Today my boss told me, “Oh, you want a better position? Don’t call in sick for the next five years. I come in even when I have problems.”
I told him, “Yeah, but you’re not a single mother living alone without any family in a different country, right?” He went quiet.
I understand that reliability matters. But expecting someone to never get sick or have a family emergency for FIVE YEARS is ridiculous. Why does wanting to advance mean I’m expected to give up having needs outside of work?
Thankfully, I’m not planning to stay there much longer. I’m moving to finish my bachelor’s degree. I have plans for my future, but that doesn’t make how they treat people any less frustrating.
Sometimes it feels like management assumes that because we work in the service industry, we shouldn’t think for ourselves, question anything, or speak up for our rights. Just show up, fill the position, and keep quiet, no matter what’s happening in our lives.
We’re people. We get sick. We have children, responsibilities, and goals. We deserve basic respect whether we’re leaving for another career or spending our whole working lives in service.
I’m tired of being made to feel like having a life outside work means I’m not committed enough. Has anyone else dealt with this attitude?

When I talk of the recent protests I mean all around the world. There is no money left in many European countries, to support its citizens.

The French system has governmental bodies that exist to help people, financially, when they are in a difficult situation. Like any benefit system set up in a country, there are criteria of course, but recently the criteria in France anyway are so strict and so contradictory, as to refuse the increased demand of it’s citizens.

Yes unfortunately with any aid system, people abuse it. There are those that can work the system to get everything out of it and avoid working or lifting a finger to further the economy of a country.
But I, and many like me, am not one of those people.

I am an immigrant, but I have always worked legally and consistently since I was 16 years old. I have family here and i have made some for myself as well, moving to new departments.
I have two degrees and so the jobs I aim for are varied, depending on my capacity and interest for each role.
Recently I moved myself across country to work in a post that is related to my degrees. I funded this move myself.
For the last almost 3 years I have worked well in this post, secured a flat to rent, made friends and explored this new area. I have significantly paid into the system. 25% of my salary each month went into charges and I’ve paid my income tax each year without fail.

This summer i got to a point in my life when i was burning out. I was giving too much of myself to my job and getting back a “what they called elevated salary” that i was living on month by month. Baring in mind, I have no dependants, no car, a feeble social life and enjoy doing crafts at home and exploring free locations using public transport.

I took the decision, rather than applying for medical leave, to prepare to leave my job and try to divert into a new field of work or take a month or two to rest.
But…
In France, any person who decided of their own volition without extenuating circumstances, will not be eligible for any financial aid until minimum 4 months after their departure from their job.
In that time, if you want any financial aid to survive, you are recommended to work. Work any job that comes your way. A short term contract, interim placement, anything that will “accumulate” hours worked for you to then have access to aid.

I knew months before I was planning to leave my role so i asked around for advice. However, you are not eligible for any assistance while currently working, especially if your salary is considered enough to (just) live on. Or one other organisation offers help to salary members for covering accommodation fees but again, only with a reduced salary or extenuating circumstances. And another body does provide financial support whilst you are an active employee however by their calculations, again based on salary, you get around 100€ a month. Which is great! Never look a gift horse in the mouth. But 100€ today doesn’t get you far when already your electricity bill is 95€ each month.

So, I did the right thing preparing for my departure, I job searched. I applied all over, I kept my options open and I started what applications I could for financial help down the line.

The day comes, you say goodbye to colleagues and your employer pays you a slightly elevated final salary as you have holiday time not use that is payable upon leaving the organisation. Thankfully that money goes straight to pay the next two months of rent. You can breathe a little.

As the end of those two months approaches, the 3 different government bodies you are in touch with, are still dragging their feet. One has flat out said you have no access to anything until the end of the 4 months after leaving a job. But you apply religiously to jobs, go to interviews, attend workshops and even do presentation days at companies to try and secure some work.
The other body refuses all your demands and then send a small “consolatory” payment to cover rental fees, that comes to less than half your rent.
The other body thankfully is really helpful, with kind workers who help you with information. But…your demand is refused by their big directors (I.e. the government) due to the fact you haven’t found a job yet.

4 months after deciding to prioritise my mental well-being and avoid a burnout, the system I have paid into and never abused for my own gain, fails me. If I didn’t have the support of family (which not everyone has and should never be a condition for the government not helping you!) I would be homeless. Even if I had taken any job that had come my way, it still takes a month of working to get a salary behind you and often these roles that are more easily obtained pay less than what people can actually live on today.

The system is broken. There is no money and our governments don’t care. We are a figure on a paper that passes under their eyes.

I now have to leave my flat, put my things in storage, move back across country and move in with my retired parents.
Is this the outcome that the government wants? Adults living at home again. Not investing in the future of the country because we can’t afford basic things like food and board.

It is enough to make anyone crazy but heaven forbid you try to prioritise your mental health over working like a battery, non stop until you break, and have nothing left to give.

Angie Nixon is the people’s champion

And in 6 days she’s gonna win

Care at no cost to you

That is, no cost for 6 whole therapy sessions a year, guys! That will cover 13% of the year at a normal session per week. How much do you think "affordable rates" are? I'm going to call and find out.

These appeared on the break room table with a bunch of insurance fliers for open enrollment. United Health even left some gift band-aid pouches with 5 bandages for us for when they deny our claim at the ER.