off.

I am still very confused about exactly where it was I went wrong in this situation. I was honest from the beginning about my availability. I gave the only manager I'd been introduced to a typed copy of my availabilty to refer to when making the schedules. I followed the steps that the assistant manager suggested in trying to find a replacement. And I tried to be responsible by calling in and reminding them. As it turns out, there is NOTHING in the employment manual about who you have to speak to when calling in -- the store manager said it should be "common sense." But, according to the manual, I could be a no show (not work, no phone call) three times before I would be terminated. I don't think I'll ever understand why one phone call to the wrong person is worse than not showing up three times. However, I'm concerned that I actually did make a big mistake -- one that I certainly don't want to make again. I'm anxious to hear additional comments and opinions to help me manage the situation better in the future.