A plot twist I didn't see coming

Helena was the store manager at the card shop during Caroline's brief but painful reign of terror. While Helena herself was almost always a pleasure to work with – my shifts went fast when she and I were alone in the store with customers – she also hired Caroline around Labor Day and began dismissing complaints by other employees back in October. Caroline was her favorite shift manager, the one she trusted most, and Helena refused to acknowledge any problems. Four of the girls I work with – and they are girls, all on the green side of 30 – filed a formal complaint with corporate on Tuesday, December 16. After a review which took about two weeks (Christmas fell during this period), Caroline was let go on December 31.

The karma train also flattened Helena. Thursday, January 8, was Helena's last day. She sent me a text telling me of her resignation, and I believe she resigned. But the timing tells me she resigned during corporate's investigation of Caroline. If she wasn't officially placed on probation during that period, it must have been crystal clear that corporate had no faith in her.

Yesterday, January 9, was the first time I worked in three weeks. The first day without either Helena or Caroline. It was weird. It all looks completely different – Christmas has been completely packed away and Valentine's Day is spreading across the store – and someone I'd never seen before was acting as store manager. Corporate has called upon a pair of managers from nearby shops to pinch hit until they can hire a replacement.   

My self-esteem has taken a mighty hit. I needed help at the register when a customer wanted to exchange a product, which is more complicated than a return, and I forgot how to do it. Logically, sanely, I realize that it's been months since I was called upon to do this and so it's understandable that I needed an assist. But now I'm wondering: does the new, temp manager think I'm an old, incompetent woman, as Caroline referred to me?

And while I appreciate that Helena completely mishandled the Caroline situation, I also feel bad for her. She began working at the shop years ago, as a college student, and accepted the promotion to store manager last fall because she had just turned 26 and needed to get her own health insurance. I know her heart is in teaching dance to children – which pays little but brings her joy – and I hope she can find a way to support herself doing that.

It's been hard for me to watch Helena and Caroline learn that actions have consequences, even as I understand that what has happened to them is just and fair.

And I'm tired of how much emotional space this $16/hour job is taking. I may still quit soon. At this stage in my life, I want to do something that makes me happy.

 

Photo by ダモ リ on Unsplash