u/Jolly_Ad_5221

A while back, I posted about how a Halloween prank got me a promotion (https://www.reddit.com/user/Jolly\_Ad\_5221/comments/1tcfrgg/how\_a\_prank\_got\_me\_a\_promotion/). Later at the same job, an acting general manager (AGM) tried to change my hours, fired me when I said I couldn't, then lied saying I walked out. (Sorry, it's a long one)

Background: I was working 2 full-time jobs then. I worked in a grocery store deli during the day, then I'd walk across the street to work at the fast food place. To save time walking all the way home and walking back in between, I just showed up an hour early. The GM (general manager) and the AMs (assistant managers) loved it, because I was always willing to jump in and start if it was busy (it was always busy). I even stopped by on my days off before going home to see if they needed help, usually they did. When the GM would leave for the day, the lazy AMs would just hide in the office and let me run the shifts as well as my regular duties. (I didn't mind, because I wanted to prove myself and continue getting promoted.)

GM was full aware of my day job but was cool with it, because I was willing to work 6-7 nights a week.

Now on to the story: Our GM was planning on taking a vacation, so an acting general manager (AGM) was brought in. She started working a few day and evening shifts before GM left to get a feel of our staff and store. During this time, she observed how the day shift was always extremely busy and why managers were always happy when I came in early.

When I got to work the first day of GM's vacation, I grabbed a sandwich to have before clocking in. I stopped to take a quick glance at the schedule to see where I was going to be stationed. That's when I noticed I was penciled in for the following day's first shift and it had GM's "initials" next to it.

When I went to the AGM and said I couldn't come in because of my day job, she said I had to because the "GM" signed off on it. I replied, "That's not her handwriting." We went back and forth a bit before she said, "Then turn in your shirt and leave." I said ok and left.

I went straight to another one of our stores where one of our former AMs was currently the new GM, I asked him for a job. He said he would love to have a worker like me on his crew, but he won't without our former GM's approval (we knew she wouldn't be happy)". So I waited for her return.

On GM's first day back, I stopped by after my day job and asked her to talk. When we sat down, I asked if she would please give me the approval.

She stopped me right there and said, "AGM said you walked in, got your free shift meal, and left." In shock, I started to open my mouth when one of the AMs overheard and rushed over. He said, "That's not what happened. I was here and heard AGM tell (me) to turn in your shirt and leave." GM asked why. I replied, "Because I was written in for the following day's first shift with your initials. When I tried telling her about my day job, she insisted that you scheduled me for it." She asked AM and I to wait a moment, and she went and got schedule for that week saying, "That's not my handwriting." I replied, "That's what I said." AM shook his head in agreement.

GM asked about me walking out after getting my free shift meal. I asked, "You mean this meal?" pulling out a receipt. She asked, "You paid it." I said, "Of course. I was starving after working all day and needed a quick bite before working all night. Was saving my free meal for break."

She apologized and gave me my job back with a raise. I haven't seen the AGM at any of our stores anywhere again.

I used to work customer service for a few decades, but I had moved to a new area and had to get a new job. When I found out I was pregnant and told the manager, I was told I wasn't there long enough for maternity leave. I tried to take unpaid vacation time, but no. By then I was showing way too much to get another job.

When I reached the 8 month mark, I started having complications. Not to mention, I was running to the bathroom every 10 minutes. At this job, you had to "clock out" every time you left your phone. The manager said I was spending too much time "off the clock". Since I needed to keep that job for as long as possible, I gave up my breaks to balance my time out. The manager was satisfied with that.

Went into work one weekend. My regular manager was off, and I was working with someone I wasn't familiar with. At one point they asked, "Why are you clocking out so much?" I stood up, turned to the side so they could see my belly, and replied, "Because a tiny person is beating the crap out of my bladder." They just said ok and left me alone.

A few hours later, I was hurting. Went to the bathroom and realized I was having contractions. The weekend manager walked in and saw me crying and rubbing my belly. They just said, "You've been off the clock too long and need to get back to work."

Since I only had a couple hours left of the day, I tried to work it. Right then, a customer called and was just screaming (She forgot to cancel a free magazine trial and got charged for the subscription.) I tried to explain, but she kept screaming and not letting me talk. Then she screamed that I personally stole her credit card information.

Right at this point, a powerful contraction hit. I started screaming back, "LOOK, LADY! RIGHT NOW I AM IN LABOR! I WISH I DID STEAL YOUR CREDIT CARD, THEN MY CHILD WOULD BE GOING HOME TO ONE HELL OF A NURSERY!" I was crying.

Other managers saw and heard the whole thing. They ran over. One took over the call while the other guided me away and called an ambulance.

While we were waiting, that manager that helped me asked when was my maternity leave supposed to start. I said I couldn't get one since I wasn't there long enough. Turns out the nice manager was one of the top managers/bosses. She immediately granted my leave.

In the late 80s/early 90s, I was bullied for my clothes not being the popular brands. I've always have (and still do) prefer function over fashion. One of the girls, the cliche leader, gave me the worst time. I just tried to ignore her, but it bothered me when she called my clothes poor.

Then it happened, still gives me the giggles to this day. We were at church. While we were all praying, my little sister whispered, "Mommy, that girl is wearing my dress."

I looked up and saw my biggest bully. She was wearing my old dress, she and her whole family were wearing the clothes my family donated to Goodwill. It took everything I had to not bust out laughing in church while everyone was still praying.

My mom recognized the girl and saw that I was trying to hold it back. She just shook her head no, because she knew what I was thinking. It was obvious that all those clothes were donated by us, because my mom used to make our clothes.

I never said anything to the girl. Every time afterwards when she would talk crap about my clothes, I just walked past her with a huge grin and chuckling to myself. There were many times I could have called her out, but she's lucky I'm not her.

In the late 80s/early 90s, I was bullied for my clothes not being the popular brands. I've always have (and still do) prefer function over fashion. One of the girls, the cliche leader, gave me the worst time. I just tried to ignore her, but it bothered me when she called my clothes poor.

Then it happened, still gives me the giggles to this day. We were at church. While we were all praying, my little sister whispered, "Mommy, that girl is wearing my dress."

I looked up and saw my biggest bully. She was wearing my old dress, she and her whole family were wearing the clothes my family donated to Goodwill. It took everything I had to not bust out laughing in church while everyone was still praying.

My mom recognized the girl and saw that I was trying to hold it back. She just shook her head no, because she knew what I was thinking. It was obvious that all those clothes were donated by us, because my mom used to make our clothes.

I never said anything to the girl. Every time afterwards when she would talk crap about my clothes, I just walked past her with a huge grin and chuckling to myself. There were many times I could have called her out, but she's lucky I'm not her.

My dad (now 79) has had back issues for as long as I can remember. Back in the late 70s/early 80s, his back issues made it difficult for him to work.

When his back was really bad, he could only stand up or lay down but not sit. In order to make money for our family, Dad would iron the neighbors' laundry. He was so embarrassed, he had Mom say she was doing the ironing.

One day when Mom walked home from her job at the local library, she walked up to the house at the same time a neighbor lady came to pick up her laundry. As Mom was giving it to her, the lady sees Dad laying on the couch.

Lady: "(Mom) You work full-time at the library?"

Mom: "Yes."

Lady: "And you iron all these clothes?"

Mom: "Yes." (nervously)

Lady (to Dad): "How dare you lay around on your lazy @$$ while your wife does all the work!"

The lady leaves, and my parents just laughed. He was so embarrassed then but now enjoys telling that story.

While listening to others' stories of cruel teachers, I was reminded of mine.

Back in the late 80s & early 90s, my family and I moved to a southern state (you know, one where they're still living out the Civil War). My siblings and I have had a few teachers give us a hard time for being "Yankee Come-Heres". But there was one teacher, we'll call Ms Karen, that hated us for another reason.

Ms Karen was extremely open about being a racist. She was constantly claiming that the government only sent black people to the front lines (Desert Storm). I had family on the frontline and knew it wasn't true, but my mom always taught me to pick my battles. My brother had her for a couple classes, so she knew how this woman was.

Then I had her for typing class. She kept calling me by the wrong name, even though I've told her what it was. Since I was taught not to correct my elders, I just ignored her.

Everyday, a few students would come to class without typing paper. Ms Karen would ask for someone to share. Since I was also taught to help people when I can, I shared my paper. After a few months, I ran out. Had to wait a few days until my parents got paid to get more. I figured that since I've been sharing all this time, someone would share with me. Right? Wrong!

I was sent to the office for "coming to class unprepared". The principal (actual nice guy) walked into the office and was shocked to see me there (first time sent to office). When he asked why I was sent, and I gave him Ms Karen's note. He said, "Seriously! Just sit there, read or whatever, til your next class."

That night, I told my parents. A few days later, they received a disciplinary letter in the mail from Ms Karen. She wrote the name on there that I've politely asked her not to call me, because that's not my name. My mom tore up the letter and threw it out, "There's nobody here by that name." She smirked. Next day at class, Ms Karen asked if my parents got the letter. I said yes. She asked what is going to be done. I said my mom threw it out because there's nobody at our house with that name.

She did try stuff like that a lot, but it didn't do anything. Except that one day in the office, I had perfect grades in her class. Ms Karen couldn't deny my work, and the principal wouldn't hold my hour in the office against me (because he knew I only ran out of paper after sharing with her favorite students).

Our family moved back home during that next summer.

When I was working on my business degree, I started working at a tax preparation place a block from my apartment. Thought this would be perfect: I could walk to work, child's school, and after-school program (all in a 4 block radius). I had switched to online courses. Plus it'll be great experience for my resume.

The manager seemed nice at first. Once I told her I was working on my business degree, she asked about what I've learned so far. I told her. She said if I helped her with some of the office stuff, I could make more money.

Things were going great for a while. I'd help the manager with simple things like attaching the daily reports to the emails to corporate, etc. I was there everyday, early if I just dropped off my child at school. Stayed late on days my child went to the after-school program. I helped other employees that had trouble learning the tax preparation, and showed them easy was to remember.

Then one night when I just put my child to bed, the manager called and asking how to attach the daily report to the email to corporate. I said to click on the paper clip icon. She said there wasn't one, I said that I pointed it out to her several times. She said it's not there and said I had to come to the office now to help her. I said, "Give me 5 minutes to ask my downstairs neighbor to watch my child." She replied, "No, you come right now." I said I couldn't leave my child alone. The manager said, "Don't care. Since you're not willing to come in and work, you're fire." I said, "I'm willing to come in, I just need 5 minutes." She yelled, "FIRED!"

A week later as I dropped off my child at school and was walking back home to do school work, the manager saw me through the window and ran out. She said (sweetly), "Your check is here, why don't you come in and get it." I replied, "I have direct deposit, already got it." She (sounding desperate) says, "I have a check for you in the office, why don't you come in and get it." I just kept walking and saying, "I'm not going anywhere with you." I heard her angrily screaming, but I kept going.

Thought nothing of her until just before the next tax season when I was out grocery shopping. As soon as I stepped in the store, I saw the office's assistant manager. Worried that she would be anything like the manager, I started to just leave. She ran up to me and begged me to wait. I just stood there and listened. She said the old manager was fired, she was the new manager. She also said she had been watching me the whole time I worked there. "You're great with the clients, you're great with your co-workers. You obviously know your stuff, and I would like you to come back." After some thinking, I agreed.

When she was prepping to train the next group of employees for that tax season, I offered to come in to help with phones and walk-ins so she could focus on the class. While she was teaching and I was covering phones, our regional manager stopped in. He introduced himself to me and I him, I said I offered to help so the manager could focus on the class. When someone had a problem understanding a certain part, I shared what I use to remember.

When class was over, I walked across the street to get my child from school and we stopped back at the office. When I came in, I saw the news manager and regional manager were in the back office. I was gathering my stuff as my child just started picking up papers and trash left over from the class. They came out of the office and saw my child help clean up, RM thanked her for cleaning and paid her a couple dollars.

Then the RN asked about my school. I said I was graduating that summer with my Bachelor's in Business Management. He asked what I wanted to stay working with them, I said a raise and a cool title for my resume. And that's how I became the assistant manager and marketing director.

About 12-ish years ago, I was in a bad accident. My legs got messed up, femur got smashed in a few places, and I had multiple surgeries. For a long time I was depressed and gained weight, but I'm trying to do better. After one of the surgeries, I went to get groceries. I sat on a scooter, folded my walker, and put it in the basket. As I started on my way, a woman marched up screaming at me, "That is for the disabled not the obese." I tried to explain, but she kept screaming until a manager and security guard showed up. She told them I was only using the scooter because I was obese. Karen wouldn't stop screaming long enough for me to say a word, so I slowly lifted up the side of my skirt showing the swollen line of staples and stitches going up the side of my thigh from my knee to my hip. All of a sudden, she got quiet and turned green. I apologized, "I am so sorry for using the scooter. I'll leave and wait until someone is free to shop for me." She slowly turned and walked away, and the manager and guard were apologizing and asking if I wanted assistance shopping. I thanked them kindly, I said I was really trying to do things myself but would ask for help if I needed it.