My workplace is very low in workers, but incredibly high in sales. I'm guessing we make a lot of profit as there's plaques and plaques of high record numbers in the managers office, and Im sure the awful scheduling attributes to that. As a cook, I'm scheduled alone for up to 4 hours every single day and I'm getting incredibly tired of it. Us workers are stretched thin, and if one person calls out, I can kiss goodbye to my lunch being at the proper time or my breaks.
But calling out is a whole other story. I've been given shit for calling out with horrible stomach problems and flu symptoms (which I'm not supposed to come in with, I work with food for God's sake). I've also been given the side eye because I once called an hour before work, as I got a call from my dad that my mom was being sent to the hospital and wasn't sure why but he was coming home to get me and we would both go. Panicked, I called my work to call out, and upon explaining my mom was in the hospital my Manager said “Well… is it serious? We really need you today, we run a business.” I'm so tired of these big corporations throwing away basic living and having no consideration for my own life and caring more about numbers and profit. I'm a reason they make those numbers, and I'm treated with no respect.
Today, another cook has called out and I'm completely alone until I'm off at 10pm. I came in with a horrible ear infection and I began to feel awful 1/4th the way through my shift. Us workers have learned coming in sick and leaving early let's us take the days off we need without repercussion, but upon telling one of the managers this, she proceeded to tell me that she has an ear problem too and it isn't a big deal. I can't leave anyways. That's a complete lie, I'm putting in PTO when I get home and leaving. I'm just so done with this place and their lack of care and sensitivity. I'm killing myself for 15 dollars an hour, this isn't worth it. I'm only 19 and I feel like I'm already wasting my entire life. My partner lives with me, so I need this job, so I just don't know what to do. I really just need to find someplace else. Thank you for this subreddit, as reading, I've found that I'm not the only one in this situation. Thanks for reading my rant.