I don't think I could have enjoyed working at my current place any less, but it has happened. I now officially *hate* my workplace. Wow. What a week!
First of all, I went into work with my friend (who also works there) so that she could drop something off, on a day when I was not working (it was a public holiday, I am too expensive to pay to work on those days, so I don't get any hours, and no pay either). My boss & his wife were there. While I was standing there, minding my own business, boss's wife came up to me and starting raving on about two plastic plates that were in a drawer out the front of the shop. Apparently, she had put them out the back, and they had been moved back out the front. She requested that I please inform all the staff members that if she finds them, or any other 'useless crap' out there, that she will throw it out. Why *I* am required to do this is beyond me, and to be talking to me on my day off? Uh, I don't get paid enough to deal with that kind of BS. (excuse me).
So then on Friday I have to call her to tell her my little sister could not work her shift the next day. At the time, I am giving her 24 hours notice exactly. My sister by this time, has been in hospital for two days. I do not want to discuss why, but she nearly died. So yes, I am not in the mood for anyone else's problems. My sister is 15 and works a 5 hour shift. She's a casual junior and has NO obligation to her employers for ANYTHING, technically speaking. She does not get holiday or sick pay etc, so does not have to divulge why she cannot work on certain days, etc.
So I call this woman to tell her my sister cannot work tomorrow. 'Why?!' She says. 'I can't discuss that with you.' I say. 'Well! I need to know why!' She says again. Again, I tell her I can't discuss it with her. 'Well, I'm GOING to need to KNOW WHY, this has really put ME in a lurch, you know. You are giving me NO notice...' she raves on. 'She's in hospital. If you want to call to make sure, that's fine.' I tell her. All of a sudden, she starts yelling at me. 'You don't have to get SHIRTY with me, you know, she could want to go to a PARTY or something. That's all you needed to say, that she was in hospital.' (seriously? wtf? My sister has NEVER taken time off to go to a party, never been late, never been hungover on the job or ill-fit to work for any reason. She has actually never even had a day off). I tell her that I did not want to, or need to, tell her or discuss it with her, that it was personal information and she did not require that knowledge. She carried on shouting for a moment, then says that's fine. She will work something out, somehow. (Like I care? NOT my problem?!)
She then has the gall to ask if I'm ok! By this stage, I have nearly hung up on her twice. I'm ready to throw my phone, or scream, or resign. I am nearly crying. I tell her I am quite fine, and terminate the conversation.
The next day, she sends me a text message. It reads:
' Hi Whitestripe. Feel bad about our conversation yesterday. Let me know if (my sister) needs any more time off or if there is anything I can do to help. '
I am with my friend/colleague at the time, and she reads it too. We are both gobsmacked at the fact that this is clearly meant to be some kind of apology, with the absence of anything that resembles 'I'm sorry'. It does not even say *I* feel bad. It just says 'feel bad'.
My sister quit yesterday 
(Partly due to the fact she will not be able to work for a few weeks, but also partly because my boss's wife scares her, and she hates working there). Can't say I blame her!
I feel as though she will call me at some stage. I did not reply to her text message.
On one hand, I know I should be careful of what I say. I do need a job to pay the bills. I suppose we would be alight for a few months if I were to get fired, but I don't want that. On the other hand, I feel as though I should say *something*. I do not believe the way she spoke to me was acceptable. I am not a student at school. She is not my mother. I am sure somewhere it states that it is not technically legal to talk to someone like that? Surely? She spoke to me as though I was a child that needed discipline. I just don't really get how someone can think it is appropriate behaviour. She seems to think she is the greatest person on Earth, because she owns a bakery. Sigh.
Anyway, that is the end of my rant.
In other news, I have heard back from two places - did not get an interview for both. But am still waiting to hear back from two more. I would be happy with working for either, so keep fingers crossed for me. I fear I may just explode in a fiery ball of rage very soon at work. It is just almost too much to take sometimes.
I mean, who YELLS at someone after they tell them their sister is in hospital? It's not like I said she was at Disneyland! Urgh.
- for those that were wondering, my sister is doing alright. Will be able to return to school next week. Scared the hell out of everyone. She is now living back with her mum too. 
I wish I could light my workplace on fire sometimes...
May 11th, 2011 at 02:43 am
May 11th, 2011 at 03:35 am 1305084958
Good luck to you and your little sis.
May 11th, 2011 at 03:22 pm 1305127351
If you're planning to stick around there for a while, you might want to talk with her. If you're just running out the clock, maybe just try to forget about it and keep your head down to get through the last few weeks/months with as little confrontation as possible.
Some stand on principle and I respect that. I think in more of a what's-best-for-my-own-survival way when it comes to work matters. When I was hoping to make my job better, I was very open about airing my grievances. Now that I'm looking for other employment, I just try to stay neutral and pleasant and not burn any bridges, because I'm gonna need those references soon, hopefully!
May 11th, 2011 at 03:51 pm 1305129106
Wouldn't it be satisfying to give her a bill for engaging you on work matters when you were not even there for work? You could bill at any rate you wish, say $200 dollars per hour as an employee relations consultant. Have a note on the bill that all fractions of an hour are billed as whole hours. Or you could bill in quarter of an hour segments, so that she would owe you $50.
You can at least enjoy the thought of doing something like that even if you do not carry though. I mean what could she do--fire you? Certainly she knows that you could turn her into something like a "wage and hours" labor commission for having expected this work without paying you. Fooh, at least maybe you could tell her she needs to add the time on to your check next this pay period.
May 11th, 2011 at 10:22 pm 1305152544
It reminds me of a small company i interviewed at. The owner offered me the job. I hesitated, because I also interviewed with his wife, who had no real qualifications but was "executive editor" because she was the owner's wife. I still remember how we had a polite conversation and then she warned me that if I goof up once, that's ok. Everyone makes mistakes. But if I goof up twice, i'm out of there.
So i turned down the job offer with no explanation. It just seemed wholly inappropriate to be talking to someone like that who isn't even an employee yet.
A year later, another job opening came up and the HR person called me and said the owner wanted to know if I'd be interested in pursuing it. I came down and went thru the whole interview process again. He apparently thought I turned down the job the first time over money, becus this time he said, now how much do i have to offer you to get you to take the job?
I took the job; it lasted about a year and a half and then the company folded due to cash flow problems. Loved the job; the owner's wife was a royal bitch. Couldn't stand her, but the owner always liked me, so I think she knew she couldn't touch me. After the company folded, they got a divorce.
May 15th, 2011 at 08:14 pm 1305490489
May 20th, 2011 at 09:31 pm 1305927102
Now, in the States, people might stick with a job they hate just for the health insurance, but I believe that you have that covered by the government down there, right? In that kind of situation, I would probably be looking for another position. You certainly deserve better, as does your sister!
I do hope she's feeling a ton better, and that her time off leads to a swift and full recovery.
Jerry