When I was hired in mid-summer of 2004, I was ecstatic that I had found a decent paying warehouse job where I didn't have to work a graveyard shift, like I had been doing for three months. Little did I know I didn't qualify to be treated equally to everyone else that worked there.Why? Because I don't have a criminal record or sell dope out of my car.
The first two weeks I didn't notice anything unusual except that 90% of my fellow employees were convicted felons or juvenile offenders. I didn't care though, as Im not one to judge people on their past mistakes. It was good to see that these guys were at least holding jobs and trying to change their lives. But as the weeks progressed, I began noticing more.
At the time I was hired, there were another 7 guys hired the same week. By the fourth week, only 2 remained. Turns out this company didnt care for absences, even doctor-excused absences. In their policy, new hires could only be absent 1 days in 3 months, unless they had doctor-signed notes or other verifiable,legitimate excuses. Guys were getting fired for the stupidest things. Others quit because they saw what I saw.
Around mid-September, my mother had surgery and I had to call out from work because she didn't have anyone else to transport her to and from the hospital. I obtained a page signed and dated by mother's SURGEON explaining that I was at the hospital all day and the time I left. When I went back to work, I showed one of my supervisors (who sits on his fat bottom all day)the note. He lied and said he would excuse my absence.
A month later, I contracted a severe flu, which had been going around work for a week(Go figure), and my asthma flared up as a result. I missed one day and had to go to the doctor. I ended up missing three days in a row,(DOCTORS ORDERS).
I submitted my doctors note to the supervisors and even had my doctor fax a copy over to the warehouse manager himself. I also got yelled at because of my 3 day absence.
Well, in early November I had my evaluation, and had 5 absences on my record-ALL unexcused!! I was so angry I almost quit on the spot. But I kept my head up and did not miss anymore days, but I knew I was going to be fired eventually. The ex-felons and drug users could miss as many days as they wanted and nothing happened to them.
As the days went on, I noticed so much unsafe forklift driving and safety violations by the gangsters, and drug-dealing and drug-use on lunch breaks. This scared me because one guy almost crushed me with his lift, claiming he didn't see me. No, he was HIGH. Anyhow, three days before Thanksgiving, I was fired for too many absences. I was extremely angry and bolted out of my supervisors office. It was ok to come to work high and sell drugs in the company parking lot, but I couldn't be absent even though I had documentation. If anyone working there knows what I'm talking about, please report it.
This company is seriously lacking in safety and employee satisfaction. I should have just stayed working the graveyard shift at Lowe's. At least I wouldn't have to worry about getting run over or yelled at for nothing.
Tony
San Bernardino, California
U.S.A.