[CopperStar]

Curious how people differentiate the two when it comes to the workplace and providing for one's self.

Throwing myself out here as an example with my last three jobs:

1. I worked as a caregiver in a nursing home that specialized in memory care (dementia). We were always very understaffed, which often resulted in residents not receiving proper care, which the directors turned as blind eye to. For example, if we couldn't get to everyone in the morning before we were expected to be in the dining halls for breakfast, then some residents would be left in bed, in their own urine and feces with nothing to drink or eat, for the entire first half of the day. There were many other terrible examples. Families started threatening to sue. So the directors made it mandatory that we caregivers sign papers saying we had provided care when he had not (and the directors knew this). I refused and walked off the job.

2. I was hired into a company where I had 7 years of experience in the industry, yet I was brought in at the lowest wage offered by the company, and people (mostly men) with no experience were brought it at higher positions and significantly higher pay. Within a few months, I was given the work of both my director (who quit) and my supervisor (who transferred), with no title change and no raise. I felt extremely stressed out, disrespected and taken advantage of. So when my mental health problems also started to flare up, I did not feel at all guilty about walking off that job, either. Took my paycheck and bolted.

3. I was hired as a cashier in a gas station, and was given incorrect training because I was new and trusting, and the incorrect training allowed my coworkers and superiors to get into my cash drawer and for cash embezzlement to take place without accountability. I used corporate's whistleblower line to report the situation, and they broke the agreement to keep me anonymous and I received retaliation from my managers. So I quit.

Now looking back at this history, it's hard for me to figure out how to feel about it. One one hand, the common denominator is me. So it makes me think that maybe what I perceive as strong boundaries and justice, could have actually just been me having thin skin and a low stress tolerance level. Where millions of people would just keep their mouths shut and their heads down, and trudge along to try to pay their bills, my reaction was along the lines of **** this ****. One one hand I want to feel proud of myself for not being a doormat or turning a blind eye to ethical problems. Yet, it's also not very practical, and I'm depending on the support of my mother once again as I look for another job. So am I a strong person who has had bad luck, or a weak person who can't hack it in a typical work environment?

What are your experiences, and how do you tell the difference when you find yourself in a questionable situation regarding work?

[gayleggg]

It sounds like you acted appropriately considering the circumstances.

I've had a couple of experiences where I felt that I had to leave due to boundaries being crossed but for the most part I've been pretty lucky when it came to fairness on the job.

Keep trying.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nervous puppy]

I applaud you for standing up for what is right and NOT putting your head down and turning a "blind eye" to the wrong doings of others. If more people could do what you did, maybe things would actually change for the better.

[hvert]

I think your actions were right. I might have just quit #3 without calling the hotline, but other than that, I could see myself doing what you did- and I have the same kinds of questions about myself - do I have good boundaries or an absurdly low threshold for nonsense? No idea.

I agree that it's interesting that you find yourself in these types of situations repeatedly. Do you ever get warning signs before you accept a job that this kind of thing might happen? In hindsight, were there red flags you could have seen before you started working there?

[Little Lulu]

Maybe it isn't either/or ... maybe you have a bit of both.

I have some of the same issues but I can see how being a bit more laid back than I am would be to my benefit!