(TL;DR at the bottom)
I worked at this game shop that sells trading cards like magic and yugioh and Pokémon, and it was a job I really liked. I managed the online Sales, which included pulling orders, packing, and shipping them, and putting away new stock. Very clerical. I also hosted and ran the yugioh tournaments twice a week and I was happy to be a part of that community. I knew all of the locals and enjoyed my coworkers. There were only 2 problems with the job: my pay which was 10 an hour, and the owner, who whole not a bad person per say, had little business sense. Most agreed that the business would work better if he just kept to himself in his office rather than keep changing how things operated every few weeks.
Now, the position I worked at was a promotion of sorts from just working up front. I was verbally promised a raise twice by the owner and manager of the store. The person who previously worked in the position was on a salary that broke down to about 18 an hour. I wasn't expecting a raise to that extent but I was hoping for something I could live off of. I decided 15 an hour was what I'd ask for and I could settle for 14. All I had to do to get the raise was become self sufficient in New position which didn't take me too long.
And then I got covid. I missed 2 weeks of work and felt miserable during it, but I did get better. While I was sick I chewed through a good chunk of my savings for bills and such. I was living paycheck to paycheck so that wasn't ideal. When I came back, I picked up an extra shift. They had also hired someone else to assist me in the online Sales, however, he made too many mistakes and was fired quickly, meaning I needed to pick up another shift to cover the sudden absence. Running low on money, I made my move to ask about the raise. I didn't even ask for it right away, just for a date I could expect it by, and if I could have a number. They told me another 2 weeks and I'd get paid 12 an hour. A 20% increase is pretty good, but it wasn't gonna be enough, especially since the local McDonald's starts at 14 an hour and has benefits. I made clear my need for a more pay and suggested 15 an hour, but was shot down. Too expensive I guess. I talked with some coworkers and said I would probably be seeking employment elsewhere for more pay, given the financial issues I was having and the disappointment with the raise. I didn't have a plan yet it was just the idea. And then, right before the weekend, a text from the manager. I was being let go because they couldn't accommodate my raise anymore, there were too many mistakes in the back room (caused by the new hire), and they must've overheard me talking about leaving decided to just cut their loses?
So now I have to scramble for a new job and fast. Think I'm just posting this to vent but it feels like very shitty circumstance that they fired me without a notice or warning. Over text! Is this bullshit or am I overreacting? It feels like bullshit to me. I cared about that job and I wanted to make it work, but I guess it wasn't meant to.
TL;DR: After asking for a raise, a job that I liked let me go under somewhat dubious circumstances.