Hiya. I don't really go on Reddit much at all, but I was told to come here for some advice on my situation, maybe some comfort in these trying times. I guess this is more hypothetical; I have a story and a couple of questions if anyone knows about workers' rights and stuff like that.
A couple of weeks ago, I had picked up two shifts for a Saturday. I work at a small, local chain in North Carolina, so I had picked up a 7am-11am at one store in the area and a 12pm-6pm. The morning of these shifts, I sleepily tripped out of bed and slammed my foot into my bedpost (ouch). I ended up actually breaking my toe (I know I'm the biggest clutz alive, don't mention it). I showed up for my first shift but was sent home two hours in because I almost threw up/ passed out due to the pain I was in, and I couldn't really work while I was there anyway. When I saw it, the whole side of my foot was swollen and black and blue, and I was in a lot of pain.
Once home, I contacted both the store manager for the second shift and the district manager. I explained the situation over text and over the app we use for scheduling, told them what happened and that I couldn't walk. I was ignored by both of them. I texted/ called about 10 people and tried to find cover. No one answered and if they did, there was no way they could make it in. I called the store I was supposed to work at that afternoon, told them I couldn't make it.
Sadly, though I wanted to see a doctor to confirm that the bone was broken (there's no way it wasn't), I haven't had the money to see a doctor in quite some time. I barely make enough hourly and they haven't been scheduling me consistently enough.
Fast forward to last Thursday, I was sat down by my manager who told me they were going to fire me because I called out of work. Luckily, my manager fought for me and so I get to keep my job (yay, I guess). The write-up I was given said it was my “final warning” – I had never received a warning at this job, let alone at any job I've had. I am walking on eggshells because of this; I'm afraid that the simplest mistake could lead to me being fired and having no financial security. I have about 4 people I worked with that morning at the first shift who saw me stumble around and almost pass out from pain, I tried everything I could to warn management and get my shift covered.
I'm wondering if it is worth bringing up my near-firing with management or trying to get that write-up cleared. I can't afford to lose my job right now, though I am looking for something better, but I also am trying to avoid paying over a hundred dollars that I don't have to see a doctor to confirm it. Do they need confirmation via a doctor that I broke my bone, and does that even matter? Are people who miss work due to injury protected by the law from getting fired, if that injury happened outside of work? Like, what was I supposed to do, you know?