Some people are really prepared to do whatever their employer tells them to, whether it’s legal (or ethical) or not. And some employers have absolutely no problem with taking advantage of this.

For instance, I used to work at a place where I heard a coworker once say this:

Coworker: ‘I told them I wanted to learn the work of the technical department here, so that I might be more useful. And [manager] said: “If you want to learn that, you need to learn that in your own time. We’re not going to pay you for it, naturally.”‘

So, the guy came in one entire week FOR FREE to learn the work anyway. To this day, I’m pretty sure this was illegal. I still don’t get why he let them do this to him. Or what’s so naturally about not paying someone for learning to do more work.

This happened over two consecutive days.
First day:
Customer comes through my till and I ring them up and go through my usual spiel and tell them their total.
Customer: What card do you take here?
Me: …
I think they are asking what payment cards and start listing those off.
Me: We take Visa and MasterCard and debit cards.
Customer: No, I meant what points card do you take here?
Me: Oh, PC Optimum.
Customer gets their points and pays and goes on their way.
Next day:
I greet the customer and ring them up and ask if they have our points card.
Customer #2 : What card do you take here?
Me: PC Optimum. The pink and white card that also works at Shoppers
Customer #2 : I don’t have that, I have a debit card, American Express, …
Me: Oh we don’t take American Express but we take debit and Visa and MasterCard.
Customer pays and goes on his way.
I just thought it was funny that how I answered the question one day did not work the next day.

We live in a province where Covid restrictions have been pretty severe. For the last three months, we haven’t been allowed to have any indoor gatherings, and even as restaurants gradually open up, you’re only allowed to go with people in your household.

I work at the front desk of a hospital with other coworkers, and we only let those in that have appointments or are approved to visit a patient. One day, in the vestibule between the doors, a patient is hanging out with some other people who came from outside. No one in the group are wearing masks or social distancing, which is obviously not allowed. While my coworkers and I are discussing this, one speaks up.

Coworker #1: “They should be allowed to visit. It’s fine. I’m sure the patient’s mental health isn’t great.”

(If that patient’s unit said no visitors, patients aren’t allowed to find other ways to socialize, especially on hospital property.)

Some coworkers get upset with this coworker. Coworker #2 is the most angry. I leave for my break, but find out after I got back that the group was told to break up, and Coworker #3 spoke with our boss about Coworker #1.

A couple weeks later, I am working with Coworker #3. They chuckle and show me a picture sent by Coworker #2 … who is out drinking … with some other coworkers. I guess it’s not okay for a patient to socialize, but it is okay for them to go out for drinks with other coworkers.

I was lifeguarding at a local known wave pool. One day, we have only one family in (it’s winter at this point). The mother and father are on the tubes, not paying attention to their kids.

The kids would run on the patio, which is cement. When wet, you can slip. I yell “Walk please” multiple times and they still don’t listen!
When the waves are on, you can use the ladders, safety concern!
They keep trying to use the ladders. I block them with my tube and tell them to use the stairs.
They were also stacking the tubes we provide for patrons to use to go into the deep end during the waves. You can’t stack tubes for another safety concern!
A week later, the head over the Parks and Recreational came to me with a complaint.
It was from that family.
PaR :you have a complaint against you I want to go Over
Me: what happened
PaR: it says that you were rude and acting like you were demanding money. How they described you was interesting though
Me: how?
PaR: it says that you look like you put your makeup on with a putty knife…
Me: oh! I did winged eyeliner that day! And I remember who it was! Their kids where running up and down the patio and climbing during the waves and stacking tubes.
He laughed it and said he wasn’t going to hold it against me.

I work the front desk at a motel. We get some seedy characters, but as long as the guests pay their bills, the cops aren’t called and the building isn’t on fire, management doesn’t care. A man and his female companion approached the desk around 2:30 in the morning.

Me: Hi there. How can I help you?
Man: I got a reservation.
Me: Okay, I’ll need your ID.
Man: (*gives a name*)
Me: I need your ID.
Man: I just told you.
Me: You told me your name, I need your drivers license, state ID, a passport. Something government issued that says you are (given name).
Woman: Why? ‘Cause he’s black? (Motel name) doesn’t rent to black folks?
Me: (*sigh*) No one checks in without an ID.
Man: Okay fine. (*He tosses an ID with an entirely different name*)
Me: Thank you (name on ID). Unfortunately, I don’t have a registration under (name on ID) or (given name).
Man: Yeah you do. I did it through (reservation app).
Me: Unfortunately I don’t.
Woman: Just ’cause we’re not white like you?
Man: So how come we can’t use my reservation?
Me: There doesn’t seem to be one.
Woman: Show her the reservation. (*quieter*) Stupid hoe can’t do her job.
Me: Ma’am, I will have you escorted from the property.
Man: Babe, just chill. (*He pulls up the reservation app with my motel on the screen*) See?
Me: I see that you selected a room but didn’t finalize the payment.
Man: (*turns the phone*) What?
Woman: Oh f*** that! Let’s go somewhere else.
Me: (*smiling*) Have a good night!
Woman: (*As they’re walking out*) You just lost business, b****!