I swear lately I work in a daycare, not a professional setting full of adults. And I must say, I am not handling the stress well. It all started last week when the girls from the ER called to say someone called off and they were stuck there for 12 hours with no lunch and could one of us please run to DQ for them and pick them something up. I happened to answer the phone, and said that one of us would (I'd want someone to do the same for me if I had to go 12 hours without a break!) No one else wanted to go (I asked) so I went. Biiiiiig mistake!
Now, for reference, it's not uncommon for someone to leave for a few minutes to run an errand or something. People leave for marriage counseling, to go to the tanning bed, for food, to pick up their kids, whatever. And although it is technically against the rules, it really shouldn't have been a big deal. But it is.
One of my coworkers complained to my boss, saying that I took two breaks and she didn't even get one. First thing I heard about it was 4 days later when I went to check my time on the system and saw that I'd been cut for 45 min. worth of pay. That was Fri. night.
Monday morning first thing I called my boss and asked what was up. She said she charged me for 2 lunches because someone told her that I took two lunches. I explained my POV to her, admitting that I probably shouldn't have left but that I felt bad for the gals downstairs and definitely wasn't gone for 45 minutes. She said she had hit the wrong button and meant to charge me for 15 minutes, and told me not to leave again if I'd already had my lunch. That should have been the end of it, but oooooooh no, that would be too easy!
This week (yesterday and today) I've been working in a different department, up on the hill, far away from the others in my department, and by myself (except for the people who work in that department, not part of my regular department). Well, yesterday afternoon, after the discussion with my boss, I got a call from the girl who had run to her with the information that I was gone to DQ. She said she was tired of people down there talking about how she was a rat for tattling, and she'd just tell me straight up that she told because it pissed her off that I took 2 breaks without even checking to see if she wanted one.
I was very calm on the surface, and told her I wish she had said something to me, and pointed out that I did ask before I went. That was that, nothing more was said. So today, just before time to go home, I get an email from my boss saying something to the effect of:
I was willing to let this drop but apparently you're not. You've been talking to everyone inside and outside of the department and everyone you pass on the street.
There was a lot more, but that was the gist of it. I was floored! I haven't talked to anyone (as there's no one around to talk to anyway where I've been working) and if anyone was talking it certainly wasn't me! And why in the world I'd be advertising the fact that I got in trouble would be beyond me.
So, I don't know what's going on the "main" department, but I am quite positive that I wasn't down there talking about anything. Yeah, I did wrong, I was reprimanded and my pay was cut accordingly, now why can't we just let it go? I couldn't care less if the other girl is down there saying whatever she wants to say about me, she's nothing to me. But what has me so upset is my boss's email. She works down there, and knows darn good and well that I haven't been there to start/say anything even if I had wanted to!
I have an interview on Thurs. for another dept, and I'm praying right now that I get it. I dread going to work tomorrow, even though I'm still up in the other department by myself. At least that much is a blessing. I don't have to go back to the main department until... sometime late next week I think. Weekend I work the ER, and early next week where I'm at now. Just gonna go in and do my job and not even answer my phone if it rings.
Hopefully this blows over, but I'm just so upset right now. Off to watch cartoons with the baby.