Capitalism: a big, rubber dick.

This post is going to be a rant, and solely a rant. So, if you don't want to read, I advise you skip this entry. You have been warned.

What the hell is with employers, particularly in retail, who refuse to give time off? And why does it seem like it's MY employers? Since I've lived here, April has had few problems with asking for time off. Yet, with me, almost every single time I ask for a day or two, or the rare weekend to see my family or just relax with April, hang with friends, it's an uphill battle. I have to fight and argue with management almost EVERY fucking time, and I'm sick of it. Why is it always an uphill battle to ask for a few days off?

For instance, I had requested December 24 and 26 off--April and I are spending Christmas with my family on Cape Cod this year. I had also asked for December 31 and January 1--we're spending New Year's with April's family. I got denied both requests on the grounds that those are "blackout" days, days in which NO ONE is allowed to take off work. For almost any reason. I got angry, adding to the already miserable morning I was having today. I'm sorry, but they can deny me all they want. I have only seen my family twice in the last six months. And I'll be damned if some company refuses to let me spend Christmas with my own family because they "need" me to work. Fuck that.

I've spent nearly two years working in retail--I have busted my ass with management, made compromises, promises, concessions, lost hundreds of dollars for denied time off. I rarely ask for days off, only asking when I absolutely need to. With the praises of how good an associate I am I get from my employers, then why the fuck is it so hard to ask for a day or two, especially Christmas? It's like working for Scrooge. If there is one thing I have learned from getting my ass fucked over so many times, it's that I'm quickly approaching the "I don't care" mentality. Already, I regret ever working for any retail business--too many rules, too many stupid policies, too many asshole managers, too many stupid, pathetic customers, the poorest excuses for people I have ever dealt with. Shit, I don't get paid enough to get fucked by work so often. I hate having to kiss ass to people.

I'm tired. I haven't had a proper vacation in a couple of years, and it's beginning to wear on me. God, if I asked for a week off, that would be the end of the world as we know it.

I've already informed two of the three Staples managers that I won't be here Christmas or New Year's--I'll be out of town both occassions, "blackout" days or nothing. The store manager said that he'll confer with the others and decide. Decide what?! I've given them a month and a half notice, plenty of time. I'm sick of having my plans ruined because some corporate policy tells me I can't spend time with my family and friends. I'm sick of having my life ruled by my job, governed by stupid, useless, pointless inane corporate policies that serve no other purpose than to control.

I mean, jeez, what stores are open on New Year's Day other than Wal-Mart and apparently, Staples?

The worst part is...I can't leave. I need work to pay bills. I'll just keep having to get fucked over until I either quit or find a better job. Damn, and I've only been working for Staples 3 weeks.

After 3 days of working at the Kingston Wal-Mart, I realized that I needed to get out of there, and I was hoping that Staples could offer me something better. It's becoming clear that I have to get out of retail altogether, because these stupid policies, protocols and procedures are just driving me nuts. It's all the same monster. I'm tired of working for big corporations.

Because, frankly, I don't care anymore. I've had it. I've been fucked over enough.