For 3 years, I worked at Family Dollar. It was easily the worst job I've ever had in my life, but I had my reasons for staying there. During my time there, I was pretty much always on call. My store manager expected you to be at the store at the drop of a hat if she needed you. If you weren't able to comply, she would throw tantrums and cut your hours. I quickly learned that it was just easier to go with the flow, so that's what I did. There were many, many times when I would be called in to work early because the store manager was sick (in all actuality, she was just hungover).
One day, I got a text from her about just such a thing. As you can see, I was frequently her go-to person to cover a shift when a cashier called off or quit. I usually went in when she asked because it was easier than fighting with her. But this time I said no, and she didn't respond to my noncompliance very well. Suddenly, my unwillingness to come in this one time meant that I was no longer a part of her backbone crew. Me, her best assistant manager who never complained about his shifts. I decided right then and there that it was finally time for me to part ways with Family Dollar.
It took me less than a week to find a new job. I couldn't believe it because my self worth was very low by that point. This new job was in an office, 8-5 M-F, with a 50% raise from what I was already making. When I handed my boss my resignation letter, she told me I was ruining her life because I was quitting on Halloween weekend, and now she wouldn't be able to party. I just reminded her that I didn't have to give a two weeks' notice and could easily quit right at that moment, and she relented.
Things started falling apart after I quit. They all figured out just how much I did at that place, and how I kept the peace. I was the only assistant manager who didn't mind working evenings or weekends. After I left, the assistant managers started fighting with one another because neither one wanted to work weekends or evenings. Trucks weren't getting worked, and the store started looking like a disaster area. In short, the store manager figured out I really was her background crew. This revenge was sweet enough, but I had one final act.
I asked one of the other assistant managers to apply to my workplace to the orders department. I knew the schedule would entice her, but what I think really did it for her was the pay. Sure enough, she got the job, and when that happened, the other assistant manager immediately put in her notice too. The only people left were the store manager and a cashier. This story has a happy ending for all involved though. The store manager realized that it was time for her to have a new job too, and she ended up quitting as well.
I guess the moral of the story is to know your worth and the worth of your staff. And don't work for Family Dollar, because they absolutely couldn't care less about their workers.