I (21F) have been working for a dog daycare/boarding facility since I was 19. Pay started at $10/hr and since then I’ve gotten a raise to a whopping $11/hr despite being promised to be given more for being full time during the summer.
My job does not give PTO, vacation, or benefits. I’ve tried to take family vacations (unpaid, obviously) and every time, I’ve gotten sh*t from my managers even though I give them at least a month’s notice beforehand, as required. In early June, I filled out a form for a family vacation starting at the end of July to the first week of August. They put out the schedule for the next few weeks, and — surprise! — I’m scheduled for days I’ll literally be across the country. I reminded them I won’t be able to work and my manager told me I don’t have any vacation days left. As if we even GET vacation days?
I’ve been working every single weekend (both days) since August of last year. They promised that my coworker and I would be able to work every other weekend by the summer. It’s July and I’m still working every weekend.
They want to train me to work reception but will probably fight me on getting a raise for doing two jobs. They did the same to one of my coworkers.
Our facility isn’t open 24 hours. We close at 6:30 and one of us has to return at 9pm to take the boarding dogs out to potty. We are all scheduled for different days during the week, except the managers. Yes. We have to leave work only to come back 2 hours later.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was 1) I’m scheduled for all 7 days next week, and 2) I’m getting put through the ringer because my manager apparently lost the time off form that I put on her desk almost 2 months ago. Now I’m being accused of lying about filling it out because I don’t have a copy of it (she didn’t give me one).
I’m tired of bending over backwards. I’ve been sticking with this place for so long because I keep thinking it will get better. It hasn’t. The turnover rate is insane. Since I started there, 10+ people have left.
I will miss the dogs that I’ve grown to love like my own pets, but I need to put myself first for once.
EDIT: Wanted to add that I worked 3 holidays in a row (New Years’ Day, Easter, and Memorial Day) along with Christmas. We were told every other holiday but I was still scheduled for 3 consecutive ones.