I’ve been employed by a friend of mine for the past two years. It’s not a business, just a good friend who’s been helping me out with a little extra cash.
I’m grateful for the opportunity, but lately I’ve been wondering if I’m really getting the most out of my work.
The thing is, I’m not receiving any benefits. No health insurance, no vacation time, and no sick leave. It’s all just a handshake agreement between me and my friend.
We both know that if I need to take a few days off, I can do so without any repercussions.
But I also know that if I’m feeling really sick and need to stay home, I’m not able to do so. My friend is relying on me for help and if I’m not around, it could seriously hurt his business.
This means that I have to go to work even if I’m sick like a ‘dog’.
This has been a tough situation to deal with, especially since other people I know are able to take off work when they’re feeling under the weather.
They have the comfort of knowing that their job is protected and that they can take some time off without any repercussions.
A few months back, my friend had promised me benefits once his business picks up and till date, even though his business has picked up due to my help, my job still has no benefits apart from if I need off I can request for it at anytime.
If I’m too sick to go to work, I can request for time off but I’m not eligible for any kind of compensation even for MC.
So, I’m stuck in a difficult situation. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work for a friend without much stress and anyone managing me, but I’m also feeling a bit taken advantage of.
It’s a difficult balance to maintain, and I’m not sure what the best solution is.
All I know is that I need to focus on taking care of myself, even if that means having to go to work when I’m not feeling well.
I’m hoping that in the future I’ll be able to find a job that provides me with the benefits I need so that I don’t have to worry about these kinds of situations.