So, I worked temporarily for a national chain of stores that does maintenance and repair work. The first couple of days were awesome. I had a lunch break and I felt great coming back to work afterwards. Then the last three days, working a total of 10 hours a day, I was given no opportunity for any break of any kind, including a lunch.
A little background for me, I have at least one (still valid) ASE certification and I have a bachelors degree from a major university in Economics. I couldn’t find a job in my economic field or similar so I decided to go back to what I started as and that was a technician.
However, They didn’t hire me as an actual technician, they hired me as a lube technician. Mind you, I haven’t done this in over seven years and held jobs in those years that were mostly air conditioned.
Anyway, the problem happened about the fourth day of work when I asked about my shift schedule and a lunch break. I was flat out denied a lunch and told to start on another repair order. My manager then informed me I would be working until close. This manager I speak of, is only a year or two older than me and has that conservative, (nobody wants to work bullshit). The job only paid $15, no breaks, in the heat, lifting heavy tires, getting burnt with oil and being covered in dirt in grease.
Yesterday was my last day as I had had enough. I couldn’t take the heat, I could feel my hands shaking from hunger and I was done. I did them the liberty of helping them finish out the rest of the cars for the day then I high tailed my tool box out to the parking lot where I had my uncle and fiancé waiting for me.
I had liked the job a lot and it’s a shame it turned out like this. I want to work but I cant if I’m not given a break working that many hours. Is that a reasonable concern?
Also, the shop was short staffed. So the main boss is leaving next week. There three lube technicians however they have their schedules so fucked to the point where only one tech is assigned for the entire day. There’s one main mechanic who does mechanic work such as brakes, alignments etc, but he doesn’t dare assist the lube guys if it gets busy. Instead, he and the store manager sit on the computer beside us either looking up store analytics to see if they’ll get commission or surfing the web.
It’s places like these that make people not want to work. I love the heat, I love the hurt, I love the dirt and hell even $15/hr working full time is good enough for me. The boundary line is taking a break and this job had none of that.
Am I wrong in quitting? My parents made me feel guilty and lazy for leaving. I feel guilty myself but I know how bad I felt coming home and having my fiancée feed me gatorades to replenish my body.
I went on a rant, but I now see why this sub exists. I now see the way employers take advantage of their employees. The other two lube technicians have been there for years, have higher pays and are used to the bullshit and leave the shop whenever they want. Since I had no seniority, I didn’t have the option to get a snack or water from a nearby store.
Sorry for ranting, I just needed to vent.