McJob Rant - So fed up with the nonsense that I'm actually standing up for myself with the use of logic, policies, and even law if it gets down to it.
<TL:DR version in advance> This branch of McHell is treating me like shit, unlike my former one before corporate takeover, but as a result it seems I have grown a bit of a spine. I may quit soon, even without two weeks notice, and I won't even be upset about it, it will all be determined by the next schedule that is made.

My McDonald's manager's definitions:

"Competitive Wages" - minimum wage, with promised raise at 30 day review, which has never been mentioned again nor happened since then. Minimum wage is by no means competitive, since it is mandated by law, unless the "competition" is against hobos, and even then some hobos make quite a lot per hour.

"Free Uniforms" - It is plural because when we sign on we are supposed to get 2 as part time, 3 as full time, as per the agreement we sign to work there. When I asked why I only had one, I got "You haven't been here 30 days, so we don't wanna give you the second till we know you'll stick around, regardless of what written agreement was signed." 50 days in, subject is dodged anytime it is brought up. To be fair, I do intend on leaving the moment I am hired somewhere else, but that is no excuse to ignore policy.

"Flexible Hours" - I gave full availability at the end of orientation, and then they abused it 4 weeks running by scheduling my shifts 8-9 hours apart (and on a few occasions less because they NEVER factor in time to count my drawer, so I am always kept at least 5-10 minutes late without consent, usually longer), alternating days. I bring it to their attention to please at least keep me in similar shift daily, they apologize and say okay, we will fix it. Each week we go through this, still no change. 4th week I become fed up with it and submit a change in availability to guarantee it won't happen, and simply get a "I don't know if I can approve this, when we hired you, it was for full availability." They seem to forgot that my answer to availability in the interview was, "I want some consistency, but have no preference of night/day shift," and that the only actual availability I agreed to was in orientation, and was told could be changed at any time with written notice. I submitted a notice, in writing, effective 4/18 (or more appropriately the next schedule that is produced and any thereafter). The next schedule will come out on Tuesday, April 25. If that schedule does not reflect these changes (which I have a spare picture of the notice, just in case they try to write in their own idea of availability) then I will flat-out quit, I'm done with trying to reason with them and be an adult about things, I have done quite literally everything asked of me, and then some, put up with so much breaking of policy (and in some cases borderline law) on their part towards me. I ask them for a simple, reasonable request well within policy and they treat it as if I am kidding. If a future employer asks to call them I won't give them the number and will tell them exactly the same stuff reflected in this journal (ie, they are greedy jerks that care only for themselves and disregard ALL else, including policy/procedures/customers/employees).

"Open Interviews" - even those with scheduled interviews have to sit in our lobby and ask a certain cashier semi-frequently pester the manager for about an hour and a half, where the manager claims not having known about the interview (technically it was a scheduled interview, but the big "Open interviews today!" sign means he should have been ready regardless). I was shrugged off for like 10 minutes, which is reasonable because it was busy, it seems I was "lucky."

"5-Minute Breaks during your shift" - If you are a smoker, sure, you get like one or two of these every hour, and if you don't you can throw a nic fit and get them still, and they always go over the five minutes.. These are supposed to be cycled in every hour or so for all employees. Non-smokers maybe get one per shift with most managers, if that, and 90% of the time must wait until they are told it is okay. If a non-smoker asks for even like half-a-five to get some water, there is a slim chance the average manager will let them get it.

The only true benefit I have gained from working here (other than a little bit of cash flow to pay back rent and such) is learning to be assertive towards those with authority over my source of income (which may or may not be a good thing in the long run, but me being assertive at all is a step up).

Earlier this week, the store manager called me before one of the short-gapped shifts wanting me to come in three hours early to fill in for a position I've never done, I said no. He then wanted me to stay three hours late, putting a 6 hour gap between shifts, and I said not unless he was going to take me off of the early morning shift the next day. He got really angry that second time and tried arguing with me about the human body needing no more than 4 hours of sleep daily, and that anything over that was "unnecessary and detrimental." I laughed and asked him his source "My Doctor" to which I replied "Oh, what psych journal did he read that in?" "What the hell does Psychology have to do with sleeping?!" "Quite a bit, actually, would you like me to get some articles on it? I could have them by tomorrow if you REALLY want to keep pressing this, but even then I am still not staying any later" Then he mumbled something under his breath that sounded an awful lot like "Fuck you" walking away scowling, but said "NOTHING! Get back to work" when I asked him to speak up.

The franchise owner came in this week for some sort of visit from the super-duper higher ups of McDonald's. After the visit, the super-duper higher ups wanted some food to go, I took their order, asked the owner if the got some sort of discount or something and he shook his head. After the order, the owner scowled at me and said "You forgot to suggestive sell!" with an angry "I'm so firing you after they leave" look in his eye. (For those who don't know, suggestive selling is asking (or in this owner's case demanding) to add something to the order like fries or dessert). Higher up man totally had my back though and said "I think he (the cashier) read the situation right, we were very clear on what we wanted, and said 'That is all' (the magic words to make a cashier shut up)." I grinned and said "Yep, just following experience and training, and they very clearly didn't want to spend anymore time or money on that order" The look on the owner's face was priceless (think a Phoenix Wright Turnabout/"Take That" moment).

I was already kinda disliked by both of these individuals, but both since then have seemed to leave me alone more or less rather than barking orders at me like. One even "asked" me to do something, which still was a "do this now" objective, but still an improvement from "Hey <insert male name that isn't me> do this now!" That is right, 50 days in, Store manager the guy who hired me, takes at least three tries to get my name right (I am now Zach, Steve, or <actual name> it seems), although this is improving because I have been purposely ignoring him until he gets it right.

I cannot wait until that Parole Officer test thingamajig, if/when I pass that, I will be able to escape the clown's clutches once and for all (of course, I mean Ronald McDonald, and 'clearly' not some other person in my establishment).