Better ways to say “I'd like more hours”
Why it can fall flat
“I'd like more hours”
The word “more” is the weak spot, since your manager can't tell if you mean two hours or twenty, or from when. It can read as a wish, when you want paid work with a clear size and start.
Say this instead
- 01
Hi Lakshmi, do you have ten minutes this week? I have room in my schedule and would like to take on more paid hours if any are available.
Boss · Chat
Opens the conversation without a number, which suits a manager who may not yet know which hours are free.
- 02
I'd like to move from 24 to 32 hours a week, if the budget allows. Could we talk about whether that's possible from next month?
Boss · Email
Names a clear number and start date, so your manager can answer yes, no or not yet.
- 03
Hi Sam, if any extra shifts open up this month, I'd like to pick them up. Let me know what's available.
Boss · SMS
Keeps things short and low-pressure, which fits shift-based jobs where managers fill gaps by text.
- 04
My hours were reduced to 20 a week in March. I'd like to go back to 30 if the work is there. When could we look at that?
Boss · Email
Context helps here because hours were cut earlier, and the specific target gives your manager something to act on.
- 05
Hey Samuel, if you ever need someone to cover a shift, I'd like to take it. Just message me and I'll check my calendar.
Coworker · Chat
Colleagues who swap or drop shifts will know to think of you first when extra hours come up.
- 06
I have capacity from next month and would be glad to do more work with you. Could we look at increasing my monthly hours from 20 to 30?
Client · Email
Freelancers and contractors can use this to ask for a bigger share of a client's work, with a figure to respond to.
- 07
Hi Angela, is there more work coming up? I have free hours next month and can invoice for extra time if there's scope.
Client · Chat
A light check-in like this brings up invoicing early, before the client has planned their budget.
- 08
I'm interested in the role, but I'm looking for more than 20 hours a week. Is there a version of this job with more hours, or a way to grow into them?
Recruiter / HR · Email
Stating your hours requirement up front means neither side wastes time on a mismatch.
Examples
Hi Lakshmi, I've enjoyed taking on the weekend support rota, and I'd like to increase my hours from 24 to 32 a week if the budget allows. Could we find 15 minutes this week to talk about whether that's possible from next month? Thanks, Alfie
Hi Sam, quick question: are there any extra shifts coming up this month? I'd like to pick up more hours if there are. Happy to talk through dates whenever suits you.
What to avoid
- Leaving out numbers makes the request fuzzy, because “more hours” could mean two extra or twenty, so say what you have in mind.
- Comparing yourself with colleagues' hours or pay turns the request into a complaint.
- Presenting it as a personal money crisis shifts attention away from the work you can take on, so keep the focus there.
- Ultimatums only make sense if you are truly ready to act on them.
- Tacking the request onto the end of a busy meeting means it gets lost, so ask for a short, separate conversation.