Disclaimer:
1. English isn't my first language
2. I never post on reddit, so forgive me for my format or if I'm in the wrong subreddit
3. Anon account for obvious reasons
I work at a retail store as a permanent sales associate. I have worked here for almost 5 months now and, thankfully, I have a new and better job opportunity. I'm just waiting for a training schedule before I hand in my 2-weeks notice to my current employer. In the mean time, I'm still slaving away at minimum wage.
We currently have no manager ever since she allegedly went on maternity leave around 7 months ago, and it's unclear if she'll ever return. That being said, upon my first day, our store only had an assistant manager (AM) and a third key (TK) for management.
This was my first retail job experience, so there were a lot of new things I had to learn. A month and a half in, TK gave her 2-weeks notice, she was gone in a week. A few days later, AM talked to me about opening the store the next day. I was trained a few times for that, so I agreed, albeit rather hesitantly. I thought it was a one-time thing, and that they'd go look for a new TK since I was relatively new to retail and their company. A few days after that, AM asked me to close. I agreed again because I understand that they still haven't found a new TK.
AM hired a new sales associate who I had gotten a little close to. The new sales associate thought that I was the TK and I jokingly said I was getting paid as much as she was. Turns out I was not. I was getting paid lesser than her.
After 2 weeks of anxious-ridden nights, however, I decided to talk to AM about probably getting paid more for opening and closing (not to mention acting as manager when AM isn't working). I was told that all sales associate are trained to do that and that it was technically part of my job. I didn't really know if it was true, but I just acquiesced since I had limited knowledge about retail.
Then a week or so passed when AM told me about the job posting for TK and encouraged me to apply since I was “basically doing the job”. I thought about it and decided to apply. Unfortunately, our city's direct supervisor (HR) had found someone with significant retail experience and decided to hire that person. I didn't mind since I understood their POV business-wise. (Irrelevant to the story, but after getting rejected, I applied to my new job and got in lmao). I was also a little relieved since it would mean I could return the keys to them and go back to having less responsibilites.
However, new TK was being trained at a different location in the city. So my responsibilities as a pseudo-TK were extended. I didn't mind, because at this point, I have already been doing it for 2 months. What was a few weeks more?
But then the other location had their own shitshow, which further delayed new TK's arrival. As this was happening, I was working on required documents for the new job so I was a little more patient.
Then 2 weeks ago, new TK finally started to work at our store. I still had some shifts where I opened and closed, but I just assumed it was because the new TK was still getting used to our store.
The first time I worked with new TK, she had to go home early. I wasn't suspicious because we all have those days. The next day, TK was asking me some questions about simple work stuff. I answered the ones I know, and recommended her to contact AM for additional information. (AM had the two days off so they weren't able to meet yet.) I noticed that TK was doing some counter-productive tasks but at this point, I was over it. I wasn't getting paid to babysit her and do her job, so I just worked on my own tasks.
I was off the next day, and I'm the type of person who mutes my phone and turns off all alarms on my days off. When I woke up and checked my phone, I saw a handful of texts and missed calls from AM. Apparently she wasn't feeling well, and had called to ask me to take her shift that day. It was half an hour after our opening and I replied that I had just woken up. I asked her if she still needed me to come in and she replied that it was all good. I didn't think much of it after that.
I worked the next day (AM and TK didn't), and saw on our log book that AM worked the day before despite being sick. I asked a coworker who also worked the day before how AM was health-wise. Apparently AM was pissed since a lot of shit didn't get done or was done wrong. She also told my coworker that I “ignored” her calls and that she was very upset about it. When another coworker who worked the day before came in, she also said that AM was indeed very pissed. AM had kept on pointing out every mistake and kept complaining about it. A lot of the things she ranted about were mostly TK's doing and I pointed it out to my coworkers.
The next day I worked was after 2 days, and AM was acting normally. She did express how pissed she was, but in a calm manner. She then talked shit about the new TK and that she would complain about her to our direct supervisor.
That same week, however, TK suddenly quit. She claimed she was very stressed and that her anxiety was kicking in.
After a few days, AM asked if I wanted to apply as TK and said that this time, she would convince the direct supervisor to just hire me. I told her I wasn't interested.
They're still looking for a new TK and I'm still pseudo-TK.
As I wait for a schedule from my new job and a signal to give out my 2-weeks notice, my petty ass is looking for a way to screw them over, professionally. Although it was a shit show, I enjoyed the company of some of my coworkers (who are still working there), and I did learn a few helpful things. I just want to screw them over in a way that's still professional but would satisfy the small hole in my vengeful antiwork heart.
Reddit, please indulge this foundling's dream.
TLDR: Work no good, worker up to no good.