Been stalking here for sometime and decided to share my story of a bad company and boss.
TL:DR at the bottom.
A few years ago I used to work at an office supply retail company, I worked from recieveing and working trucks in the morning into management. I really did love the job, but that didn't last.
Well there came a time where over half of the management quit within one month of each other. It was down to me, the operations manager, and the assistant store manager, Steven. The company wouldn't let either of us work overtime to try and pick up the slack. Since they wouldn't I had to stretch my 40 hours over six days a week. I had to be clocked out while waiting for Steven to get on because he worked open to close Sundays so during the week he got on later than I stayed. It was basically “hi Steven have a good night.” And out the door I went. I was willing to work more to keep things going well, but the company was so damn greedy they wouldn't allow it.
Our district manager shows up one morning unannounced with criticisms left and right. I try as politely as I can to explain that Steven and I can't run this store efficiently with just the two of us. Well she says she appreciates my forwardness, who knows if she did really. She hints that we are going to be promoted and they're filling our positions “ASAP”. I'm excited at this point. I was going to be assistant store manager. I worked my ass of to get there.
All of two weeks later we have a new store manager, Daren. Neither Steven or I get promotions. Not even so much as a “thanks” for what we did for two months. He comes in and kicks Steven and I out of the managers office. “I don't share an office with underlings.” is what he says. He even changed the god damn lock on the door. I try to explain that I make the schedule for the whole store and need a computer. He says to just use the one in the break room, the one everyone uses to clock on so I have to sign out of my stuff constantly. Or I can use the ones in the copy center where I would be constantly interrupted by customers.
I couldn't believe my ears. I go home that day, line up another management job up that I had be deciding on. I go in the next day with my resignation letter and two weeks notice. Daren looks at it for three seconds, looks up and asks for my keys and informs me that they didn't need me to work the next two weeks. I guess Steven didn't last another two months before Daren found a reason to fire him.
Eventually I go back to school to get a better job outside of the retail field. I went back there a few weeks ago to see how things are going. Daren looks like death and I'm not sorry for him. He asks how I am doing and I explain my life over the last couple of years. He says he wished he'd gone back to school so he didn't end up here. I'll never forget what I said next “I know you don't look good. I am actually happy you pushed me out because now I have the career I always wanted. And it's better than yours! Best of luck, Daren. Looks like you need it.”
I grab my pens and look back at him. The shock on his face is satisfying
TL:DR I break my back to climb the ranks in retail. Break it even more to keep my store afloat after management quits. Then get screwed by the company and my new boss who pushes me out. Turned out for the best though. I have a good career now.