I work as a courtesy clerk at a grocery store- bagging, collecting carts (manually, no mechanical cart pusher), cleaning restrooms, along with a myriad of other small things.
When I go out to collect carts, I like to put in earphones and listen to podcasts- a tiny bit of joy that gets me through the day. And I have for months.
But today, my manager approached me and told me to take them out, that I couldn't wear them.
I know it's a small thing, and they're the boss, but on top of being understaffed, covering lots of extra shifts, and being pretty burnt out, today especially, it really just made me mad.
I want to talk to them about it, but I'm pretty sure I know what I'll be told. That those are the rules, for everybody.
I want to quit… I have wanted to quit. It just seems like a silly reason to me.