So someone ah my store got covid and my manager is on vacation (her 4th one in 2 months). The manager looking over our store contacted me via the phone and told me I had to options after exposure: I could disclose my vaccine status or take 10 days off. As enticing as 10 days off sounded, I knew I needed the money even though I’d be making less due to closing early.

So fast forward to today, my first day back since we’ve adjusted our hours. This is when I come to learn from my coworkers that I would’ve been paid for all my scheduled hours had I taken the 10 days instead. This is where I become LIVID.

While the manager is very nice and sweet, I feel like I was tricked. She never mentioned I’d still get paid for the time and had made it sound as though the store really needed me to work and all of that. I’m not one who tries to be the “wow I’m the hero of our store!” coworker, but I figured I needed the money as previously mentioned.

It pisses me off that I’m now losing hours while working when I could’ve made the amount based off my hours while sitting at home for 10 days. A lot of my coworkers were considering talking to HR because it’s fucked up that there’s people at home making money because they chose not to be vaccinated while I actually lose money. Sure I could’ve asked if it was paid time off and there’s probably nothing I can do, but if anyone knows of something I can do please tell me. I’m just so upset for me and my coworkers who all got deceived and fucked over while my manager is on vacation and half the staff sits at home getting paid. But in the end it’s probably better off to cut my loses, it’s not truly a big deal since I don’t live alone and don’t rely on my income to live. Rather, it’s the principal of the matter that brings me another step closer to leaving the monopoly that loves to talk about putting employees first.