A TikTok user with the handle @croissantwoman gained significant attention on the popular social media platform when she shared a “story time” about a challenging job experience that compelled her to quit after only one day of work.
In the video, she shares, “Today, I made the decision to quit my job on the very same day I started. I began as a sales associate, earning minimum wage, which isn’t much but it’s a job. The lady who was training me was really nice. She showed me how to open the store, disable the alarm, and count the cash in the register. She also explained that I would be responsible for tasks like checking emails, processing online orders, and handling returns and exchanges.”
The TikToker continues speaking into the camera, expressing her discomfort, “But all those tasks she mentioned, they are typically done by key holders, not sales associates. I told her that these are key holder responsibilities. She insisted that sales associates were expected to perform those duties and that I was indeed a sales associate. She even handed me a set of keys for multiple stores in the area, emphasizing that I would be responsible for opening and managing the store alone. That’s a key holder position.”
She further explained her concerns to the woman, pointing out that the assigned tasks didn’t align with the responsibilities of a sales associate. She firmly believed it was a management role and stated, “I don’t mind doing these tasks if that’s what you want, but I should be compensated at a higher rate, at least a dollar or two more per hour.”
“Despite all this, I thought to myself that it’s just a job, and since I already know how to handle these tasks, it shouldn’t be a big deal. But what really bothered me was the lack of breaks. I would have to work eight-hour shifts without any breaks, and this applies to everyone in the store, not just me,” she explains.
According to the TikToker, this no-break policy was applicable to all employees within the company. She expresses her frustration, “We don’t get breaks. Today, I couldn’t even have lunch because there’s no time to warm up the food and eat it at the register or on the sales floor. It’s just mind-boggling how people can work under such conditions. I told myself to give it a week.”
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However, her attempts to convince herself failed, as she couldn’t find a valid reason to continue working there. “You can’t just quit on the first day. I hate quitting; I’m not a quitter. But when I got into my car, I realized I never want to go back. It’s not that I hold any grudges against the company; they seem nice, and everyone I met today was friendly. But it’s unreasonable to expect this from me. Come on.”
She continues to reflect on the numerous warning signs that made it impossible for her to stay in the job, exclaiming, “How did things end up like this? Why does this always happen to me? It was just too much. I’m being paid minimum wage, minimum wage!” She then takes a sip from a juice box while whispering in frustration.
Several TikTokers pointed out that denying employees breaks is “100% illegal.” However, it’s important to note that according to the US Department of Labor, “Federal law does not mandate lunch or coffee breaks.”
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to consider that break and rest period regulations differ from state to state, and labor laws can also vary for individuals who belong to labor unions.
Paycor has compiled an overview of break laws in each individual state in the US, highlighting specific regulations for states such as Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and the District of Columbia. Additionally, it’s worth noting that several other states do not explicitly require breaks for adult employees, except for individuals under the age of 18 who work a certain number of consecutive hours.
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