Many of you know about the issues with my new boss. The latest development: I was supposed to work on Valentine's Day. I was sick. Could not talk, could not walk, couldn't even sit up without help, in and out of consciousness (can't even really call it sleep), high fever, coughing and sneezing, earache, you name it I had it. I felt guilty about not going in but knew that I couldn't work. I tried to find someone to cover for me. No one could. I called them and apologized but explained the situation. He wasn't happy.
Flash toward to today: Still sick. Not as bad but still having a hard time walking on my own. And sneezing all over the place. Got someone to cover for me. Coworker (let's call him Joe) is a great friend and is fed up with this boss too. So he slips me some info saying that if at all possible, I should go in. Boss cut my hours for not coming in (my hours for the couple weeks prior to this were already 15-17 if I was lucky and already steadily dropping). Another juicer tidbit: All the Hispanic workers have been getting significantly more hours than the rest of us. Even if someone just has a Hispanic last name (I have a coworker that Boss hasn't actually met, who has a Hispanic sounding last name but hasn't a drop of Hispanic blood, no adoptions or anything else to explain why a Caucasion boy has a Spanish name). We can see everyone's schedules. And 30 hours vs 17 doesn't seem right.
So when I next see him, I will calmly point out that by staying home, he had to work longer that day and I really was sorry about that but that I ultimately saved the company from a potential lawsuit over a health hazard. And that I am almost the only thing keeping our little Del Taco from running into the ground. I have had customers that will complain to me about how rude Boss is to them, how rude he is to the employees (he yells at us in front of them), how they only come because I treat them well (they're really sweet, they have actually said that, some have even said they'll stop coming if I don't work there anymore).
So that's basically what I'm going to tell him. Any suggestions or ways I can do more about this? Also, I've heard that when a potential employer calls a past employer (unless they're listed as a personal reference also), they only ask if the individual is eligible for rehire (and if not, why not). Is that true? Or do they ask more.