I picked up an extra shift one week in advance. My wife scheduled a doctor appointment and asked me to accompany her for emotional support (difficulty having baby). It's on same day as the extra shift. Shifts cannot be dropped after accepting. My coworker agreed to cover for me. He asked the manager to move the shift to his schedule. Manager declined.
Coworker and I were puzzled. No skill gap in our roles, performance is nearly identical. It makes no difference who works. A shift is a shift. Simple. According to the manager, this is “problematic behavior that goes against our culture. Follow through on your commitment. Be reliable.”
Be reliable? Culture? I was so close to losing it and screaming in his face. Unbelievable lack of humanity. No consideration for HUMAN circumstances. This is what happens when working for a company with a million employees. I'm nothing more than a number.