Hi guys. I had a bad day at work on Thursday.

I have fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain disorder, and I recently developed something called Raynaud's, which makes my hands and feet go numb in the cold. It hasn't been an issue up until the past couple weeks because it's winter here now. I'm in the process of filing an accommodations claim right now, but I've talked to my manager and my supervisors about it, and everything's fine. There's been no indication of resentment from them at all.

I went in around 1 (closing shift), and one of my supervisors asked me to make whips. I told her that the last time I did, it was tough on my hands, and she said okay and sent me somewhere else. That seemed to be the end of it, and it really wasn't a big deal at all.

Fast forward a few hours, and it's slow and I'm standing there with nothing to do, and a delivery order comes through cold bar. So, I figure I'll go make it. This barista literally steps in my way to stop me from going to cold bar and says, "I got it. I don't want your hands to hurt."

At that point, I'm thinking, "Who the hell told her about my hands?", so I just say "No, it's fine, that doesn't bother me so much."

And she's like, "Oh, I thought you couldn't do cold bar because of the whips?"

I tell her, "I don't know who told you that, but they're wrong. It's fine. I can make the drink."

(For the record, cold bar doesn't bother me, really, because I'm only holding something cold for a second at a time. Making whips and doing DT window are a problem because it's an extended amount of time. I was on cold bar for most of the day today with no issue. And the first flaw in her logic is that is was just a pink drink, so I wouldn't be using whip anyway.)

She relents, and I go make the drink. A little while later, I ask her who told her I can't do cold bar, because I want to clarify with them what my actual limitations are.

She says "You did. When you were talking to [supervisor name] this morning."

[edit for clarity: it was at this point that I realized that no one had talked to her like I originally assumed, she had just overheard the conversation with my shift and come to her own conclusions.]

So I start trying to explain to her why it isn't an issue, but she cuts me off and says, "So you can just pick and choose what positions you take? That's not fair to everybody else."

At which point I am...floored, you say the least. It still baffles me how anyone would think that's an acceptable thing to say to a co-worker. I just...have no words. I can't even imagine saying that to anyone.

So I said, "That's not true. That's not what's happening."

And she said, "Okay well that's how it comes off."

I said "I'm sorry my disability offends you," but in retrospect I wish I'd said, "I'm sorry my disability is unfair to you." Because I think it just highlights how wild of a thing that is to say to someone.

She said, "I'm not offended..." and the conversation just kind of trailed off right there.

A couple notes about this other barista:

She'd only been there a MONTH, because she was home from college on break, but she is thankfully back at her normal store now. That was the last time I'll have to work with her.

Also, she's in college studying to be a physician's assistant. A physician's assistant!!! I'm honestly horrified at the thought of someone with that attitude towards disability working in healthcare. The idea of her seeing patients one day makes me nauseous.

She's the same barista from a previous post of mine, where I mention that I don't think she likes me all that much. (On mobile, but will get the post in a sec). So this didn't come out of nowhere. I've been absolutely nothing but civil with her, biting my tongue because I knew she was only there temporarily, and for whatever reason, she just hates me.

I'm not the only person that has a problem with her. I work with my best friend (we've known each other since we were 2 years old, and she transferred to my store once I became a barista too, but she's on mornings), and she said, "yeah I don't think anyone likes her." I also overheard two of my coworkers talking about one girl that they both hated working with, and I was sitting next to the schedule so I looked and she's the only one that checked out for the days they were talking about.

I've also never once seen her make a drink to standard, yet she's constantly trying to correct me (like in my previous post). She's so focused on going as fast as possible that she just does whatever. They was one time she was on DT while I was on cold bar, and she said to our SSV, "can you help out on cold bar? because...you know." She looked at me, but I don't think she thought I could hear her. And then it turned out that the two frappucinos that are holding me up and making me take longer? They were supposed to be lattes. I only took so long because SHE didn't do her job right and put the wrong thing in.

Bright spot was that aforementioned best friend came in during my shift after I texted her to say hi and give me a big hug and all. Which was really really nice. I also got an unreasonable amount of satisfaction in making a frappucino to go on my half and grabbing an ice cold whip out of the fridge, all right in front of her while she side eyed me.

And I was dreading work today, but it was actually such a chill night with a couple people I really like working with, and I was on cold bar for most of the day, which for me is a big win because I love being on bar.

Ugh the more I think about it though, the more pissed I get. So I guess I should end the post here. Just...ugh.

If you're still here, thank you so so much. Knowing there was a community that I could share this with and know I'd be respected is so comforting.