I started a new job at a whole new grocery store a couple months ago. Got hired as a cashier a little while before the grand opening, but my first weeks consisted entirely of stocking all the empty shelves. Then when we opened, it was a nightmare suddenly dealing with customers for the first time but I thought I adapted fairly quickly.
Next two weeks my hours dropped from 30 per week to just 15, but my boss went out of their way to let me know I’d be getting more hours next week, so I wasn’t worried and considered it a fluke.
Of course the next schedule came out, and surprise: 0 hours for the entire week. Then my manager and boss both blatantly ignored all my attempts to talk about this on the stupid ass app we use for communication.
This happened to about 10 other coworkers too, and it clicked for me. It was just a fucking bait and switch to get some extra manual labor to get the store open sooner. Lure us in with promise of a long term job, and then throw us out like trash two months later when they’re done with us.
Please, we need some more excuses for the lack of terror.
You should try and contact the other people who have been ghosted and agitate for the necessity of joining a union. Nothing to lose by doing that.
You should not use your knowledge of the store and your uniform to cause havoc, unless you feel the need to blow off steam. But do it safely or with full knowledge of the risks. It might be funny to do something simple like hanging out in the break room until one of the managers sees you and stops dead in their tracks, blanches, and scurries away to their office. Also yoink as much of the free coffee that’s available while you’re there.