This sub got me thinking about my first job when I was in high school. I started working at a retirement home for the wealthy. I was a server in the dining section and was offered $8.50 which I thought was great. My friend who had worked there for 6+ months had just gotten moved up to $8.75 after months. We didn’t really think anything of it. But that should’ve been a red flag.
Fast forward like 4 months and a girl starts and instantly starts bragging about how she’s make $10. She was an one of the worst people I had ever worked with. She even got her brother a job and he started at $9. At this point I was confused. My friend and I were still at are wages from when I started. Granted this girl had prior serving experience but I still thought that was a lot considering people that had worked there for a year or so barely made that. Her brother also had no work experience.
My dad had cancer at the time and was getting really ill and I was already considering leaving since there were some racist residents I had to deal with every shift, and I wanted to be with my dad.
I gave my boss my two weeks and she was shocked and asked why. I told her my dad was the reason but also that I didn’t think it was fair the two siblings were making $2-3 more than my friend and I even though we had worked there months or even a year longer. She got mad and told me we weren’t supposed to talk about wages. Being a nervous, timid 16 year old I backed off that part, but said unless she was willing to bump my pay I’d rather be with my dad. She said we’d discuss later and for me to rethink my decision. I said fine, but never retracted my notice.
Fast forward to my last day and I hadn’t heard anything. I never brought it up to my boss since I didn’t want to be there anyways, and I didn’t believe she would match me even to the newest employee who was making $9. I even inspired two others to leave. Both these women being there way longer than me and I’m sure earning maybe 50 cents more than me. I said goodbye to the employees I liked and took home a box of food we weren’t technically allowed to take. 🙂
I found out at school from my friend my now former boss on our meeting day was, taking me off the schedule because I needed to learn responsibility and needed a penalty. That I couldn’t call out every other Saturday..reminder, my dad had cancer and an amputation by this point. When a coworker brought up my last day was the previous day she was shocked. She said that’s not right because I retracted it. They reminded her I had never taken it back and it was still on her desk. Apparently she sulked the rest of the day and didn’t help the dining room.
If I knew what I know now, story might’ve had a better ending.
(Typing on phone, so sorry about formatting/grammar)