I quit my job in December, due to a combination of 3 years of constant harassment and an uptick in area murders. The last murder happened in broad daylight, very close to my job. I had to walk past the scene to get to work. Turns out it was still an active shooter scene and we were supposed to be on lockdown. Nobody respected it, and some even propped the front door open to unload a truck. Oh, did I mention there was another shooting outside near the adjacent school that sent everyone screaming and running when I was also outside on break, and the staff made fun of another for quitting because of it? So yes. Bye.
I've applied at a significant amount of jobs since then, as one does. Getting interviews is definitely harder as I've aged, but still managed to get a few promising interviews. They always progress to the point we're discussing scheduling my shifts, pay, and how I'm keen to take the shifts nobody wants.
Then they find out about my cane. I have a great resume and valuable experience, but the second they find out about my cane, the tone of their voice immediately sours, they scowl at me, wrap up the conversation as quickly as possible, and ghost me. I'll be lucky to even get a rejection letter.
It's not like I am applying for construction work. It's all office and receptionist stuff, nothing that requires heavy lifting.
For the longest time, I thought that there was no way these people could be so ableist. Certainly there's something wrong with me or my resume…
…Until a coworker from a previous job had applied for the same place. The hiring manager began to gossip about me to my coworker and my cane, and how they were uncomfortable hiring me because of it. It was literally the same job I'd been doing for years, same sort of business, same product knowledge requirements, same everything. When confronted, of course management denied it all, then said they decided not to hire for that position after all due to internal restructuring. Yeah, right.
Sorry for the long post. Just needed to vent. It's hard to get a job when you can't stand for long periods of time, even if the job doesn't require it at all. Very disheartening.
(Before anyone asks why I don't report them, with what evidence should I do so? Recording people isn't legal in my state, and it's my word against theirs. USA worker rights are non-existent. I tried, once. Nothing ever came of it; it's like it never happened.)