In 10 days it will be a whole year since I've been working non-stop, this company doesn't give PTO, holidays nor sick leave to remote workers that are not US citizens, I asked for one and a half hour to take care of something and then come back, because I also get paid by the hour, if I don't work, I don't get paid, so it is not in my best interest to not work; I got shut down with a chatgpt text "We hold everyone to the same standard across the company", I either work or not, basically, but that "across the company" did something in me, no, you don't, I cannot request a PTO for things that needs to be done during business hours, I either do them and skip a whole day of pay or I don't do them.
I got pissed off, but at this point I don't care anymore in a way that is not good for them, not for me, not for the people I help during work, for them, because I'm an excellent employee and they are having troubles finding good ones, people that don't steal company's money by being on the clock and not doing their job, I could have easily done that but I have values, I thought, "maybe they will consider it, I really have to do this and they might let me, it's just one and half hour", but they didn't care.
Why should I care then? I took a deep breath, "I will do my thing, spend time with my partner, spend time with my parents, buy that thing I always want to buy at the store that closes before I get off work, spend time with my friends" I did all of that in a day! And it was an amazing day.
There is a life outside of a 8:30 to 5, not 9 to 5 because our 30min break is not paid, but we have to work the whole 8 paid hours, so yeah.
I will find another job, a better one, and I will leave this one professionally, quietly.
The sad part? The one that made me start grieving months ago all of this? I liked my job, I saw my future in there, helping people, the healthcare industry is a complicated field, but being able to actually help people? Man that feels great, but anyways.
Work is important, but it's not your whole life.
Take that day off, even if it's not paid, and enjoy with your loved ones. Remember: why are you working non-stop? and do it
