I have many health conditions including sleep disorders, major depressive disorder, pain disorders, etc. (I work at a grocery store and i’m 20 yrs old/ this is my first job).
Sometimes I just need to sit in the break room or go to the bathroom because I am in a lot of pain for a few minutes. every time I do it I’m told they saw me on the camera go in the break room or saw me on the camera sitting for a moment or saw me camera go to the bathroom too many times. I feel very uncomfortable being watched on the camera 24/7 almost daily. they constantly say they saw me on the camera doing something when I’m not doing anything wrong than taking a breather because I’m dizzy or sore. I’m a clerk which means I have permission to walk everywhere in the store and not stay in one spot. I feel so uncomfortable because of this I constantly feel hunted and watched even though cameras in grocery stores or meant for stealing customers not employees. Today I had to go outside to lift some heavy stuff so I sat on a bench for ~30 seconds to rest. My manager walks over pissed seeing me momentarily sitting even though I had an hour to get it done and it takes me around 20 minutes so I knew I’d have extra time after. She said she saw me on the camera walk right and not straight which is how she knew I wasn’t lifting the stuff. this makes me uncomfortable how she would follow me like that, it relays no trust. Later I went to her office to talk to her about what happened; I said: I was dizzy and sore and needed a moment to sit down from working a lot previously, she chuckled at me and smiled, said I watch you sit down on the cameras for a couple of minutes every day or go in the bathroom, I told her further about my medical issues and somehow I just need a minute, and told her I take this situation very seriously, that I’m trying to better myself, and how I feel genuinely guilty for sitting down, and felt like I failed because I’m upset with myself, I told her I understand I should feel guilty, then she chuckled again. She thought I was lying to her about not doing my job even though my intentions completely were to finish it after I briefly sat down, and she just chuckled. She told me to be more upfront and tell her I need a moment to sit even though when I do she ignores me. “I need to communicate more”. She genuinely doesn’t understand nor cares about my health issues, and just wants me to work in complete pain. I feel uncomfortable/scared to work every day because I’m being watched on the cameras. she chuckled at my medical issues and thinks I’m full of bs. I feel like a robot, or a slave; when needs to rest for a moment get caught and punished/ shamed for something out of my control. No matter what at the end of the day I always get my job done, and watching me on cameras micromanage isn’t helping me. I have no respect for my manager anymore. This is my first job, I am very confused if this is normal and what to do about the situation.