I’m a manager at a company. I have chronic pain, migraines, anxiety attacks, etc. I work through all of it. The job benefits? Trash. No PTO, no vacation days, no sick days, no 401K, no overtime pay, and holiday pay is a “privilege” that corporate decides. I’ve searched for a job with better benefits, similar work, flexible hours, and better pay. No luck so far.
I had a coworker I’ll call Melody. Melody started a few years after me but we were promoted near the same time. While I worked 45 to 50 hr weeks, she worked maybe 20 to 25. I didn’t have an issue with that.
When Melody quit, she requested an exit interview and bashed me. Saying that she didn’t like working with me because I didn’t do any work and I took too long to do tasks when I did work. When upper level management questioned me about it, I told them “Check the computer log in for the past few months and tell me who has been logging everything and submitting the paperwork. You will see my name, not hers” (We all have a unique login) I also took assignments from Melody because she didn’t want to do them, but I don’t work?
Well fast forward a couple of months and my review is up and my boss, Sarah, wants to promote me as her second in command which would be a nice raise. Due to many things out of my control as well as Melody’s exit interview, I was denied by corporate. It was the last straw for me. (So much has happened here)
I went to Sarah and told her I’m sorry if this is putting her in a bad position, but I couldn’t continue working as I was. There was no incentive. I was doing majority of the task work. 45+ hours almost every week was exhausting. I also deal with chronic pain. I was missing holidays, birthdays, vacations, births, and more. Even on my off days, I’m getting calls about work. It was agreed that I could take on less but that didn’t happen so I just started to not do work.
Sarah has complained a little, but I told her that I do not get a break from work. Even on my off days, I have to discuss work. I get hour long phone calls about work. I ended up telling her “If I’m not getting paid for the extra work. I’m simply not doing it. I have worked well beyond my means and I’m not getting the pay for it so I’m no longer doing the work”
I kinda feel bad for putting her in that situation but I’m tired and in pain.