I’ve worked at the same shop for nearly a decade. I’ve been struggling the past few months and after a request for a cash advance on my check was denied, I asked if I could pick up a few extra shifts.
Management has been pushing overtime the past few weeks, I decided I’d find my boys a sitter and put the request in. Today I was called into my boss's office. I got my first “strike” because the other day I had to leave work for an emergency because my son fell down the stairs at school and broke his ankle.
Sitting in the ER my supervisor told me I needed to show proof I was there because I “abandoned” my work station even though I powered down my machines and got permission to leave. I sent a pic of my son's foot, it wasn’t good enough, so I had to send a picture of the x-ray. I did.
My supervisor asked how long it was going to take and I told him probably well past my shift. He then asked me to get someone to be with my son so I could come back to work to show our new hire how to operate my machine because my supervisor didn’t want to stay.
I’m not a supervisor. I don’t get paid to supervise my coworker or do I want to. My job is M-F 5:00AM-2:30PM. I’m a single dad and this schedule just works perfectly. My supervisor responds that “we are a big family here, we help each other”.. The new hire is 20 years old and this is his first shop job. I was already being pulled away from my work no less than 10 times a day to answer his questions or help him. I text back “that sounds like you are wanting me to do your job for free” and turned my phone off.
So I got a strike for insubordination and was told overtime is only being offered to the new hires. Except they don’t know what the fuck they are doing. My boss then says “You have been such a loyal employee being here longer than I have so I want to give you a bit of help here”. Idk if I can link a picture but he hands me two starbucks cards for a free drink that i'm pretty sure starbucks gives out if they mess up your drink.
I actually WANT to work because I need money but no worries, I can grab two overpriced grande double fraps and cry in my car.
TL;DR: What in the hell am I supposed to do with two drinks? I can’t pay bills with them, I can’t use them to get gas, I can’t pay for my son's wheelchair he needs until his foot heals??