✨️I hate what capitalism has made this job become✨️
Two years ago, I was down in the slumps. No job, living back with my parents. It was awful. Then I was referred to the DSP company I now work at. At first, it was great. I loved helping people, seeing their faces light up, bonding with them over mutual interests, going home knowing that I made a difference no matter how small it was. The mental satisfaction of helping people like I've always wanted made the pay and hard labor seem like it wasn't so bad.
I loved the people I worked with, loved the variety of people I met... Well... Now it's been two years.
A lot of the people I used to work with are gone. Some fired due to drugs, some quit to persue better things, and I'm still here. We don't have half the staff we used to. Everyone calls in or leaves early. Ive missed... two? weekend shifts over two years of working here. Once because I had pneumonia, another because I had to rehome my rescue dog to prevent him getting put down.
I've taken one vacation, for my 21st birthday. Which I didn't even get to enjoy as I had to drive my ex 20+ hours back home because god forbid I expect an adult to be capable of adult tasks...
Yet; here we are, watching staff after staff call in, leave early, or no call/no show. "Im so sick, even though i was just fine the 8 hours before..." "Ohh my... my kid is barfing... i have to go home." "Oh my mom is in the hospital, but ill be back for tomorrows shift cause she'll be home watching my twin newborns."
Management is horrid. My shift gets treated like shit. Our shift lead isn't "good enough" to be management, but shes good enough to keep everything together weekend after weekend. She's not "management" but she handles the schedule, every call in, every sickness, every bump for the whole weekend without complaint or help from the "actual managers".
SHE is the one getting staff help when theyre crying because theyre overwhelmed. SHE is the one taking call after call after call for every emergency. SHE is the one stepping up when nobody else does.
But she doesnt get recognized for any of it...
We are so short staffed, people aren't getting the care they deserve or need. We tried going to the board. We tried to say something. and we got shot down...
I feel like im sitting here, watching a company that started as families of people with disabilities who wanted a community and better care for their loved ones, turn into a high-school levels of drama filled cesspool... Im watching people being neglected, abused, being treated like they're lesser, like they're not even there. And, it feels like there's nothing I can do about it.
I can't go on strike, because the people I serve need me. I can't strike, because I have bills to pay. I feel like I'm part of the problem... I don't know what to do. I feel selfish. I can't leave to try and make something change for the better. I cant leave for them as much as I cant leave for me. I need this job, the income, the insurance, the financial security. Im so tired of being so poor and living in deplorable conditions. I want better, I need better.
But... I feel so bad. I know this isnt my forever job. Im going to go to college and persue other fields. I feel bad because i can leave, but my client's can't. They'll most likely always be in services in one way or another. With how America is going, im so terrified for what that means for them.