A CRAPPY BOSS SERVED AT LEAST 7 HELPINGS OF JUSTICE

About a decade, or so ago – back when I was naive and new to the job industry – I worked for this rather terrible boss. Most of us have unfortunately experienced just how difficult and hectic having such a boss can make working life. It can even spill into your everyday, personal life. Ugh. 
 

Somehow, I managed to survive for (only) a little over three months before I was steamrolled out the door. During that time, I experienced many blame games, ridiculous requests and inconveniences (almost to the point of not being able to do my job!) resulting from poor and lazy management. Not JUST from the general manager AKA boss, but from the store manager as well. I don't know how the assistant manager handled all the burdens thrown her way, but without her covering two of the five stores no employee would have been able to work and the stores would have went under much faster than they did.

None of those stores are open now. They are just dusty husks of their structures. A result, I believe, that stems from the two, or three people who approached me one-on-one during a few of my shifts. These people told me about the horrible things the boss had done and warned me I needed to leave before any of it happened to me. From simply not getting paid for work, to being prosecuted for stealing hundreds in lottery money, stealing store product, or accused of selling tobacco to minors and also being subjected to sexual harassment.

Each person had paperwork with them and warned me they were going to court and were absolutely determined to bring this boss down. Hard. Without mercy. They were livid as they recounted what happened to them. Not only them, but other former employees they had rallied together. Apparently, there were at least five others who were ready to fight.

Stupid me. I should have left the job then and there. I had already experienced issues; such as it taking months to be given one too-large uniform shirt, but never a name tag, nor the promised increased pay after my initial probation period. I was SO naive. 
 

However, it wasn't until after my friend, who managed a different store and who recommended me for hire to the boss, was suddenly fired that crap really started to fling my way. It was cruel how the boss treated my friend. My friend had worked hard to manage multiple stores and had done loads of repairs and cleaning by himself, saving the stores thousands of dollars. He had recently been promised a raise, which would help as he was newly married. Then, as soon as he had done all the extensive labor, he was fired without warning and without reason. Over the phone. 

This left me feeling angry. Out of loyalty, since he was my friend, I asked him if he wanted me to quit. I didn't want to work for such a jerk, but he told me he knew I needed the job and to try to stick it out until I could find something else.

Without him working, everything got thrown onto the assistant manager, since neither the boss, nor the manager wanted to work. It was almost too much for the assistant manager, but for the sake of keeping her job so she could support her son through a crisis, she held in there. Seriously. The manager would come in, plop in her office with food and a fashion magazine and stay in there reading and eating until she left for the day. The assistant manager did all the paperwork. It didn't even matter if I was out of change, which I ran out of change on a Friday and remained that way over that weekend. I was told to deal with it and ask for change from costumers, or only take exact change if they didn't use credit, or debit.

Late at night I had to go outside alone where there wasn't even a camera or much light to stick the gas tanks and clean the trash cans. My car had already been broken into once and I was dealing with a stalker at the time. The manager griped about having the employee work scheduled moved out of sight from the costumers and pinned in the office where it belonged. I guess the manager didn't want to be disturbed while she goofed off in there. 
 

My hours were cut until I was lucky to work seven hours a week after being promised no less than thirty-six hours a week. Driving thirty minutes one way to work just for three, or four hours of work at minimum pay really hurt and all I had was a van. Gas was (and still is!) expensive. I started being accused of taking lottery money and cigarettes, but nothing was ever done about it because they said the cameras hadn't caught me yet. Was told off for staying too late to finish all my work, and then – once I found a way to work more efficiently and get it all done in good time – was yelled at for not doing any of my duties. I was scared, confused and dreaded going to work.

Even so, I reminded the boss of our agreement that I work no less than thirty-six hours a week. The response I received made my jaw drop. I was told no such promise was made, but if I wanted more hours then I could go to the other stores any time I wanted – where I didn't know the employees, they didn't know me and remember I was never given a name tag – and ask to take money from the register to go off store property and buy cleaning supplies to return and clean with.

I told the boss I didn't feel comfortable with that if I wasn't so much as scheduled and the employees told to expect me, or even given a certain amount of money and a list to buy off of. It just SCREAMED wrong, especially since I had already been accused of stealing. 
 

Although I needed the hours, I didn't take the bait – erm, I mean offer. 
 

The final straw was when I got sick to the point I couldn't get out of bed and called the manager. She never picked up. I must have called her three, or more times throughout the day, leaving voice messages on top of texting her. What hurt is her voicemail greeting included something along the lines of “if I don't get back with you then you're not important”. Of course, I already called the store to speak with the assistant manager so someone knew I couldn't make it and apologized to her for not being able to come in for my shift. I felt so bad for her. She already had so much to deal with. 
 

The three days I was bedridden, I was unable to contact either the manger, or the boss. I should mention a couple weeks after my hours were reduced I went to the Unemployment Office to file partial unemployment to help make ends meet. Once I was able, since I couldn't contact the two lazy managers by phone, I sought them out at the stores. I finally caught the boss. At this point I had spoken with the assistant manager and discovered I had been taken off the schedule. 
 

The response I received from the boss once again made my mouth drop open. The excuse? It was believed I had quit because I didn't show up for work and unemployment had been in contact. I called BS and recounted the many times I had tried to call, as well as the fact unemployment would have made it clear that I had filed for PARTIAL unemployment. Had I seen, or been able to get in touch with the boss more often I would have mentioned having to file in the first place. 
 

Regardless of having not quit, I was no longer allowed to work and wouldn't receive the two checks I was owed until I turned in my uniform shirt. Having expected this possibility, I walked to my van, grabbed my one, overly large shirt and thrust it at the boss. I wanted my checks before I left. Thankfully, I was given them without further hassle. 
 

The real hassle came in trying to collect unemployment. The boss and manager fought with me and tried to get my benefits denied. After many appeals, I won, but I took a penalty because of the lies they said against me. 
 

Some time passed. I stayed friends with the assistant manager. While I had been working, I had attended classes for my GED. One day I showed up with my diploma in a legal document folder to show off to her. Not five minutes after my arrival, the manager pulls up in her car and stares at me. Just stares. She never leaves her car. I see her stony face pale as she stares at the folder I'm holding. I look at the assistant manager, share one last laugh with her, and then leave so as not to get her in trouble. 
 

Finally, the moment everyone is waiting for that makes this long story worth it! Justice! Guess who got caught stealing all that store product and lottery money? The manager was jailed for it! The same butthole that had made all us employees count everything before and after every shift to “try to catch the culprit”. It was in the newspaper and all I could do was laugh and hope the young, single mother who had been fired for stealing would now be able to clear her name. 
 

I turned in documents about what all had happened to me while working under the boss. Combine that with the force of former employees that were out for vengeance... Yeah, all five stores closed. There must be a lot of crap that happened because the properties and buildings have yet to be renovated for another business to move in.

I lost touch with the assistant manager after a while, but the last time I saw her she seemed to be doing well at a better job. For this I am thankful. 
 

Crappy bosses are awful, aren't they? Especially when you're starting work for the first time and don't know your rights, who to turn to for help, or know the proper steps to take for legal assistance.

If you have a story about a crappy boss you'd like to share with me, please submit it to my Reddit community where you can receive credit for your story. I may even make a YouTube video out of it. I discovered Reddit through YouTube videos and enjoy listening to stories while on my walks, so maybe others would enjoy reading, or listening to your stories, too. 
 

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Next post will be about favorite anime characters. I hope you join me for that one. Animation is a passion of mine. So much so that I have a Bachelor's in Media Arts and Animation. Watching the shows is a form of studying for me. Teehee!