Retail Workers Share Management Horror Stories

November 30, 2020, 6:38 am*

Black Friday is, in theory, a fun time to shop for Christmas presents and spectacular deals — at least when we aren’t in the middle of a pandemic. In reality, however, it’s turned into an all-out capitalism war as people wait hours and hours in lines to save a few dollars on big-ticket items.

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And the people who suffer most from what’s turned into the biggest shopping day of the year are undoubtedly retail employees. For many stores, Black Friday is an all hands on deck sort of situation, and if you’ve ever worked retail, you know even attempting to take the day off is a complete non-starter.

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Writer Olga Lexell shared her less-than-fond memories of her time working at Old Navy during the Thanksgiving holidays in the past.

“I had a 103 fever and they said I would be fired if I left so I had to stand there with my co-worker who they wouldn’t let go home either, after she found her sister had been murdered,” she recalled.

happy black friday! when i worked at old navy on this date almost 10 years ago i had a 103 fever and they said i would be fired if i left so i had to stand there with my co-worker who they wouldn’t let go home either, after she found out her sister had been murdered

— i send you the smile of goodwill (@runolgarun) November 27, 2020

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Of course, stories of corporations treating employees like completely expendable bodies to throw on the sales floor for minimum wage aren’t limited to Black Friday, and others were all too ready to jump in to share their own grievances.

Unfortunately, this is just a small sampling of what retail workers in the United States have to put up with:

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1.

same manager DID fire a girl for going to the hospital bc she had a miscarriage in the employee bathroom. same manager looked me in my eyes & told me she was going to kill herself if I didn’t come in the next day (I was scheduled for my wisdoms) my dad had just killed himself :/

— aunt acid (@tinymoonbather) November 28, 2020

2.

jesus christ dude this is traumatic

— Ren @ Homesgiving (@RenTradewind) November 28, 2020

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3.

Regular day at Meijer. 17. T-boned on way to work. Called in. They asked if I could come in later. Repeated CAR ACCIDENT and hung up. Days later Union rep called me, w/o prompting, to inform me I was getting paid for that day.

— GPGon (@GPGon) November 28, 2020

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4.

5.

I didn’t mean for this to imply the manager who didn’t let me go home deserved to die. She was in her 20s and not much older than me. When she didn’t meet the standards set for her, she was verbally abused by higher managers. It’s likely due to the demands from McDonald’s itself

— Blotchkat (@blotchkat) November 28, 2020

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6.

Like, they tell you to let them know if you have a fever (cos of covid) but telling them means you get cut loose, so… if you need the job/money, you’re not talking.

This is US Costco, for the record.

— fluff (@FluffLingering) November 28, 2020

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7.

They tried to deny me maternity leave, too, bc I worked in the factory instead of the office. At the same time, a woman who worked in the office went out on maternity leave for 3 months and they paid her for the whole thing without complaint.

— Stand up, or die on your knees. (@RayneMillaray) November 28, 2020

8.

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9.

I wound up just quitting a job because they told me they’d start writing me up for panic attack related problems if I didn’t get a Drs note for EVERY panic attack. Even with good insurance, what doctor will tolerate that from a patient? Has the time to do that for a patient?

— Thread Creature (@threadcreature) November 28, 2020

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10.

Walmart fired me for needing to use the bathroom after being on register for 6 hours no break because I ran to the bathroom. I was on my period. They gave me “d day”. I was bleeding.

— tate.hugh.jass (@tillerlindemann) November 28, 2020

11.

I was the assistant store manager at a fast food restaurant. I was in charge of making schedules. My grandfather died so the store manager took over for a few days. When I got back he spent two hours lecturing me about responsibility and so on for taking time off. I quit.

— Donald Braden (@DonaldMBraden) November 28, 2020

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12.

i- the weird ass fucking EGOS of these people??????

— mabs (@mabes_the_babe) November 28, 2020

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13.

That’s hard core abusive. When did corporations, who do not care for our welfare, gain this level of control over our our lives?

— Brittle Sun (@BrittleSun) November 28, 2020

14.

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15.

There’s still a piece of the Macy’s drawer embedded in my knee

— Nicole Hernandez (@nickelrose_) November 28, 2020

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16.

Worked at bars where I was coughing my face off and the managers didn’t seem to have any issue with it. Remember working as a barista and super sick had a customer ask “why don’t you stay home? You’re so sick.” He genuinely didn’t get why I was at work still.

— Gwen Calavera (@GwenCalavera) November 28, 2020

17.

My brother unloaded Christmas trees at Target and found out he was allergic to the fire-retardant on them when his throat started to close up. His boss let him stop unloading trees, but put him on a register while he waited for us to get there to take him to the hospital.

— Tracy McCarthy (@davidsmom27) November 28, 2020

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18.

DEADASS god. I was having a panic attack while working at o*d n*vy bc my meds weren’t functioning properly and my boss just looked at me and was like “do you need to take your 15 early or are you good?” Idk I’m sobbing uncontrollably into my hands what do u think.

— sad voter registration cowboy (@hurlbuttons) November 28, 2020

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19.

I had a giant cyst on my ovaries that urgently needed to be looked at. My boss at the time yelled at me for scheduling an ultrasound at 10am (the only time they had) and wouldn’t let me go because it “cut into work time” – then she left to go get eyelash extensions.

— 𝕒𝕤𝕙 (@helloimashlynn) November 28, 2020

20.

Wow almost 2 extra dollars a shift. I’m guessing you’ll retire early.

— a little stitious (@Cwt1232) November 28, 2020

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21.

Love a happy ending

— Twiggy Peas, Champion of England (@TwiggyJake) November 28, 2020

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22.

Working at forever 21 is absolute hell worst job I’ve ever had I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy

— Kori (@kori9898) November 28, 2020

23.

Even if you were going on vacation what the fuck?? People need breaks??

— Princess Carolyn (@chartreusebuds) November 28, 2020

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24.

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*First Published: November 30, 2020, 6:37 am