Author: Olivia

So I’m a resident of TN and was employed back in December to work as an AGM for a franchised swim school that shares its name with a popular snack that may or may not smile back. They bring me on for a not great salary and a worse “training rate” and me being the schmuck I am I didn’t clarify what that kind of period was. I get certified in everything I need and finally am able to start some manager shifts. I am being told to focus on learning and to ask questions. I ask questions to the point of being told I’m trying too hard by the GM. I have a conversation with the owner about the current or future possibility of benefits since insurance is expensive. He seems put off by the question and wants me to look generally “more like a leader” I imagine because…

Years ago, as a teenager, I worked at a summer camp. The pay was crap ($100 for a 59 hour work week, plus room and board). But it was a fun summer job and I really enjoyed it. We frequently took the campers on hayrides and the counselors where expected to ride along with the kids. Problem was… I have asthma and am allergic to hay. I would have an attack every time I went on a hayride but I continued to do it. Mind you, my employer had no idea that this was happening. I would just suffer silently until I was able to use my inhaler. It never dawned on me to ask to be excused from the hayrides. Maybe I was a stupid teenager but I feel like I was indoctrinated to believe you do anything for a job, no matter how uncomfortable it made you feel…