When I first started working at mcdonalds, it was only because we needed money to move out of my parents’ and into our own place. It became a hell of a job and very depressing. Sometimes it was bad customers, sometimes it was the mongoloid of a store manager who was a complete bitch. A mixture of these two and bam, depression. How had my dreams and ambitions come down to this!? I tried going back to the TV show I used to work on on Monday nights, and suddenly work needs me too much on Monday nights. And any other night. Im not allowed to request any nights off. When I first became a manager it was with the understanding and agreement that I will be working days, only doing the occasional night every now and then to cover when one of the other managers is sick. When I finished my management course, it became very clear very fast that this was not the case, and that I WILL work nights – including graveyards and overnights – and that I don’t have any say in the matter.
It was very much a case of shut up and do the job and you *might* get any days off you need for whatever reason. The shifts were all over the place, up and down, never the same and no regularity to them. And you never knew how many, if any, days off you had accrued. It was an arduous task to apply for any time off.
I think I ultimately became a manager to protect the young kids who worked there from the nazi-like regime of the store manager.
Ultimately I needed to be thinking of myself. Protecting the kids, while a need that was not being met at that store, was not worth damaging myself. I would come home crying at what a hot/cold one-friend-at-a-time the store manager was, not even speaking to me, completely ignoring me, only being friendly towards me when she felt I could help her feel more about herself. She is a user. And not someone I needed in my life.
So I blocked her out of it, I distanced myself, I purposely didn’t invite her to events and gatherings. And through shutting her out, I let her know that the power she held over me, was powerless. She didn’t hold me anymore. I was no longer the puppet for her amusement. I was stronger than that, strong enough to make my own choices and decisions, and deciding she was not going to effect me any more was the strongest best decision I ever made in my entire life.
When I was leaving, I made no secret that I was looking for another job. Others who worked there applauded my efforts and encouraged me. I often said to them after their encouraging words that if the owners really wanted to know why I was leaving all they had to do was ask. I would gladly tell them I am leaving due to the inconsistencies with the policies and the way the staff were treated.
It was a long and labour-intensive task, searching for another job, I applied for more than 300 jobs before I got the call.
When I got the phone call from my current place of employment advising me I got the job, I was over the moon. I got drunk and celebrated so much that night. So glad to be rid of the regime.
When I walked into the offices for my interview of where my new job was, I almost cried. I was so excited.
Then I started, my first day. I was so nervous I just talked, and talked, and talked. I just hoped they liked me.
Now quite a considerable time into the new role, I am so happy. Monday morning massages, friday night drinks courtesy of the company, a quiz night with all expenses paid, a fully supported, fully on board office role dealing with clients. I could not be happier and I am still so happy.
