I am a 16 year old who was recently hired by Champaign Illinois PetSmart in the grooming department.
The second day i was handling and partially grooming dogs (Big and Small) on my own.
The only training I reieved was from someone who had started the day before me (ONLY 3 DAYS OF EXPERIENCE!!!)
I watched him for about 20 minutes and then was excpected to do these tasks. The way animals are treated at petsmart is apalling. They manhandle the dogs in the back of the grooming. The dogs are left alone on the table with "noose" like leashes connected to the table around their necks, and i have seen plenty of them jump off and choke on the leashes. 95% of the employees no nothing about animals they just say things that sound good.
I was bitten by a dog that had been marked down in the records as a biter. I should not have been handling the dog by myself. I did not receive any training and I had only worked there a 2 days. I worked any hours they scheduled me for, arrived early and stayed late when asked. I never had one complaint from a customer about my care of the animals. I worked one day 8 hours without a lunch and was by myself because the other employee went home. I worked 7 to 10 hour days eveyday and I was scheduled to work 5 days a week.
4.10.06 I lifted a big dog and popped something in my back. I told my mother about it when she brought in my lunch. She told me I should tell a supervisor. And of course I was afraid of being fired so I didnt, but I mentioned it a co-worker.
I was scheduled to work until 7:00 that day. At 5:00 right after my lunch break I was called to the office and fired. He asked me to sign paper work and I polietly said no, shook his hand, and walked out. When my mother picked me up the manager Mark told her that I had been fired because mystery shoppers called and went into the grooming salon and out of 10 people i work with I was the only one that had been "mystery shopped". He said I did not identify myself to the customers and that I did not establish eye contact. The employee was identified as a blond between 21-25. There is two other females there that fit that description. I have a very nice personality and the other female manager even said that I was the sweetest girl.
All of this dedication and giving 100% happened in about a 2 week period. I asked the Mark the manager why he did not talk to me and ask me if there was a problem. He said that he does not have the time and that he felt that I was not a "fit" but I was a "fit" when I was working by myself without a lunch break and when I was working a 10 hour shift.
He said that he was not aware of the fact that I worked that many hours. That is a manager "right on top of things" and he does not know who is working, how long they are working, nor does he feel that he has the time to handle training or the proper protocol for write ups.
I had to go to hospital for my back and I have to see a doctor again this Friday to see if treatment is helping. I am wondering if there are laws that protect me?
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