So here’s the full story.
I’ve worked at my job for about 1.5 years. It’s a pawn shop, and it’s a lot of interesting stuff.
I’m also a severe asthmatic and when I got hired, I made it clear I was and that it was activity induced. They said “won’t be an issue, we are good about health and stuff.”
I specifically mentioned covid, as missing work can be rough living paycheck to paycheck. So I wanted to make sure they took that seriously, cause I didn’t want a worker at least to track it into work. They were very supportive about that not happening and no one ever working while sick, blah blah blah.
Fast forward to this February on the 16th. One of the higher ups at the company (I don’t know exact position, I’m guessing general manager but don’t know. They aren’t here often enough) say a pretty distasteful thing about how “test for covid? Yeah well you never test positive if you NEVER TEST.” Followed by a laugh, rolling eyes, and “man we were all so stupid, some of us still are”.
Now admittedly I didn’t know the context, and I wasn’t part of the conversation. So I mostly wrote it off.
Until this month.
On the 2nd of march, I had to go to the doctor cause of feeling weak as hell on my lungs and aches.
Turns out, I got covid. I contact them and let them know, and they were basically fine with me coming into work, making excuses about “well TECHNICALLY it’s been enough days, the state only requires 5. So if you don’t show up you’ll get written up.”
Now previously they didn’t care about me staying home while sick if I had a doctors note. But this time, that made no difference. I pointed that out and was gaslit into “this has ALWAYS been the policy.” But I know it isn’t. I also WAS showing symptoms the entire time.
So I decide to contact their HR about this whole covid comment and covid write up.
I contacted their HR team on the 8th of march. I got contacted directly in person BY THE PERSON I REPORTED. basically said they talked to HR and I just misunderstood a joke. That’s all it was, and the general manager keeps track of when he’s in the store. Last time he was was DECEMBER according to her. Which I KNOW is a lie. I documented it intentionally because I thought they might get it wrong.
At this point, I know they’re lying about something but I don’t know what and I don’t know if it’s enough to go to LNI for. But I think they either don’t have HR or my manager is intercepting HR messages.
Is this illegal? What is your advice cause I’m stumped and feeling hopeless.