I work in retail and after a few months of having problems with my manager (who was providing a hostile work environment), the owner of the company suggested I move down to part-time. He’s not exactly the type of person you say no to, and I was feeling burnt out in an unprofessional environment but still had bills I needed to pay and working full time wasn’t paying them either way, so I said yes.
What he didn’t tell me is that all of my benefits were gone— health insurance, vision and dental, all PTO. Even my sick days were slashed from 80 hours to 24. I was no longer eligible for a raise at six months, nor was I in the running for any future promotions, all because I had agreed to come in two days fewer a week.
I just don’t understand why you would even bother hiring people part-time if you don’t want to give them any of the same benefits as a full-time employee. We are treated so fucking poorly in comparison to full-time folks and I’m somehow the only person that is angry about it. Why shouldn’t my time, my body, be valued at the same amount? I work just as hard as a full-time employee, I’m just not here as often. It really feels like a slap in the face.