In my last job summers were the busy season, and with the pandemic we were behind on quota so they were trying to make up for lost time. Trouble is: I was the only guy there qualified to do the work.
At first I didn't mind – having a full day made it go by faster, and I'd been at it long enough to feel like I could handle it. But as the weeks went on they started over-scheduling, expecting me to do things in less time than it should ever take me with no breaks and no lunches.
Now, the manager and I had developed a friendship over the year or two that preceded this. At least I thought we did. We shared our feelings, developed a kind of mutual respect, etc…
So first thing I did when things started feeling a bit overwhelming was take the matter to them. I let them know that I was getting exhausted and couldn't keep on like this. I was getting more bruises and cuts in a day than I usually did – in no small part due to fatigue, as well as rushing to keep up with the volume.
“Okay. I'll keep it in mind.”
In retrospect, that's all she really said to me. She didn't say she'd do anything different, or build in breaks, or anything…
So it kept coming, and I was getting more and more tired. Tired of being covered in dirt and chemicals, tired of the constant new aches and pains from minor injuries as I went, tired of being ignored when I said I needed something…
And then they started booking last-minute appointments. I'd be ready to leave and they'd say “hey, got one more.”
I blew up.
It wasn't my finest moment but I told them I couldn't take anymore. They were working me too hard. I couldn't handle it. Told them I'd do this one but in the future when 5pm rolls around I'm walking out no matter what the schedule says.
Apologized the next day for my rudeness, and then a few hours later apologized again. They said they accepted my apology the first time, and then said “Okay I'm glad you're saying this I really needed to hear it” the second time… but…
The scheduling stayed the same. Only now my boss, my “friend”, refused to even look at me let alone speak to me.
So I quit. Gave them notice, trained a replacement, checked in on occasion since I still had friends there but… boss still refuses to make eye contact with me. Even now, after all this time.
Been working from home ever since and I never knew a person could live a life where they can take breaks whenever they want, work in a safe environment, and not experience physical damage in an average day. Sometimes my wife and I will blow off work and go hiking or to the beach. It's incredible.
But I wonder if I needed to break first. I don't know.