I don't like posting but I am here because I've been mad all day now. I've been in restaurants/ hospitality for almost two decades now. I think I have an exceptional work ethic and that my work history/loyalty shows that. I was at my old job for a decade but due to the growing toxic environment, I thought it was best for a new venture. I applied to a bunch of entry-level positions at a UC (working for the state) in hopes of reaping the rewards of having benefits and getting away from my old job. Important facts here are that I have a lifelong health condition that requires medication and management. I also plan on transferring to this UC as I went back to school a few years ago. I figured I could make connections and they ALSO give generous tuition deduction benefits. Win all around for me except I knew I would be cutting my income SIGNIFICANTLY but in the long run, it would equal out.
I was interviewed by three people over zoom, one of them was my GM (General Manager). They have a catering company within the system and I had great work experience with that! The position was variable hours and days with a 12-24 hour schedule change notice. The hourly rate is less than half of what I was making as a bartender but I was willing to deal. At the end of the interview, I asked how the schedule would look because I am a student and that was a priority. I don't remember who responded exactly (95% sure it was my GM) because of stress but since the shifts are variable that it should make it easy to work around that. Cool, another bonus. I asked when I would hear back from them and they said in a few days after all the applicants were interviewed. Well, they must have been impressed because I received the job offer that same day. As both of my bosses at my old job said, they thought I was overqualified but completely understood why I was leaving.
After a ridiculously long process for my employment, I started this last week. The assistant GM emailed me to come on for my first day on Friday. I asked if they would need me that weekend because I wasn't available. I also mentioned I was a student but was completely flexible with my schedule otherwise. He didn't say that was an issue at all. I had also received a welcome email from the GM in which I responded and also mentioned how I was a student and that it was important for me. She did not respond or communicate that would be an issue.
So, after waking up at 4 am to work a 9 hour day with a 30 and 15-minute break, I let her know I had ONE class that meets in person on Mondays. She told me that the position was a variable 24/7 position and that it wouldn't work. I reminded her that I had told them during the interview process this and was told it wouldn't be an issue. She just went to the excuse well if I let you be unavailable for school I have to do it for everyone. I commented about how school was majorly online now so maybe I could make it work. She argued with me that everything was returning to in-person and that's not possible with this position. I was too tired to argue with her or even remember that I've been very communicative about what I needed. Now here I am sitting around being mad for an entire day because I was hired under false pretenses. Oh did I mention the position has a union?? But I have very limited access to anything because somehow I was never input into their system. Working for the government is funnnn.
I hate causing trouble and just want to leave but everyone is telling me I need to do something. Email, reach out to the union, speak with her again in person but I'm just so angry. It was a stressful hiring process while also leaving my other job. Im emotinally and mentally burnt out right now.