Back in April I got hired at a for-profit thrift store and I was super excited because I thought this would be a fun job since I loved thrifting. I learned very quick, and I had my managers and coworkers telling me I was doing a great job. One problem tho, part of my job was thanking every donor on behalf of our nonprofit partner. I will admit I was doing it to every few customers because I have 1: I didn’t think it was very important and 2: i have an anxiety disorder which makes processing speech hard sometimes
Because of this I got called into the office and was told that I have to tell every customer or else I won’t pass my probationary Period. So I tried harder. I did my best to tell every single customer, but of course, sometimes my words got mixed up. One day our store manager showed up to do an inspection and them along with my manager were watching me doing donations. I was doing everything by the book and at the end I was doing my speech.
I got pulled aside by my manager afterwards and was asked if I was doing said speech, and I told her yes, but she said that they couldn’t hear me say it. I assured her that I was saying it, but she didn’t look convinced, and told me to say it louder next timeand walked away. I was very frustrated and hurt but I continued doing my job.
After that day I was still trying very hard to tell every single customer, I had one slip up in front of my manager, because the donors weren’t even paying attention to me and talking to each other which I explained but he didnt care and told me I had to say it anyway.
Fast forward to two days ago I was closing and once again telling every customer my speech at the end of donating but I got called into the office again and was told that a manager once again caught me not saying it even though this time I was sure I was saying it to every customer. I tried standing up for myself and assuring my boss that I was but she didnt believe me and told me that I only have less than four weeks till my assessment and if I don’t start saying it, they will get rid of me.
I was almost in tears at this point. I brought up my anxiety disorder and they asked if there was any way to accommodate me, I wanted to tell them that continuously not believing me was triggering my anxiety, but I felt like I was gonna get in trouble. In the end, they had me sign a piece of paper. I feel stupid for not reading it but I just want to get out of there, so i signed it as quickly as I could.
I’ve asked all my other coworkers if they had to go through this as well during their probationary, but everyone has said no, and they can’t believe I’m being held to this standard. I’ve worked so hard at my job from day one I’ve picked up shifts and worked overtime to help but I honestly don’t see the point anymore. I want to quit, but I have nowhere else to go. It took me 4 months to get this job. Any advice?