Zero Respect Gets Same

The manager walks in around midday at the fast-food place where I’ve been working for six months.

Me: “Hey, [Manager]—”

Manager: “—Not now, I’m busy.”

Me: “You’re always busy. I need to—”

Manager: “—is it urgent?”

Me: “Yes.”

Manager: “If you’re just gonna moan about hours or sick pay again, then it’s not urgent, and I’m tired of hearing it. Get back to work.”

Me: “Well, that’s the thing. You told me I’d be full-time when I started, but I’ve been on twenty hours a week this whole time. You told me I’d get a contract position with a raise within a month, and still nothing. You also said I’d get sick pay, but nope. So… I quit.”

Manager: “…Fine. Hand in your two weeks later today.”

Me: “No, no, no. I quit, as in right now. I’m talking to you now solely to tell you that I am walking out now.”

Manager: “You can’t do that! You have to give two weeks’ notice!”

Me: “In the absence of a contract, two weeks is a courtesy. You’ve lost your right to that courtesy. To be fair, I don’t even owe you this conversation.”

Manager: “You can’t just walk out! That’s… that’s… not right!”

Me: “Find me a piece of paper or a rule that says otherwise. Find it for me right now.”

Manager: “…”

Me: “Thought so. Have fun with the after-school rush. Send my last paycheck in the mail, and if you don’t, I can show you a piece of paper that says that’s one thing that you HAVE to do.”

I take off my apron and work shirt (I was wearing a white tee under it), and leave it on the table.

Me: “Leaving my uniform here in case you think about deducting any ‘uniform fee’ from my paycheck.”

I got my last paycheck two weeks later, which was thirteen days after I’d started at my full-time and wonderful new job.