Work Is A Pain In The Back, And The Manager Is A Pain In The… Lower Part

I started a part-time job at a gym about a month ago. Most of my work is front desk: checking people in, making protein shakes, answering phones, and emails. Only a small part of my job (maybe 5-10%) involves cleaning weights between classes.

Yesterday, during my shift, I bent down to pick up a paper a client had dropped and felt a sharp pull in my back. I went straight to one of the two managers on duty.

Me: “Hey, I just tweaked my back picking that up. I think I’ll be fine, I just need to avoid lifting the heavy weights for the rest of the shift.”

Manager #1: *The chill one.* “Totally fine. Just grab me if you need anything else.”

So, for the rest of the evening, my coworker and I swapped tasks, she handled the heavy dumbbells, and I wiped down benches and smaller items. She’s older, but she’s more than capable and has done this before.

About an hour later, the other manager comes through. She gives me a sharp look as she sees me cleaning benches while my coworker moves weights.

Manager #2: “Why are you making her do all the heavy stuff? Switch with her.”

Me: “Actually, I tweaked my back earlier, and—”

Manager #2: *Muttering under her breath.* “—yeah, sure.”

She turns to walk away, clearly not believing me. So I follow her out into the hallway.

Me: “You’re right. If I’m too injured to do what you just asked, then I’m also too injured to finish my shift. I’ll need to fill out an injury report right now and use my PTO to leave so I can see a doctor.”

She stops dead like I slapped her.

Manager #2: “Wait, you don’t have to leave! I just—”

Me: “—Nope. Injury report, please. Now.”

She sputters, but I double down until she hands me the form. I fill it out, clock out, and leave. As I head out, I tell Manager #1 what happened.

Manager #1: *Trying not to laugh.* “Oh, that’s gonna drive her crazy.”

They were already understaffed, so me leaving made it even harder on her. Honestly, I should thank her. The doctor said if the pain sticks around, I have a good case for workers’ comp.