Since Easter is coming up, I am reminded of why I quit my last job and thought it would be a story you all would appreciate.
I was the primary closing supervisor for a contract foodservice company working in a hospital (during the pandemic, yay). Supposed to work 40 hours (9 hour shifts with an hour lunch) rotating every other weekend off, but on average worked 10-12 hour days with a 15 minute break to shove something in my face and often covering my weekend off in exchange for a weekday. Easter 2021 was on my scheduled weekend off.
On Friday while I'm at work I get a call from my mom and ask my boss if I can take it since I know it has to be bad news. At that point my step dad had been battling cancer for about a year and it was not going well. He had an infection that never resolved from the first removal and the tumor came back. They did try a second round of chemotherapy, not because they thought it would work, but because my mom said she'd never be able to live with herself if they didn't at least try. Well, it was what I suspected. My step dad's condition had taken a drastic downturn and he was given less than a week and I was told that if I wanted to spend my last moments with him that now was the time. I went back in and explained to my boss what happened (because I had obviously been crying) and she was “sympathetic.” I told her I was going to be unreachable this weekend to which she said she understood.
Literally the next day, this text exchange happened.
Boss: “I need you on stand by for tomorrow. I feel like crap! I may go get COVID tested if not better by the end of shift. Lots of symptoms, but hoping something else since I'm vaccinated. I just feel so sick.”
Me: “I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Have you talked to [my backup]? This is the last weekend I could possibly have to see my step dad before he dies.”
Boss: “[Backup] is on his way for me now. He has Easter plans tomorrow as he has not been able to have Easter with his family in years due to being at the hotel and having to work every year. I'm going to get tested right now. However, with the symptoms, I really should not be at work. I'll keep you posted.”
Me: “[Boss] my step dad is literally on his death bed. This is my last opportunity to see him. Period. I am not passing that up. I know it's Easter, but can't you explain that to him? Like, he'll have Easter next year and I won't have my step dad next week.”
Boss: “I'll just work sick unless I have COVID.”
It was just the final straw (on top of many other things) that I wasn't given the humanity to be given peace for just one of my scheduled weekends off. But that my backup who had been there around 6 months was being given more consideration for what he wanted over me who had 2 years of seniority over him and literally could not reschedule my “plans.” It showed how little they actually cared about me. And no, I did not go in on Easter. Instead they got my resignation. I make 1/2 of what I made then, but at least I'm treated like a person now.