unhappy employee

I have been working at Lewis Drug in Sioux Falls for almost three years. Some people don't really understand why this is a big deal, but to me, I feel like this should be celebrated. Some people don't even make it six months at Lewis. Example: I met the two new people at Thanksgiving time and by the time I came back for Christmas they were gone. Since I've been working there all of my mangagers have been replaced. So in most cases I not only know more than the managers I have to teach them how to do things.

Today I found out that cooperate is cutting part-timer's hours. I was "given" three days of work of the next week. Thankfully one of my co-workers realizes that Lewis goes on these time limit kicks and she gave me another day, but I think I deserve better than this. It is not fair to me since I'm only back for one ,more week. Plus, I have a running bet with one of my other coworkers on how many times I will be called in this week. The count is already up to one but I WILL be in White that day so I had to refuse. It always makes me made when they decide to cut the part-timers. During the summer, I work just as much, if not more, as the full time people. I have also taken on shifts when they need help which result in 10 to 14 hour days for me. I don't even get holiday pay.

To many, this is blog is just a bunch of whining, and really it is, but I feel so attached to this company that it feels like a slap in the face to me. Lewis gave me a job when I really needed it. My job at CJ Callaways was not in a very healthy environment. I did many illegal things there. Such as using a knife and working past seven before I was sixteen, using the mixing equipment before I was eighteen, and there was an problem with the staff. One day, after the police first visited us, we no longer had any dishwashers. (They were all illegal immigrants.) And there was the incident when I was sexually assaulted by one of the other employees, but that really wasn't that big of a deal. I never told anyone about that part, not even my parents. (The guy was like a foot shorter than me too and it didn't happen again.) After I wasn't scheduled for over a month I decided it was time to quit. Of course my parents wouldn't let me quit without another job so my dad pulled some strings with a guy from our church and he got me an interview with the head manager at Lewis. After landing the job, even though it paid less, the first thing I did was quit CJ"s.

I worked hard for Lewis right from the beginning. I slowly learning all of the departments. I was the youngest person to ever be trained in Customer Service. And now they let me come back and work when I can. So I should be grateful that they even gave me any hours over Christmas but I can't help feeling that I've worked very hard to get where I am.

So now I kinda don't want to go back. With all the crap that they have put me through in the past year I really don't want to be there anymore. Every time I walk into that place I feel this wait on my shoulders. It's almost like an obligation to still be at Lewis. It could also be that I've changed a lot in the last three years. But of course I can't quit because I have way to much experience there and they do give me great hours over the summer. That and I should be getting a raise in the next week.

Don't get me wrong, there are some good things about working at Lewis. I've learned a lot and I even get a discount. I enjoy working with (most of) my coworkers and the customers aren't too bad (when they get what they want). I'm pretty good at my job.

In other news that kinda relates to Lewis. I had to work today so now Kevin is stuck in Vermillion and I'm stuck in Sioux Falls. We were going to drive to White tonight but now that the interstate is closed there is no chance of getting there until tomorrow. I can't help but feel guilty since the only reason Kev isn't in White right now is because I worked so late. I feel terrible. Kevin told me not to worry but I still can't help but feel bad. I feel a little better after calling him. I just can't wait to see Kevin's family. I know it's weird for the girlfriend to want to see the boyfriends family but they are so much fun to be around. Plus they are way different from my family. As Kevin pointed out after our trip to the Hills, my family likes to argue...a lot. We don't really spend time together, we just spend time in the same house. We just happen to be around each other. Now don't get me wrong, I love my family, but things are just different in White.

I think this is a long enough blog
later
Ash