I work as a custom Jewelry Designer for a local jeweler. My responsibilities include coming up with concepts for clients via sketches, 3D modeling the jewelry on the computer, 3D printing the jewelry in “wax” resin, and operating the casting machines. I’ve worked here four months and have produced around 80 finished pieces and have done very well.
The business is extremely understaffed and management has asked that I take on new responsibilities, including project management, graphic design, and marketing. Well, they didn’t ask, but merely said I was supposed to. I said yes but I needed a raise if I was suddenly going to take on all this extra work. They said they would consider it and get back to me. They never did and it’s been two weeks.
Two weeks before Black Friday they told me that I will be needed on the sales floor. I’ve never done sales in my life. They said they’d train me. Actually they just assigned me 30 hours worth of training videos to watch during the week of thanksgiving. They forced me to go on the sales floor a few days ago and I had no clue how to do a single thing.
I went to the boss’s office and told him straight up I am not doing sales. He was shocked and annoyed but said okay. I’ll still probably get forced to do sales but I warned them I’ll quit. I told HR too but its only one person and she is the boss’s cousin so I don’t trust her. She didn’t even respond to my email.
Today, after months of inquiring without any answer, I finally get an email from the HR rep. Turns out I’ve never been covered by health insurance for all these months despite my signing up. I have life threatening food allergies and severe asthma. I drive 45 minutes one way to work. I am shocked that they let me slip through the cracks. I refused to drive into work until I’m covered. The HR rep actually offered to pick me up which pissed me off. Management is pissed that I’m bailing on them this weekend and insists that I should just be safe driving.
I have two 60 hour work weeks coming up. I’ll make decent money but I live with my parents and I won’t go broke without it. If you were me, would you quit today? Or put up with it this month and make the overtime money and quit in January?