About a month ago, I posted here my distress about taking my PTO but coming back to my post being no more. Although many urged me to take my PTO, I decided agaisnt.
Recently, I had a family emergency. I let them know last week I'd most likely be taking a day or two off to attend a funeral. They said they covered me.
We got into town yesterday, last night I had a very realistic dream of me getting fired / removed from the post. Just me being emotional and using my super power, overthinking right?
Well…while I was in the middle of the funeral, supporting my crying husband – my boss texted me that my coverage no called no showed so the client was done with the company.
When I posted a month ago how I didn't understand how if they couldn't prepare coverage for me for a single day, when I asked for the day off a month in advanced – how can I expect them to cover me for a week while I'm on my PTO? People said I was overthinking, stupid, etc. When in reality my fears, my gut feeling was spot on.
I can't even take two days off to go to a funeral without them losing the contract? Is this normal? I'll be doing security for 5 years this December, this sounds so chaotic to me.
They lost half the contract about 6 months ago, my relief went to the hospital and they didn't bother to even try to find coverage for him. The client fired my company for 2nd shift but liked my performance so much they let me/ my company stay for first shift. That lasted awhile until this funeral happened.
What really gets me is, why tell me this the day of the funeral? I'm literally at the funeral home, why not tell me this news tomorrow? She knew what day the funeral was, and time as well. My “holiday” was already sour because of a death, but after the news I can't help but feel distant when I should be there talking and hanging out with family.
The good guards get shitted out while the bad guards who smoke weed in the bathroom has a higher pay than me. This is crazy, I feel it's time for a industry change. I go above and beyond and for what? 15 mins early, taking professional notes for them, file organization, remembering whose car is whose, rarely calling out, but fuck me right?
I could understand if I took the day off to party and they removed me, but I told them a week ago I'd most likely need Thursday and Friday off. Of all the jobs I have ever had, Security has been some of the most unprofessional shit I've ever experienced.
- Work hours on end without a break / lunch
- We're expected to never call off / take PTO
- We're expected to “take one for the team” and work constant doubles until we get more coverage
- Some posts frown upon us using the BATHROOM or taking a break to EAT
It's absolutely insane. What's more insane, is people – usually older than me have told me to put my big girl pants on and do as they say. They're part of the part and they don't realize it, I'm not one of those people who don't want to work, I'm at work everyday, 15 minutes early, but if with due respect – if the same guy is calling off / super late everyday, it's not my problem! I'm sorry, but I shouldn’t have to pay late fees to my daycare because a person who isn't assiocated with my household made me late by not showing up to work on time – AGAIN.
I shouldn’t be expected to work a double or lose my job / contract – I'm sorry. I made it known since the interview I was a mom and paying daycare fees, legally in Nevada a daycare will not watch your child longer than 8 hours. I'm sorry Pablo is late for the 5th time this week, but I can't afford to pay $1 per minute because some asshole is late. Sorry I'm not a team player?? Dude can't even offer pay for my lunch but I'm expected to pay $80 or more a day in late fees for this asshole?
Why am I expected to work 10 fucking hours without eating or a bathroom break? Why do I have to BEG to go piss or change my pad when I'm on my period? Why do I have to beg to eat after clocking in 5 hours ago and watching clients eat on their breaks and lunches?
Something is wrong with the security industry, and we should be taking a stand. If this happened in any other industry, lawyers would have a field day with this. But for some reason, we think we don't derseve better? We're human just like our clients, if our clients will work an 8 hour shift and get two 15 breaks and a 30 min lunch then why is us as security guards who work 10+ hours or more, expected to be front life and throw our lives away, so scared to ask for the basic human necessities??