Stuck!

**ccraig42** · 07-11-2011 12:05 AM

So I've been working at this job for over a year now. That's including the couple months I was laid off in the winter.

When I first got there, there was some woman that absolutely hated me. She hated me for absolutely no reason! I usually just ignored her and her ignorant comments and moved on. I never planned on coming back after layoff season, but I did.

So at the beginning of the work season this year, she and I got along pretty well. She wasn't being the mean woman she was last year and I kept to myself most of the time.

The job I work requires a lot of walking, lifting, bending, and all sorts of activities of this manner. I have been having back spasms from the overload of work. The doctor gave me muscle relaxers and pain killers to help alleviate the pain. I have finished the muscle relaxers, and the pain killers make me sick to my stomach.

Now at this job, everyone is a snitch! There are a lot of employees and I swear they are all trained to treat this place as if it were a high school and that they are all in the race to become teacher's pet.

I have to rest in bathroom stalls when my back starts to irriate me, because anywhere else I will get told on. This mean woman has started following me into the bathroom and telling our boss that I am spending all my time sleeping in the stalls and not actually doing my work!

She is a supervisor, though. So does anyone have any advice? This job has become unbearable for me. I feel like I can't even walk in the bathroom without worrying about someone following behind me and getting me in trouble just for taking a leak or dropping a deuce. I'm beyond fed up with this job, but I need it and my second job to cover bills and help pay for the wedding and honeymoon! What's a girl to do?

**Mes T** · 07-11-2011 12:38 AM

Oh lordy! Sounds evil for sure! My first question is... do you HAVE to have THIS job? I know you have bills, but it may be worth your time to spend an hour every day after work sending out your resume and investigating your options. Consider joining a temping agency, for just a little while, until you can find something more permanent. Bad co-workers can make even a dream job turn sour.

Your back pain - I'm concerned you have it at your age. Have you always had back troubles or have they started with this job? Instead of loading you up on pain medication, I'd recommend going for some yoga classes, or pilates, or speaking to a chiropractor about how better to handle your body in your job. We MUST preserve our backs.

And, your supervisor - has a supervisor of her own. Go to this person. You're taking breaks because the job is causing you physical harm, and this woman is only making the situation worse. So go to whomever is HER boss and complain. But be mindful that the ball could always be thrown back in your court: "I see Sally and Susan are doing just fine in this job, yet why are you having back troubles?" kind of thing.

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 07-11-2011 02:27 AM

Seriously, you can not perform work that is beyond your capacity, as a woman. It sounds as if they are not applying to Occupational Safety at all... I would firstly be speaking outside of work to the employees avodcat regarding the work itself for a woman and if there is compensation should you have a buldged disk which sounds to me that you do...

If you can not tell this woman the truth? And whom she reports to, why you are there, then tell them that you are aware that heaving lifting also requires breaks, stretching and so, you go to the toilet to do those stretches as you are embarrassed at what people might think of you but before you state that as it can be used against you, check with a work advocat outside of work.

I'm thinking that they are using people in their workplace outside the rules of what is safe.

**ccraig42** · 07-11-2011 08:45 AM

I'm a seasonal worker there. Basically, we don't mean anything. There was a guy last year that was moving tables and they fell on him. They took him to the hospital, and left him there. I believe he had broken ribs and the nastiest bruise I've ever seen. Guess what they did? They fired him. Basically, they do not care about us seasonals!

I have said something to her supervisor and he has told me not to worry about it and stop making such a big deal out of nothing. My suspicion is this woman is peeking in on me while I am in the stall!

I have been looking for work outside of this job. Between here and the other place, I work 70-80 hours a week. I do not have to have this particular job, but don't want to leave without one in its place. I really want to go in today and give my two weeks. It's stressing me out entirely too much.

Mes: the temp agency sounds like a great idea. I'm going to look around and see what I can find related to that.

CW as I said...they don't give a care about us. I will look outside to see if there is something I can do about it. Thank you both.

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 07-11-2011 03:53 PM

Oh it's those types of employers that get my goat seriously... The danger they put people in, the using of bodies because that is what they are doing, the non care, committment and you are giving them 70 hours no wonder your back is broken.

I can't think of the word...OH&S , here that's what we call it, occupational health and safety, there are rules and if not abided by, the Company can be fined, shut down even... And, they can point you into the right direction as well, as there has to be a form of workcover surely, that being if you have a back problem that becomes perminent from their neglect. If not, they would have to have advice of whom to speak to... Get your back exrayed..

**Mes T** · 07-11-2011 03:59 PM

If they disregard people like that, honestly it's not worth it. You may be poor for a few weeks while you look for a replacement job... but if you do any serious damage to your back, think of the costs that that would accrue. I think quitting soon, in the end would save you money and save your health.

**ccraig42** · 07-11-2011 05:30 PM

CW I put in 40 weeks there and 30 at the other. Also, I'm pretty sure we sign a wavier when we first start working. Which sucks.

Mes I am turning in my uniforms and badges tomorrow!

Thank you both for the advice. I have had enough of being stepped on when all I do is break my back for them (no pun intended). I already feel better! No more haunting feeling of having to go into that dreadful place.

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 07-11-2011 05:58 PM

Good for you

If you had "two jobs" then you WILL get another but seriously girlfriend 70 hours is way too much work for anyone to do...

And, even if you signed a waiver, don't do it again

And, if you feel that they are using people, hurting people, ruining people's lives, then you can still do something about it, if not for you, for others go be famous

**ccraig42** · 07-11-2011 06:03 PM

Yes I'm going to look up labor laws! Another one of my coworkers had a heart attack because he works insane hours up there. I'm pretty sure he'll be getting full time status soon, though. It's out of conrtol!

70 a week has never bothered me. I'm a workaholic. As long as I'm allowed reasonable breaks for obvious reasons, I'm fine.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 07-14-2011 11:08 AM

Sounds like manufacturing to me. :\ I worked in mfg for 3 years and though I didn't work in production, I spent alot of time on the floor and it was, as you describe, very much like high school even though most of the people out there were 40+.

They called me Miss Priss because I dressed nice (I had to!). They started rumors about me and various guys in which I had never much more than said "hi" to. They whispered about me having breast implants, which I very clearly do not. Lol.

You are, my law, allowed breaks. Something like 15 minutes every 4 hours (or something like that...) in addition to your lunch break. Look it up, and then DARE someone to tattle.

If taking a break costs you your job, then it's not really a place you need to be anyway....