I was just getting off of work, only spending four hours
at Publix that day. I was on my way to school to finish my
paper due the next day when I heard a certain manager call out
to me “ I need to see you before I leave.” I wasn’t quite sure
of the nature of this meeting, so I was only thinking of what it
could be.
“Finally!” I presumed, “I’m getting a raise!” I was
busy counting figures in my head and wondering how it would
effect my paycheck while I waited. Maybe it would go to the car,
making it easier to pay off the debt on it, or possibly the
insurance, or maybe even make it easier to go out and have fun
whenever Publix gave me some time to do so. Yet I also thought
about renouncing it and just asking for the store to work with
my hours a little better than they had been. I had already
stressed to the management that I could only work a maximum of
twenty-five hours (which I did not want to have been stressed
much) because of school and homework, yet received thirty or
more hours per week anyway, for which I was responsible. I
finally began to wonder if Publix was beginning to work with me.
It was not to be. I did not hear a report on how I kept
myself busy during slow times, always looking for something to
do. I did not hear about how I always seemed to take on the
tough jobs that nobody wanted to do, or how I was known for
doing a good job on the tasks that the coordinator would send me
on. Instead, I hear something that insulted my work ethic.
“Says here you’ve been late a few times” he said. “We
can’t be having that.” I was not totally surprised, but I was a
little shocked. So I waited for him to finish his speech, just
hoping he would at least mention the areas where I had done well
in. My ears were itching to here some praise. I wanted to hear
how highly he thought of me for pushing carts for three hours
out in the cold rain, or how much of an example I had set
because I hadn’t missed a day (though I had been sick every
other week since I was hired). I wanted to hear about how I
worked in a fuming bathroom without proper ventilation or an
unprovided mask for an hour to unclog a urinal, though I was
unsuccessful. I waited, and I waited, but still he said nothing
pertaining to what was done well.
I wasn’t surprised; I had never been praised for
anything since I started working there. I was expected to be
just the average plebian, so my accomplishments were viewed as
average. The managerial position did not care if I had
volunteered to do the nastier work, such as walking into a
flooded bathroom from an overflowing urinal, and getting the
filthy water on my clothes and body incidentally. The managerial
position was not concerned that I was left in the rain for three
hours in a flooded parking lot, ruining the only pair of good
everyday shoes that I had. They cared only for the prestige of
their position, the children of the company, and the longevity
of the whole.
The front service personnel scurry around, doing
whatever they see fit to do. Some work, and work very hard, and
then some slack, and let the other workers pick up their share.
Very often, I have found that these hard working people are
overlooked when the goodies are passed out, because working
leaves little time to do any brownnosing. The scum, the lazy
sloths, are walking around, but never walking toward where the
work needs to be done. They give excuses, “ Oh, I didn’t know
you wanted me to do that”, when they are not busy, but show lots
of spunk and enthusiasm when a managerial type walks by. “Hi Mr.
Smith! LOOK AT ME—I’M WORKING” as he rams his Pinocchio up the
ass of the supervisor, while the hard worker continues on as he
had been, unnoticed and unappreciated.
“But I heard they treated there associates with
dignity…” you might say. I was led into believing this when I
was first hired. I soon found out that respect had to be earned
by the average joe, while Publix kids can get away with murder
if they wanted to. I have witnessed on numerous occasions where
a particular PK has left customers in his line unattended
because he was “coloring a picture”. I have seen him leave his
job while on the clock to try to get his keys out of his locked
truck and having spent more than an hour doing so. I have viewed
him on more than one occasion touching co-workers in ways that
would not be considered conducive to a proper working
environment.
Do I do any of this? No, because as soon as I did I knew
I would be fired. Yet I have to ignore the acts of the children
of these model workers as they happen in front of me. I am
subjected to this detrimental favoritism consistently, and I am
not surprised that my track record at Publix is less than
exemplary. I, as most people, do not react favorably to
favoritism. Reward us by our deeds, not by our names, and judge
us fairly.
So, I come in a few minutes late. The latest I had been
was six minutes. I have take away five minutes of bagging or
five minutes of carts, or five minutes of odd jobs. Did I
mention Publix's refusal to work within my availability? I can
guarantee I can find those five or six minutes for the store
there, and I am not the only one with problems involving maximum
hours. Did I mention the times that I would come in a few
minutes early, sometimes missing lunch? You were grateful then…
Did I mention the breaks I missed because they were changed on
the schedule? Did I mention how I was upset about it? I did not
mention how I upset that I was, because I knew you needed help,
and I am not the type of person to let someone down when I have
the means to help. Seems I should have not worried about it; my
help went unappreciated.
And now I find myself angry and bitter towards my job,
something that has not happened in my work history. I have not
complained that I have not had one Friday or Saturday off, that
I was too sick to work a day, or that I was given some of the
least favorite jobs. Yet I do find myself upset with the apathy
of this hierarchy, that doesn’t care about the welfare of the
hard-working employee. I don’t expect a handout; I was just
hoping to be involved in a place where I could work and be
appreciated for what I do. This has been my desire since I have
been working at Publix, and is my desire for wherever I work
afterwards.
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