I'm a grown ass woman, and the only person at this bakery who isn't a high school or college student living with their parents. I'm getting paid minimum wage and working to the point of burnout, far more than the 32 hours we had initially agreed to. I'm always working overtime to close, always one of the only people here. The baker called out today and it was just me and the owner, scrambling to do our best. I didn't get a ten minute break (which only happens once, even in 9-10 hour shifts) and my lunch was super late. I've been running around for 6+ hours making drinks, making sandwiches on the spot, handling the register alone, with what is usually a 3 person job. I always scrub drains down thoroughly and clean the hidden spots that everyone else ignores, I always show up on time and never call out without advanced notice.
It calmed down and there was no one for awhile. She said she'd send me on my lunch at 1. It was almost 1:30. My feet were killing me and I couldn't sit down, I'd already done all of the cleaning tasks I could without leaving the front (which I'm not supposed to do if it's just me). I'd spent hours hand picking a pound of thyme and cutting a whole box of tomatoes and juicing oranges. Zero downtime, but I finished my tasks. So I checked my phone since my partner sometimes texts me to ask how I'm doing. And I get scolded. “What are you doing? You can't play on your phone when you're on the clock.” Like she hasn't been on her phone multiple times today.
I'm so fucking close to leaving this job and having them continuously ignore my boundaries and treat me like a kid. Tips are good though, and I think I'd have trouble finding something else. I will be drastically reducing my hours soon so maybe it's whatever. Ugh.