I was scheduled off the first three days of this pay period, then got the flu and was out sick for my next four shifts. Started to feel better and my partner got diagnosed with COVID, and now I’ve tested positive too (though I am feeling fine). By the time I’m comfortable breaking quarantine to go back to work, I’ll have missed a week and a half of a two week pay period. I already only work part time because I’m disabled (I have a b.sc in physics, so I work in retail of course ) so I don’t have PTO.
How is it that this is the way this system works? Im super lucky to not have rent to pay, but what if I had rent, kids, etc? I know this isn’t any monumental realization but it’s just insane. I AM hopeful for the future of labor action but it’s so insane that everyone accepts this. Even worse, so many people in the labor class even approve of it (especially those who are working class but haven’t worked retail/food service). It’s just so fundamentally broken.