Let my preface this by saying it’s probably going to be a bit long and all over the place. I apologize in advance.

I work at a decently high volume DT store. We are consistently in the top 3 for the state in sales. In the past month we have had a lot of turn over and change in the store. We lost our ASM (got promoted to SM at a different store) and our old SM (who’d been with the store since we opened 2 years ago) was transferred to a new store. One of our SSVs followed my old SM to her store. We also had a total of 8 baristas either transfer, quit or be separated. We were already bare bones and now it’s bad. We have no ASM, are down baristas and only have 4 shift supervisors at the moment. And we keep gaining business. Last week we turned off mobile orders and shut down cafe almost every shift I worked and still made 8-10k each day.

Everyone is burnt out. Baristas are working 8-12hr shifts, the shift supervisors are starting to have major issues with each other (mainly due to one of our closing shifts which is a WHOLE other issue), and it’s a common occurrence for someone to go into the back room to scream and/or cry.

Now to the issue at hand. I’ve been struggling with some health issues that are getting worse. And I’m still working insane amounts because I need the money and our store is so short staffed. Back in October I made an appointment with a new specialist that comes highly recommended by people in the area and from my other medical providers. The appointment wasn’t until April (I requested that day off). Well come two weeks ago I got a call saying they’d moved my appointment up. I NEED this appointment and it was a blessing to have it moved up. At the time my schedule for next week (when my appointment is) wasn’t finished yet. So I couldn’t immediately reschedule it. But I also couldn’t request time off since it was closer than 3 weeks away. I was afraid to reschedule because it was going to be a month+ before I could get in again. My shift supervisor at the time (she was point of contact since our ASM was gone and SM was out with Covid) told me to absolutely take the appointment.

So then I figured I’d just have someone cover my shift if the appointment happened to be when I was working. My new SM specifically told all of us that she had hired three baristas and starting Sunday (3/28) they’d be available to cover shifts if no one else could. I have asked every single barista in my store that isn’t working that day and everyone either can’t or hasn’t responded to me. I got permission from my SM to post in our stores groupme asking if someone could help me cover it, I even offered to cover shifts on other days. No response. Actually I then got people asking me to cover other shifts for them on days I’m already working.

So I’m freaking out. I already paid the copay for the appointment (the have you pay in advance) and if I cancel it I will have to pay a cancellation fee. Plus who knows when I’ll be able to get in to see this doctor and I desperately need to be seen. My SM just messaged everyone saying she’s taking the weekend off and not to contact her, that she will only find coverage if you are sick and can’t work per COVID coach or food safety stuff, and that any call out that isn’t because of sickness that prevents you from working she will write you up.

I completely understand I made some assumptions and took other peoples word as law. That’s on me. But still, I’m an anxious wreck. I have no idea what to do. I can’t find coverage for my shift. My SM is unreachable. I am terrified to call out sick because I don’t want to leave them sort staffed and since I’m not actually sick, I will be written up. And I am currently trying to transfer stores so a write up would mess that up. If I cancel my appointment, I’ll lose money that I can’t afford to lose and my health will continue deteriorating without treatment.

Any words of wisdom are very much appreciated! Again sorry it’s so long.

TLDR: my store is understaffed and burnt out. My health is declining. I have an extremely important doctors appointment that I can’t afford to cancel or reschedule but I can’t find coverage and will be written up if I call out.