I work in an industry that has just faced the direct care of Covid-19 patients. Since day 1 it was an ever changing environment, information, set of rules, and oh….no days off. Everyday fo to work while shelves were shopped empty. I would go to the store to find little to no food because we were taking care of others and I couldn’t miss work to go to the grocery store. It was eye opening.
I have been at this employer almost 8 years. I have worked 16-22 hour days when we are short staffed to help put other people’s needs first and ensure no one works short staffed if I can help it for their safety. I’ve sacrificed sleep, my health, my mental stability, holidays, vacations with friends and family for this job.
I have been spit on. I have been hit/slapped. I have had people try to bite me and felt their teeth against my skin. I have had people try to kick me in the head, and other places. I have been threatened. I have been surrounded by weak leadership that refuses to do anything the employees need to maintain a safe, caring environment. I always try to ensure a safe, caring environment for myself and others.
I’m in debt, like most people. I live paycheck to paycheck. The company routinely hires new people into the job making more than myself and other employees who have been there for years. The raises are a joke. 1-2% are the normal raises, 3% you should be kissing their feet and bowing to their needs. Not to mention they push their own political agenda through work emails and Human Resources updates. Some times for better, sometimes for worse.
Let’s talk about Human Resources. They have charged me for plans that I was not enrolled in when I went to use these benefits. The office at the physician telling me “you don’t have insurance”. It sure as hell is coming out of my check for the last 6 months. I sent an email to HR. I never even got a reply. My job out sources HR to save money. There’s no human being you can walk into their office and have a conversation with with.
Now we are told no more days off, we are too short staffed. Meanwhile, the bosses still run errands on the clock, take days off, spend time on the phone for personal agendas such as buying a car or planning personal events. This is all ok.
To make matters worse, when they attempt
to hire new employees they drag their feet screwing around with non priorities or personal stuff so they schedule 2-3 interviews over 2-3 weeks. Then they go through this lengthy interview process of a phone call or email, set up a date, interview, job shadow, then a job offer.
This job offer is usually such LOW PAY for the field people turn the job down. You get 1 out of 3 to accept the job if your lucky. Then the process begins anew. It’s aggravating. Your employees our drowning because you have a LACK OF URGENCY IN HIRING.
We lost 2 employees at the end of December. We have filled 1 spot that just started in April. 3 months of vacancy. We lost 2 more employees at the end of March due to all these reason above. Hired another individual that wants to start in 6 weeks….and they are ok with it.
I’m done. I’m the one sacrificing for a multi billion dollar company. Not the crappy management. My days off are ruined because of work crap effecting me at home. I’ll be not picking up any extra shifts, and quitting soon so maybe they will understand the urgency when they have to work and do our jobs.
TL;DR
Low pay, no days off allowed, new employees get more money, management slacks off for personal agendas while workers pay the price of a heavy work load.