After a year of putting up with a gang of MAGA-crazed, racist, Anti-Mask, Anti-Vax crazies running this dog and pony show they call a business, I finally said “fuck ‘em” and quit.
No more being talked to like an idiot little kid, no more putting up with micromanaging morons and no more dealing with slack-jawed hicks who think COVID is fake and that the democratic majority of their state is an evil syndicate.
And DEFINITELY no more cleaning up shit smeared toilet bowls that a grown man, who’s too much of a slob to do a courtesy clean after himself, left behind for all his customers to see when they need to use the restroom.
They cut my hours in half back in November, claiming that sales were down and it was just a temporary thing. Yesterday I find out they’re getting cut again. 15 hours a week at CA minimum wage? ($14 for this business) I know it’s a lot more than other states, but you can’t live on that here. Hell, I can’t see how you can live on $14/hr anywhere in this country. It’s 60 miles round trip, my car has already damn-near exploded from the mileage this job has put it through. And with gas prices as high as they are here? I have more self respect than to just take that now. Antiwork has shown me that people don’t have to just take shit like that anymore.
I walked in like nothing was up, asked the ladies in the office for my check, told them to have the one weeks wages I’m still owed ready on Monday, and walked the fuck out of there. I didn’t get a notice that my hours were being cut either time it happened, nor would I get any notice if they decided to fire me. With the lack of
respect I was given at every single turn by these people, they’re lucky I didn’t throw a flaming bag of dog crap with an “I QUIT” note stapled to it.
I feel for the few 4-5 I liked who are still there, though. I guess they’re just convinced that that place is their lot in life? Rather depressing to think about. No one there makes enough to survive. Half my former coworkers are well into retirement age, the other half are in abject poverty living in hovels/trailers or depending on their partner’s income to keep them from being homeless.
I’m glad I experienced what a dead end job is like at 22 and I’m glad I have a family around me who’s able and willing to help me until I find my career field. I’m also glad I found r/antiwork. Without everyone here sharing their stories, I probably would still be working there, convinced that that shithole store was all I was worth. Thank you all for showing me who really has the power in this world.
I hope that sharing my experiences today helps that next young guy like me do what I did. Stand up for yourself, whoever you are. You’re worth so much more than these people think you are and as soon as they find it advantageous, you’ll be gone without a word of notice. Flip the script on them, and make your exit felt throughout the whole building.