I’ve been working part time as a lifeguard for the last 7 years. It used to be a great job and the job itself is still great. Good pay, lots of breaks, kind coworkers but management has been getting more and more incompetent and demanding.
My grandma passing was unexpected and has been very hard on me so I wanted to take 8 days off to be with my family. My boss was quick to let me know that I get 2 days of bereavement (what a joke) and that I need to fill any other shifts I take off or it would be considered an unexcused absence.
Yesterday was the funeral and I filled most of the shift but I couldn’t find anyone to work the last 2 hours. I let my boss know and hoped that they would show me some compassion (my mistake).
Instead, I get a call as I’m preparing for the service. My boss is telling me that I need to fill the shift, there’s no excuse. Also, because I took too much sick time this year they were denying my unpaid time off for the next 3 days that I had already filled. As I am sobbing uncontrollably over the phone, trying to tell him that I didn’t plan for her to die and didn’t know that I would be needing this time, all he can say is that “he will record my response for hr”. I hung up on him.
Today I went to my doctor and explained the situation. She gave me one month off. So instead of having 3 days covered, now my boss needs to fill my shifts for a month !!