Hello Spoonfuls,

This sounds like a highly stressful and frustrating work situation. To have a person who should be a role model instead treat you and your co-workers in a frustrating and poor manner, well it really sucks. I can hear all the anxiety and stress that is pressing upon you in this job. To have days off, but also could at any time be called in with threat of losing your job if you deny it. Additionally, I can imagine how hard it is to take the blame for another’s mistake. That is a really hard place to be in. It seems like you feel mistreated, and very isolated from any help in this situation.

I hear that the owner may be a source of conflict resolution but you still fear that going to them without backup may ultimately end in the loss of your own job. It sounds like you are really wanting positive change to occur, but currently you’re nervous that your co-workers might not support you, and it feels risky to think about taking that step. It sounds like you’re so tired and agonized by this situation that you just want to leave, and not have to deal with it for another day.

Its hard to say exactly what worker rights you have, as each province has slightly different ones, but you may find it helpful to look into your rights as an employee in Canada. Here is a link to a listing of all the different provinces’ and territories’ labour laws: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/labour-standards.asp I hope there is something helpful in there as you try to move forward with your workplace pressures. And please know that you can keep talking things out here. We can’t give you direction on what to do, but we’re here to support you through the stress and weariness of dealing with this situation.

Youthspace