Spare Change
I'm on the thresh-hold to some drastic changes and I'm not sure where to turn. What upsets me is how little choice I seem to have in these matters, and instead have to be reactive to what's coming down the line. I'd thought I was building a stronger style of life, with some consideration of sustainability and control. Unfortunately the other foot always drops. I made a series of decisions and compromises to ensure job security, and now it's proving to all be a waste of time.
The last 3-6 weeks of work have gone poorly. I have been pulling espresso drinks and brewing teas, along with other duties, four days a week since the spring. Lately it has been a series of slow weekdays, and I'd been preemptively called by a co-worker to tell me I could come in late as there was nothing much going on. This was not cleared with boss. I made a bit of a habit of it, with no immediate repercussions. I checked in with my fellow floor staff, asking if it was a problem with anyone, and no one complained. I should have checked with the boss. I worked a six day work week, which was unusual. The following weekend my sciatica was triggered, leaving me in severe pain and with cause me great difficulty walking. I had to miss three days of work. I made an appointment with my primary care provider, and was given pain-managing prescriptions and a physical therapy referral. I returned to work the following week, wanting to get back as soon as possible. Too soon. The second day of three I was ten minutes late one morning due waking up with stiff and painful legs. I called in to notify them I was coming but I'd be late. Boss saw me as I rode to work while he was meeting with his contractors in front of where his new cafe is being built, at the foot of my street. I waved. When he arrived at work a short time later, he verbally reprimanded me for my tardiness, suggesting I should be trying harder to fulfill the bare minimum of what was required of me in light of all the accommodations that had been made for me the week before. I did not share the cause of my lateness. I said it wouldn't happen again.
The following day, after my twenty minute break, I was asked to come in and talk with boss in his office. I was informed my shifts would be cut and I was being reassigned to weekend host duties. From 30 hours a week to ten. It wasn't personal, he said, but he wanted to do what was best for his business. He would give the shifts to the current weekend host. He talked about accountability and such. I said I'd rather resign then suffer the indignity. I was told that the intent of these disciplinary actions were not to push me out but rather to re-assign me to a less important capacity. My pay has been drastically cut. I said I needed time to think about what I would do. He gave me an extra five minutes to go outside and collect myself. I smoked a cigarette and stared daggers at the sky.
I was going to resign. I had made a descision after consulting with my roommates and my partner. I'd go about it the right way and try and salvage a good reccomendation from the employer I'd spent almost two years with.
In the end I compromised. I said I'd give this new order a shot. I hate myself for it.
The last 3-6 weeks of work have gone poorly. I have been pulling espresso drinks and brewing teas, along with other duties, four days a week since the spring. Lately it has been a series of slow weekdays, and I'd been preemptively called by a co-worker to tell me I could come in late as there was nothing much going on. This was not cleared with boss. I made a bit of a habit of it, with no immediate repercussions. I checked in with my fellow floor staff, asking if it was a problem with anyone, and no one complained. I should have checked with the boss. I worked a six day work week, which was unusual. The following weekend my sciatica was triggered, leaving me in severe pain and with cause me great difficulty walking. I had to miss three days of work. I made an appointment with my primary care provider, and was given pain-managing prescriptions and a physical therapy referral. I returned to work the following week, wanting to get back as soon as possible. Too soon. The second day of three I was ten minutes late one morning due waking up with stiff and painful legs. I called in to notify them I was coming but I'd be late. Boss saw me as I rode to work while he was meeting with his contractors in front of where his new cafe is being built, at the foot of my street. I waved. When he arrived at work a short time later, he verbally reprimanded me for my tardiness, suggesting I should be trying harder to fulfill the bare minimum of what was required of me in light of all the accommodations that had been made for me the week before. I did not share the cause of my lateness. I said it wouldn't happen again.
The following day, after my twenty minute break, I was asked to come in and talk with boss in his office. I was informed my shifts would be cut and I was being reassigned to weekend host duties. From 30 hours a week to ten. It wasn't personal, he said, but he wanted to do what was best for his business. He would give the shifts to the current weekend host. He talked about accountability and such. I said I'd rather resign then suffer the indignity. I was told that the intent of these disciplinary actions were not to push me out but rather to re-assign me to a less important capacity. My pay has been drastically cut. I said I needed time to think about what I would do. He gave me an extra five minutes to go outside and collect myself. I smoked a cigarette and stared daggers at the sky.
I was going to resign. I had made a descision after consulting with my roommates and my partner. I'd go about it the right way and try and salvage a good reccomendation from the employer I'd spent almost two years with.
In the end I compromised. I said I'd give this new order a shot. I hate myself for it.