I have tried to change my situation several times, changing job roles and changing industries. Each time I run into the same scenario: an abusive boss that likes to overwork me into 60+ hour work weeks, likes to reject my PTO (even when reserved months in advance), and likes to nitpick me on petty things for no reason (thus creating a hostile environment). On this current try, I thought private sector was an issue and that I’d have better luck in the local government sector with a union. The point of a union is that you essentially have a lawyer that blows the whistle when there is something wrong and fight for you. (In private sector, you have to do the fighting yourself and know how to fight well against injustice in order to avoid getting fired).
Well, I run into the issue of an abusive manager again. I report to the Union since that was the point of joining one. Union says that we don’t have rights as a probationary employee and that there was nothing they can do for it (mind you probation is 2-3 years long in a lot of local government roles). So you’re telling me for 2-3 yers I have to be my own lawyer?!
I’m really starting to get convinced that there’s something wrong with this country and that our US employment laws just really sucks. We need more rights and protections like Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and so forth. Enough is enough. We are human and need to be living, not working all the time!