(Untitled)

[lietya]

Let me say up front that this is in no way related to my current situation, and was inspired by conversations with friend(s) for whom I have enormous sympathy. Also, this poll is very long.

Comments

[slammerkinbabe]

The illegal thing my job asked me to do was not a big deal, and they backed down when I figured out that it wasn't legal - i.e., they asked me to forego a break on a shift when I was legally entitled to one. Obviously the world didn't end because I didn't get a 15-minute break on a 5-hour shift, but I figured I'd mention it since you were asking

[lietya]

Hey, that qualifies; my personal theory is that if they even THINK to ask for something illegal, that's a sign that a) their minds run that way and b) they've probably done it to other people, not all of whom may have been as savvy.

and, frankly, anyone who works/ed with a Queen Bitch/Asshole is entitled to mention it even if they themselves were also not a stellar employee at the time. :)

[slammerkinbabe]

And since this comment is entirely incoherent...

1.) I'm sure that my manager did like to make me miserable, because she hated me, but I don't think she sat down in the morning and rolled her fingers together and said "Hmmm, what can I do to make Kylie unhappy today?"

2.) In a similar vein, she did want me fired, and her reasons for not wanting me around may have been legitimate since I was quite a poor worker at the time. The reasons she *gave* for wanting me fired were not legitimate; "you work too slowly" wasn't tangible enough, so she would say things like "you don't greet every customer as soon as they step on the floor," which was impossible and not something that was really expected of anybody. This contributed to the misery a lot because I never knew what she was going to pick on next. But what I was trying to say is that she was waging a determined campaign to get rid of me, but the misery was more a side effect than the main intent.

This is way more than you care about, obviously.

[lietya]

I actually thought the first comment was perfectly coherent, but the elucidation is good, too.

It sounds like she fit the classic profile I did have in mind there - she may not have devoted every waking moment to either making you suffer or finding ways to make you suffer, but nonetheless, causing you suffering was an expected (by her) and accepted (by her) result of her actions. Similarly, inventing bullshit reasons to harass you for "not doing your work" is precisely the sort of nasty, abuse-of-power behavior I had in mind.

[jandyle]

I did answer "no" to "Has a job ever been so stressful and/or unpleasant that you became physically ill?" even though that is not completely true. But the reason the stress was so bad it made me ill was not the job but simply my anxiety. I can be so stressed I get ill if I have to drive while it is snowing, so it wasn't really the job's fault, which is what I mostly assume you were going for (thus the 'no' answer).

[slammerkinbabe]

ahahaha icon!

[jandyle]

Yeah, it is the famous staple remover. :)

[slammerkinbabe]

That's an awesome story.

[fairoriana]

I've worked in three companies as a professional, and had maybe 4 - 5 different jobs (restaurants, etc.) elsewhere. I haven't had a really awful time at any of them -- including McDonalds. But I think I throw off an aura that makes people not be mean to me. I don't know how else to describe it. At one job, I was the *only* one who wasn't verbally abused. That company had awful, immoral leadership. But somehow, the immoral requests were never made to me.

I actively like my job right now.

[lietya]

I'm glad to hear that you like it now.

And I can see it; you're a very self-confident and determined person, which can be off-putting to bullies. (Not to say that those who *aren't,* "deserve it," obviously. But bullies will go for those they perceive as weaker.) They may also have suspected you wouldn't hesitate to turn them in.

even in the one job that was generally abusive, I wasn't a primary victim (for illustrative purposes, let me say that I heard the words "lazy nigger bitch" spoken to someone's face, and that's not an atypical example of what was going on).

[fairoriana]

I've never disliked this job. I go between slightly bored and highly motivated here -- which is a pretty good spectrum!

I really don't know why, as an adult, most bullies avoid me. But they do. Even Mrs. DRAMA at church has never picked me as a target. I guess I should just enjoy.

[lietya]

Yeah, that's a good spectrum.

I think Archaica's right; that "vibe" of yours carries a hearty dash of "and you'd regret messing with me, buddy."

[slammerkinbabe]

You've been reading The Devil Wears Prada, haven't you?

[lietya]

Yes, yes I do, and I was actually thinking of him/you as I wrote this.

You may be right about those fields. I wish it weren't the case, but....

[gunthera1]

I worked at a McDonald's at the age of 14. Illegal stuff --> I worked more hours than legally allowed, I work when not punched in, I opened and I closed (both of which you cannot do at the age)

When I was a waitress I regularly worked when punched out for lunch. You were required to punch out but that did not mean you weren't required (by the manager of course) to continue working during your break.

----

I love my current job. I am very blessed to have found this position. Science treats me much better than food service ever could.

[lietya]

I'm glad that you're happy in the current job (boss worries and occasional annoying students aside!).

Wow, that's a whole pile of illegal stuff. They do seem to do it to the youngest workers a lot. I worked in a nursing home kitchen, and I had the same issue with being expected to punch out (or having my timesheet altered if I refused) but having to continue working anyway.

[gunthera1]

They do it mainly with young workers and low wage workers. They know that those groups will be less likely to A) know they can get their employers in trouble or B) complain even if they do know it is illegal.

[lietya]

Exactly, and well-put.