When we start our first job, so naive and having high expectations about being treated fairly, little do we realize what lies in store for us. We will be in for a cold, hard slap of harsh reality to wake us up from being delusional. 

Most people need income coming in, that's why we work to begin with. Some people must start their employment journey as young as 15 years of age (that's when you can get a work permit). Some of us can wait until our early twenties (I didn't miss anything). 

Usually, the more education we accumulate the easier it will be at finding a job. Even people at high-level jobs must put up with archaic disparities, such as: inconvenient and absurd work hours and in most cases harassment of some kind; one of which is sexual. Both women and men have had to deal with this issue in the past, the latter has increased up to 15 percent in the last twenty years. Men are more likely to report this crime. Even though the Civil Rights Act has passed a law in 1986 against it, it still prevails and most likely will continue to do so. 

There are some businesses, few and far between, that realize if they treat their employees' well, they will get better results. This one company that advertises constantly for employees' state they "treat their employees' with dignity and respect". It's interesting they feel the need to point that out. 

The companies that have become wise to treating their employees' fairly have good benefits, approachable management, normal hours, good pay, counseling and therapy help, and a nice, friendly environment that makes you look forward to your workday, or at the very least not dread it. 

The companies that are still in archaic mind-mold treat their hired help like second-class citizens, with no feelings, and in some cases no mind. Employees' deal with such things as: being on your feet all day, few breaks, being pushed to their physical limits, inadequate wages, and in a lot of cases, harsh and degrading work conditions. 

I've had to deal with quite a few of these asinine ways in my own working life. I've had two factory jobs. One of which had to be within walking distance because I didn't drive at the time (my own fault, I know), and the other I was just a temporary employee. Being on my feet all day, so early in the morning (I'm not a morning person, I feel the sun should be up before me). The repetition almost "killed" me (so boooring).  

I've toiled away in the food Industry. Fast food, hosting, bussing, and at two places forced to bring people their drinks. (Isn't that a server's job?). This one fast food chain is rumored to have some of the worst food, but when I drive by there, they always have a long line in drive-thru. (So, that's weird) 

I've done housekeeping jobs; one at a motel, the other for a hospital. The motel one I worked at was five days a week, about three hours a day, then they cut me even further. When the hospital called, I went there (I had applied to both jobs the same day). Part-time turned into full-time without the benefits as the other full-timers. I was then forced to do med-surge after a housekeeper got fired. She was helping the nurses with their cleaning and didn't have time to do her own. She thought they were friends; they threw her "under the bus". The lesson from this, make sure you look out for yourself. No one else will. I'm sure she learned her lesson. Med-surge was the hardest area at the hospital. I had to revolve around all the other personnel and even the patients. Every job, before and after that, I've had to do cleaning. 

I've done retail at a resort and at a large chain store. Ridiculous at how much people steal and make astronomical messes. Some do it on purpose, just to make more work for the employees. There was an instance at another such store in a different state; a lady in a scooter made a beeline at a row of cereal in the grocery area, looking at it dead on, claiming she was blind. 

Having to deal with complacent, demanding managers feeling they are above it all. This one manager had the impression that he was supposed to do paperwork, deal with customer complaints and see to employee issues. He obviously didn't realize he was a "working manager" and had to do what he referred to as "regular employee work". He made 44,000 a year. In my opinion he should have had to do more.  

Quite a few managers, not all, think they should just "supervise" their employees' instead of pitching in. I, for one, don't need someone watching every move I make if they are not going to help me. I, especially, was watched like that at a retail gift shop and at a restaurant that I slaved away at. I also had an owner of a fast-food restaurant "watch me" instead of helping. I wanted to tell all these people to go away, but of course I couldn't. 

One thing that customers and bosses know is that they can pretty much do and say whatever they want to you and get away with it. And they definitely "milk" that for all that it is worth. When you come from a small town with just a high school diploma, you tell yourself you must settle and put up with it. But why should I or anyone else? 

Everyone, even employees' have feelings. Most companies, especially the big ones, are just money-oriented. They don't care who they "trample" on to make the next buck. 

The biggest reasons employees' leave workplaces are lack of opportunities for advancement, heavy workloads, inconsistent hours, unrealistic job expectations, management/work environment, pay/benefits and a lack of training for the job bosses want perfection in. 

I can understand why institutions want as much money as possible coming in, but I don't think they should "stomp" all over the "little guy" in order to get it. Us "little people" also need money. In many cases us "little people" are more deserving. 

Someone in a corporate office, in another state, does not even realize what workers must deal with out on the floor, nor do they care. Even proprietors' of "mom-and-pop" stores are just in it for the money. This one dry cleaning establishment the next town over from which I lived destroyed an expensive sweater of mine. The man in charge didn't want to reimburse me for my loss or make it right in any way. He moved his establishment to another town and promptly went out of business. Bottomline: if you want the money coming in you must know how to run a business, and that entails putting your customers' first. 

They, and most mortals are selfish. In all my years of employment, I ended up helping co-workers, and in some cases managers with their work, not getting the same assistance when needed. What made me bitter at times was that these same laborers made more money than me and/or got full benefits. 

Most places you must be a manager of some kind in order to move up the corporate ladder. Not everyone is manager material. As a "regular" worker I paid my dues. Heavy workloads are difficult for someone small like myself, but I did them. I did the best at everything I was assigned. Luckily, I didn't injure myself. Trying to get my tasks completed and taking various tests at a few places before I clocked out for the day/night was somewhat arduous and stressful. I took a test for everything except for the section I was hired for. My area wasn't considered important. I didn't consider any area more important than another. It didn't matter what I thought, I was a mere "peasant". 

One place I had to travel fifteen miles back and forth for a four-hour shift, which was ludicrous. They could have given me more hours because they always had to have someone in the department for which I toiled. Asking for more hours, to be told I could do janitorial work in order to gain them. Trust me, I had plenty to do even if I worked full-time. 

At this one place when the second shift came in, I had to stay and help them. I didn't have extra help on my shift. I drove the long way home, exhausted and benumbed. 

Another locale I was told by my employer that he forgot to tell me he wanted me for a later time after I had checked in for my shift. He expected me to go home, the next town over, then come back in two hours. I told him it wasn't my fault that he forgot to inform me of his wishes when he had just saw me the day before. His lack of thoughtlessness appalled me. I feel, ladies and gentlemen, you need to stand up for yourself. You shouldn't let anyone walk all over you. He treated this elderly, mentally disabled man like that all the time. If I had to do it all over again, I would have reported such degrading behavior for my fellow co-worker. 

Some managers, and even co-workers must have control and power. It makes them feel bigger and better about themselves. I've even had janitors act like I was supposed to do their job when I was even off the clock, and they were on it. 

I had this one boss, who was just the supervisor of a dining room talk to me like a dog. I was a hostess (not scum). I had to do every position in the dining room while he stood and glared at me from across the room. Once, I had broken my nail down in the skin, I naively thought I could rush to the restroom and cut it since the dining room was void of guests. Boy, was I wrong. He got a server to fetch me so he could "chew me out". It didn't matter about my predicament. He treated me as if I had "killed" someone as soon as he met me. I reported his behavior to the main manager of the hotel. He informed me unless he told me to stand on my head it was fine. He told "Satan" what I had said because he informed me — "Don't ever do that again". Therefore, I ended up quitting after calling him up and telling him off. I made a whopping $6.00 an hour for about fifteen or less hours a week. So not worth having to put up with that kind of abuse. 

The owner of the hotel wanted him to make up with me. He tried, I told him to "go fly a kite". He stormed off. I knew he was just doing what the owner wanted. I went into the dining room of that hotel a little over a year later. He no longer worked there (believe me, I wasn't looking for him). They had demoted this elderly, handicapped lady while I was there, in favor of him. She was a much better worker; she even helped her crew out. He did not. Discrimination at its finest. By the way, I also told the owner how he treated me, and he told me— "I want people here like that". I informed him he could have him. Discrimination all around, of course, is illegal. No one is better than anyone else. 

There are many other aspects of employee mistreatment, such as: sexual harassment, ageism, race, creed, ethnicity and physical disabilities. 

Sexual harassment is harassment verbal and physical; mostly, it's about control and making the opposite sex feel belittled. We have all seen movies and t.v. shows about this barbaric crime, but we don't really think it's real until we're confronted with it. I just had to put up with flirtation and sexual comments. I didn't let it bother me. I had worse things to contend with. It occurs on all levels of the workforce, from the White House to the little mom-and-pop establishment. It is most prevalent in the military. At least half of American women are harassed at least once in their working career. It's about control and power and it's time that that leverage is taken from them. 

Ageism is another big contention, and it always has been. You hear all about it in magazines such as AARP. It is good to have such a medium for society to get educated about such doings so they can take a stand and know their rights. You should be able to labor if you are still competent. In fact, senior hirelings are more reliable and mature and have the experience to bring to the workforce. Senior workers still want to feel useful and needed and if they don't get the opportunity, they feel disvalued. 

Discrimination comes in all forms, African-American's, Oriental's, Hispanic's, American Indian's, etc. are just as qualified, hard-working and smart as the "white man", and should be treated as such.c 

America is one huge melting pot. It just boggles my mind that in this day and age humankind is still superficial and judgmental. Everyone needs to walk their own path in life and pay no heed to the naysayer's and the charlatans of the world. 

Some humankind don't understand or accept certain religions. Individual's hate what they don't comprehend. Who is to say who has the perfect belief system? 

Intolerance toward the disabled is a huge stumbling block for bosses. I feel the reason they disfavor against this is because they are scared and uncomfortable. Respecting other humans and their difficulties make us value ourselves more. We view ourselves in other people, and sometimes we don't like what mirrors back at us. 

The last, lovely position I slaved away at before I finally had enough is one of the largest chain stores in America. They have a long list of non-permissible offenses you cannot break, which include, don't ask where products come from (they had a child labor scandal oversees). Don't take too many sick days (they operate on a point system). This one man, for example, went into work, even though he was contagious. They made him go home — then gave him a point. Another example, this woman, a.k.a, co-worker was in the hospital for a week, called in, but still got a point. There should be consideration based on the situation. They said they want to treat everyone equal (but they don't — theirs's favoritism). This one assistant manager at the time had her "pets" and they got away with certain things. A good worker, such as myself, whom she hated, made my life a "living hell". 

As with all my positions, I had to deal with "abuse" from the shoppers. Apparently, if you are an employee, you don't have any feelings. 

Another rule: don't ever touch a customer. This one elderly lady that was employed at a different chain store got fired because she latched onto a consumer's sweater to steady herself during a big holiday sale when the business was crowded. She didn't want to fall. 

A point of contention with me is that on the CBL'S you are required to take, it says you are allowed to fend off a gunman, if need be, to protect yourself; employees from one establishment did just that and then were promptly fired. When I took such CBL'S, I thought it was too good to be true that you were allowed to defend yourself. My feeling got confirmed. 

Another rule: you're not allowed to spy on the company; I can understand why they wouldn't allow that. I guess it was different from their end though. This one manager was required to take photos of employees. She knew it was an invasion of privacy, so she quit. 

Rule no. 5: you are not allowed to call managers at home. In six years, I was called three times on my personal timetable, to come in earlier and once to come in on my day off. I don't answer the phone until I get up for the day. I'm a late riser. My department manager, at the time, didn't want to toil in my section. (They can't keep managers)  

I filled in for co-workers in their areas and helped them with their tasks. I would return after one or two days off, and my zone looked like a tornado had hit it. Since I was part-time you would think I would have a helping hand in my section. I was just in apparel; anyone could have done my section. The department managers of these organizations have recently been demoted. I'm assuming because corporate realized they weren't doing "all" their responsibilities. A few would be off for months at a time because of different issues, leaving the "regular" workers to do more. This one even had an issue with me taking a vacation when I had enough time accumulated. (I just had seven days off) 

It's aggravating dealing with rude, obnoxious clients who intentionally make substantial shambles. On my final night with said company; I had a four-hour shift, which was the norm. I was on my way to work at 5:30 p.m. I heard what sounded like a horse galloping, when I saw a huge deer out of the corner of my eye. I then preceded to slam on the brakes, too late, I hit it. The total estimated damage was 4-5,000 dollars. Since my car was a 2001, it made more since just to replace the vehicle. I went on to my employment even though I was shaken up a bit, because I knew I would get a point no matter what the situation was. I drove for another ten miles, with my nerves on edge. When I arrived at my destination, I phoned my husband before I clocked in; then I called AAA. I went out to the floor to see if I had returns and then I got my freight. I was dutifully working away when I noticed this little boy pulling the endcap prices off the pegs; his mother was paying him no mind, so I said to the child "please don't pull that off". His mother went ballistic and screamed at me that he was autistic (he seemed normal to me). I didn't want to deal with even more of a mess than I had to contend with that night. She threatened to tell a manager, I said "go ahead". I don't like being threatened. She therefore proceeded to call me a ...; I then informed her that she had a mental problem. I still don't regret telling her that. She acted as if I had abused, even killed her son. I don't feel an employee should be verbally abused, and not be able to defend themselves. 

I was notified to wait for a manager in her office, which I did. I left my freight out on the floor (which, they don't like)— gasp! She and another manager finally came into the room and asked me to write down what had occurred. Then she again asked me what happened. I calmly looked her right in the eye and respectively enlightened her of the recent events. Of course, she didn't care what I had gone through and that I was verbally abused. She informed me the customer might not come back and tell her friends and take away money being spent in the store. Needless to say, she didn't anticipate losing my business. I'm sure I spent more money in that site than the woman and her friends would have. I realized after, no matter what I did or said to the manager, she had intended to suspend me. I was instructed to go home and wait for them to call me. I knew they had to view the tape to see what had occurred, but I felt it shouldn't have to take three weeks. On a Monday, the day after my birthday, when I thought for sure the store manager would be there. First, I cleaned out my locker— my belongings in one bag, the store's belongings in another— I found her in her office, and I pronounced "... I'm dumping... here's my stuff", I then proceeded to leave the room, with her calling out after me "well, thank you, Karen", in a nasty undertone. I didn't respond. I left the establishment and got into my husband's vehicle. I still haven't been back there. I don't want to see all their "ugly" faces. (I was suspended bringing in the New Year). I felt as if they had hung me over the side of a cliff and left me dangling until they determined my fate. Well, I don't want anyone deciding my fate for me. So, when I finally got to dump them, I felt as if I had pulled myself up from the cliff and went on with my life. I was so relieved that it was finally over. 

I feel I had to be "pushed out" from that job in order to pursue my passion. That is, proofreading and writing. Everything happens for a reason. I know, I know, I'm not the first person to utter those words. I just wish I had pursued this endeavor years ago. But you do things when it's the right time for you. I finally had to have enough mistreatment to go after what I want to do. 

A month after I dumped my last occupation the Coronavirus materialized. I was so happy I didn't have to withstand the same issues as a lot of other people. It still affected me, though not as much. My husband and I postponed our previous scheduled vacation for the following year. We still had to wear a mask, but it was worth it. Since then, the country has had to deal with another variant. I continue to wear my mask around populated areas. 

I work from home now. It's the perfect arrangement for me. The public has been even more obnoxious and rude than ever before since Covid-19 hit. It has let me see just how little people have respect for their fellow man. In my life I've never been immune to that. Unless the world changes, people will always be selfish and self-centered. We can always pray that attributes in the future will surpass the tribulations we face today. — Here's to that day!