I've been a substitute custodian for about 1 month and I got to admit, I don't want to work 5 days a week! But, I don't get called in too much since I'm just a substitute. Is there only the two options: full time (5 days a week) or substitue custodian (on call)? Can you be hired on a different schedule? For example: being scheduled to work every Monday-Wednesday? :rain:

Some places have casual staff, once your in for awhile you may be able to ask for certain days. You need to ask your employer.

I mean this in a nice way but maybe you are in the wrong line of work. For me 5 days a week 8 hours a day is'nt always enough time to get every thing done. Sometimes I have to work OT just to get caught up. But like I said thats me.

I'm sorry to say that substitutes have very little bargaining power. Usually if you get along with the full timers and you work hard you usually will get called first when time slots open up. Usually you fill in for vacation,illness and injury,suspensions or a job that has to get down but regular staff is streched to thin to get to it. If you become a frequent flyer you will be a sub but will be expected to work like regular staff but with not paid benefits. Here they didn't replace the regulars due to injury and retirement. They just filled the slots with tempory subs who work 40 hrs. a week. Then when the permanant school custodian slot opens up they hire for a tempory job without benefits.

I have two “substitutes” on my crew, but they really don’t work that much. At first, I would call them when I needed extra help, but got tried of them not being able to make it in. Out of every five times I would ask if they could come in, they probably could make it once. I know it is hard at fist, but just being available to work when needed will be one of the best things you can do. I don’t even call those subs any more, they say they want to work, but their actions indicate otherwise.