To preface this, i work as a chef in a restaurant and we are extremely understaffed in the kitchen. Its just the 3 of us running the entire kitchen 6 days a week for 12 hours a day. This happened about 2 months ago, i had to cover the entire kitchen due to the other chefs not being able to work because of covid. A few days later, probably because of physical exhaustion, i got really sick, it was so bad that i tried to get a glass of water but basically collapsed because i didnt have the strenght to stand. I called the head chef, which by now was at work again, and told him i couldnt make it to work the next day. Note: we had enough people that day to get by like we usually. My boss, being the amazing person he is, told me to get lots of rest and keep him updated on how im doing and wished me a speedy recovery. The next day at 10 am, which is when my shift usually starts, i get a call from the owner of the restaurant who without even greeting me instantly asks me where i am. I explain that i called in sick the night before and its all sorted out. He then goes on to basically shout at me that i need to come in now and that being sick doesnt excuse me from not going to work. I calmly try to explain that i can barely stand let alone work and i will not be coming to work and that i was going back to sleep now. He then basically goes into a frenzy shouting at me “I've always done everything for you and always helped you out, dont ever expect anything like that from me again.” and hangs up right after.
By the way, at this point i havent been absent from work for over a year, worked overtime basically every day and covered shifts wherever i could and even helped out at the nightclub he also owns.
I was, and still am at a loss for words on how a human being can treat someone like this. Its like theres no humanity left and his workers are just numbers in his profits..
Edit: Sorry if theres any grammar mistakes, english is not my native language 😛