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Antiwork

Am I wrong for requesting PTO in this scenario?

I’m considered “mission essential”. I’m not even in the medical field or law enforcement. This was my first time out the military and taking a contracting job and I went for it because the pay. I didn’t even have an interview for this position. I had a security clearance and the skills needed but when I got here, it wasn’t what I thought. My boss told me during my onboarding process that 8 people before me quit. One person came in for a day and left after his training. One person left after a day The craziest one I heard is someone leaving after pulling his first 12 hour shift. I didn’t think it was a big deal because after being in tough positions in the military, I figured I could handle whatever is so “tough” about it. Well I found out a few months later why people quit. You’re…


I’m considered “mission essential”. I’m not even in the medical field or law enforcement. This was my first time out the military and taking a contracting job and I went for it because the pay. I didn’t even have an interview for this position. I had a security clearance and the skills needed but when I got here, it wasn’t what I thought. My boss told me during my onboarding process that 8 people before me quit. One person came in for a day and left after his training. One person left after a day The craziest one I heard is someone leaving after pulling his first 12 hour shift. I didn’t think it was a big deal because after being in tough positions in the military, I figured I could handle whatever is so “tough” about it. Well I found out a few months later why people quit. You’re not allowed to take PTO unless you’re severely sick. We still have to make it to work in a snow storm or stay there if we’re snowed in while no one else can come to their shift. You work shift alone so you have to wait for someone to relieve you. If they can’t make it, then you will have to stay confined in the office and hope you bought enough food and snacks to not starve. I reached my breaking point due to a few things. You could be told you’re doing the right thing for tasks by the deputy but the boss will nitpick and send passive aggressive emails. I work night shift so I never see my boss. But he refuses to even speak directly to me. He will tell the high level person and deputy to tell us “lower level” people something. It’s fucking annoying. We have tasks that include dusting the office, sweep and mop, shred paper, etc. All stuff outside of our duties. I get keeping an office space clean but I feel like I’m still in the military. He will actually do a white glove inspection and send a passive aggressive email if he finds dust. I’m not a janitor.

I sent in my notice yesterday because I was told if I don’t, then it’s considered a “walk-off” and I will lose my clearance. That doesn’t make sense… I can turn in my badge ASAP which yes that is serious because if I just leave with it and not get deleted from the system, then yeah that’s a violation. But not submitting a two week notice draws the line? Anyway, now I’m trying to request PTO for two days because there’s a massive snow storm coming tomorrow and I have to go in the day after. It’s lasting for a few days. I don’t want to risk my life again nor do I want to stay cooped up in an office for days on end if someone can’t show up.

I have a feeling they will come up with some bullshit response but I don’t feel comfortable. Will my clearance be revoked if they say no and I still request PTO from my company??? My company is separate from everyone else at the workplace. For those who aren’t familiar with government contracting, people working together can be from different companies.

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