So, this happened about a week and a half ago.
In a work group chat, we realized we (yet again) had absolutely no management to assist us with anything.
This led to me complaining about not being able to hire enough people at $12.00 an hour (an unliveable wage), the constant lack of support, and that the extra stress wasn't going to go away because this was the new normal without a change in hiring practices.. It went on for a bit until a manager showed up (on her time off) to tell me to behave.
One of two people tried to defend the company. A couple others were liking my messages and somewhat responding to them.
I've now been removed from the group chat and am being written up for “spreading negativity”, (or so my boss said. I havent seen the write up yet, of course. I did tell him I wouldn't sign it).
It's illegal to write someone up for talking about wages to other employees in the US, I know this. Can you legally go around it like this and write someone up for “spreading negativity”?
A little more context, I would regularly vent to my boss who I (mistakenly) thought I could trust. Outside of that, there aren't any instances of “spreading negativity” I can recall in the three years I've been here to other employees like this. My boss has gotten an earful before, but he point-blank told me (for the second time) that he doesn't give a shit about me or whether I'm there or not.
I've been told I'll be terminated if it happens again.
Any advice would be appreciated!!
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
I have received the write up. Straight to a final written warning. I have never been written up before. The write up only talks about me talking about pay and telling me to be respectful and coachable. It lists out a few of the things I said.
Totally a final written warning for discussing pay. The reason is checked as coachability, the actions listed were all about me discussing pay, and the improvement is to be respectful and coachable.
Now what?