Whenever I hear “you need to be a team player” or “our workplace is like a family”, INSTANT red flag.

I once had a job that denied my leave to take off for my sons kindergarten graduation, I put the request in two weeks ahead, that was denied, then offered to come in late after the graduation, denied…I went back to my desk and started packing my personal things, one of my co-workers asked me what was going on, I explained…my son was not going to lookout into that audience at 5yrs old and not see anyone there for him, the sacrifices of a single parent…the next day I started job hunting…

They denied me time off when my father died. I took it anyway. Told 'em fire me if they wanted but I'd sue because it's federal law.

The longer you work the more you realize that the company doesn't care about you, so why should you care about the company.

When my brother-in-law died and my sister needed me and my Mom, my work not only gave me as much time off as I needed - they footed the ENTIRE BILL for our travel because we didn't have the money. I cried when I had to leave that job. Good companies are far and few, but they do exist.

I worked for my local POLICE. My dad passed "unexpectedly" at the age of 59. I was given 3 days "compassionate leave". Because it was an unexpected death it had to go to the coroner. It was Saturday so the coroner didn't get to it until Monday. My dad passed on 22 November and we buried him on the 2nd Dec. All time beyond the 3 days "compassionate leave" was taken from my annual leave. To bury my dad. Then I was told I would not receive my PERFORMANCE related pay rise due to my "Attendance". I resigned shortly after.

Where do companies get this whole "family" shit from? I don't know you and... I don't even like my own family, let alone you!🤣

I had one job where the manager said I couldn't get the time off to go see my dying grandmother. I immediately called HR in front of him and asked for an emergency leave of absence, for the 3 weeks I asked for, they said granted. They emailed my manager within minutes that the time off was approved. *When it comes to family, never accept NO as an answer. Go over their heads until you get the answer you want. And be willing to quit to get what you need.* *Family is forever, jobs come and go.*

Your boss and coworkers are not your family. In fact, they’re not even second cousins twice removed! That’s crazy conversation.

There's Spider-man, Wonder Woman and now Veronica. Three powerful superheroes.

It's always about power and control by management and executives.

The toxicity is REAL. The gaslighting is real too. When did companies stop caring about their employees? This is a common occurrence... Very sad.

Didn’t have a funeral, but my father just took a bad fall and my boss’s response was ‘let me know what I can do to help’. I’ve had to take off two days to take my mom to the hospital to be with him as surgery got pushed back. ‘Your mom needs you right now - keep me posted and I’ll bepraying for your dad.’

And they wonder why the great resignation happened the way it did. When a toxic company like this one files for Chapter 7 an angel gets its wings.

When my brother passed, I told work I’m taking 3 days bereavement. They didn’t have that policy and I was out of PTO days. They REWROTE the policy to include 3 days bereavement. My brother always made my life better. Still does 💕

There is no 'family' in the work place.

I love Veronicas perspective. Would love to hear if she has ever actually said these things in the work place, because when I have I was fired later or management made my job so toxic I had to leave. Veronica has my complete respect.

My uncle died and i found out while i was on my way into work. When i did get there to let them know i would not be there, i was a crying mess, and my manager looked me in the eyes and said "you dont get any bereavement days. Since an uncle is not considered immediate family". I said i would be taking the day and i left. Freakin heartless.

This is EXACTLY how the company I work for right now is! The double standards are outrageous and I'm quitting without notice in two weeks!

When they need you = family, When they dont need you = i paid you.

Why is it they can do whatever they want but as soon as you do whatever you want or just stand up for yourself then you’re not being a “team player“?

"The disappointment is mutual" lol

Veronica says all the things I would like to have said to all the toxic people I worked for. Corporations are a bunch of a-holes.

Sadly, this scenario is realistic for SO many workplaces.

They don't want you to take time off, but also won't let you work from home instead. Make it make sense

My job years ago only gave the funeral day for a parent. That's it. Not even 3 days. That is how much America values family and mental health.

When my little brother died my boss just said "Take as long as you need."

I remember when my grandmother died and the woman I worked for at the time told me.I know your Grandma just died, but it's not fair to the company that you're going to be gone for 4 days.Can you not go to your grandma's funeral....best believe I went

When my dad died, I had already worked my shift and call my boss and told her I needed to go. She said she could not allow me to go. I told her that I was not asking I was telling. And that when I get back, we would have a discussion on the way she was treating me. Her reply was that she would need a copy of the obit published in the local paper as proof Dad actually died. (What?) When I returned to work, I went to her office and made the paint peel off the walls. I did not use foul language but absolutely stood my ground. People treat you the way you allow them to treat you. I did not usually take the power lead but when I do it's satisfying. I always had outstanding job performance awards every year, so I felt I was a very good employee. Always accommodated when they needed extra things done. Always did my job100% every day. She was crying as I walked out.

This is so sad. They wonder why people don't want to work. Reiterate. Work for them!

Companies have really turned on their employees in the last decade. I’ve been told, after expressing interest in another department that I’m easily replaceable. Well good because they’ll be replacing me when I resign.

My lead asked me the other day what was I doing, I told her working on my resume

Absolute sociopaths.

This was my experience with my former, micromanaging director. The pandemic was actually a God-send, since it allowed me to work from home and away from the toxic environment of the office. When we were finally allowed to return to work, that's when I decided to retire. It was a really hard decision because I loved my job and it had been a source of joy for a quarter of a century. I just couldn't take working with the director and her small circle of sycophants.

My employer once told me that my grandmother who raised me wasn't my immediate family and that they were docking my pay for the time off, several months after the fact. I had to make the arrangements and clean out her home and deal with all of the legal stuff, plus my devastating grief. Their reaction caused me to have panic attacks, which they used as an excuse to fire me because they feared it may become an issue for them.

The disappointment is mutual.

I had this almost exact same conversations with my micromanager boss in Northvale, NJ. Only I said, "Test my patience, if you like. My lawyer loves people like you in court." It was way before coronavirus! She was questioning why I needed 2 days off for surgery. Asking me, "What kind of surgery? Why would I need 2 days? Who is your doctor? Why can you not come back to work the same day?" My response to each of these questions was, "Apologies, but I do not feel comfortable discussing my medical needs with anyone except my doctors. Please respect that." Micromanager then dragged me into HR. Where I told HR representative the same thing and had my attorney on my cell phone speaker. Oh, the micromanager was "reprimanded". But I left a year & 7 months later when I was only given an $.08 an hour raise because, "You disrespected our work family protocols. I expect answers to my questions whether, or not, I am your doctor." Micromanager still works there with a really crappy staff which she wholeheartedly deserves!!!

Veronica is my hero

My department was put under a different VP and she tried that family bullshit with me while also gaslighting me. I quit asap and I had been working there for 22 years.

"Be a team player and bend over" is what employers really like to say. People are waking up in this broken system.

Management and HR try to 'manage expectations' by purposely ignoring emails, calls and requests. They need an ego check

That "manager" is what being brainwashed looks like. I wish I was more like Veronica.

Toxicity comes from the top and downward. It's a people problem.

PERFECT response. "You can pay me a million dollars an hour and I still won't do it. And you can test me to see if I'm kidding". Exactly. They couldn't care less about your tragedy in the family but they expect you to hop to it when they have some BS emergency. These employers are something else.

Red flag words: Team player 🚩 Family 🚩 Keep going

I have NEVER requested time off. I've TOLD them WHEN I was taking time off, purely as a favor to the other employees, so management can staff appropriately.

I'm the supervisor who has a toxic director and she wants me to treat my team of 12 like they are children who can't be trusted. I refuse to do that, which leads to my continually being in trouble. I will bend over backwards for my team because they are hard-working, productive, and intelligent adults who work as a team. I got into management to become a better boss than I'd ever had and my newish boss hates that I am liked and respected by my team, so she's doing whatever she can to destroy that.

I had a death in the family and for the entire bereavement my boss was calling and texting me about work I had pre-submitted in anticipation of the time I would need off. He was calling me while I was AT THE FUNERAL and I literally told him that I didn't have access to my laptop because I was at the church and the casket was being brought out. When I came back to work I was told that I was overreacting.

I'm so glad i have the management i have in my current role. When my dad died, i called my supervisor and said, See you in a week. She had no problem with that, and the team took turns covering for me. THAT is what a workplace should be.

This happened to me. They fired me and I threatened to sue. They paid me out a lump sum.

When a company brings up being a work family they usually arent. If they always tell you they are team they usually arent. If you ever hear these things in an interview run. A work family/team never has to say they are those things. They also wont brag about it or say it at all. They will show you, and not talk about being one.

If I hear work family, I'm quitting on the spot.

“And you can test me to see if I am kidding”😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Having been in call centers and customer service way too long...Veronica knows exactly how we're treated. She's my hero helping me get through a few more years of abuse before I finally retire.

I have had similar incident happen. My boss and colleagues take 5-6 weeks vacation in entire year in separate slots of 1-2 weeks at one time, but I asked for 4 weeks in entire year to visit my sick mom and I don't even take a day off otherwise in entire year, but was denied that due to too much workload, they won't approve it. Then I told my boss that I am taking vacation just like he and others on the team are, he said he will think about it, I still submitted 4 weeks request and it was approved eventually. I am yet to make the trip, but I hope they don't create last minute drama because of my vacation.

Easiest way I shut down that "we're a family" thing at one workplace "If I died tomorrow y'all might be sad, but you can replace me. But if I died tomorrow, my parents could never replace me. So, they come first."

Screw the boss, and take real time off to mourn your loss. Personally, when my Dad who was the survivor spouse, took ill I took three weeks off of unpaid Family Medical Leave before his passing, (it’s your right and human dignity to observe these rights. The law allows up to three months off work for this purpose). Thereafter was the funeral and staging his home for sale. I know it’s difficult to exercise what seems right to you. Do it anyhow. It’s good for the mind and the souls. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

It's AMAZING how just listening to this #toxicworkenvironment brings up sooooo much job related ABUSE from the past!!!

TRANSLATION:Don't call me when you need me when you can't be there for me in my time of need.

i have done about 70 k unpaid overtime over the last 10+ yrs for my current employer as a construction supervisor , not being paid extra for that role , training & running crews of 3 - 10 people daily , i always accepted it because i had the experience & skills to pick up the slack for my employer & wanted the company to be succeed . speaking to my employer recently i realised they have no appreciation & don't even want to acknowledge what i have done for them .These short stories are quite relevant in regards to the workplace .

That boss is crap.

When will they realize that Veronica is not the one to be tried?

If the phrases "team player" and "family" come up, just get up and walk out. You already have a family that expects you to do stuff for free. You don't need another one.

I hate the term. Team Player

“And you can test me to see if I’m kidding.” Love it!

Some companies are just pure evil!!!

Sounds like Walmart. My grandmother passed away while I was a cashier and they gave me one day - ONE DAY - of bereavement without being penalized.

I was asked to do this under Obama’s admin by Eric Holder. Wanted me to translate and interpret when I was the only Spanish speaking staff at the facility. After having my leave denied, I stopped translating for them. I was given a direct order and I refused. “Can she do that???” Yes. I didnt learn to speak Spanish while being paid by the govt. They disciplined me and I was sent home unpaid leave. I filed a lawsuit against the Obama administration and they settled out of court. Hehehehe.

“You’re definitely not Family, mine is way way way more dysfunctional. Telling you no is cake” ~ Veronica

I had a manager that always sounded sugary sweet... And she gaslit me every single day

What a horrible employer!

I work in a very toxic environment. This is exactly what they do!!!

My organization is against working remotely, though allowed. They are not concerned about morale. I can so relate to this amazing video.

Not even for a million dollars? Dang, Veronica is too principled.

I love it! Only thing I would have done differently is give them my two week notice on the spot when my bereavement time was denied.

"You can test me to see if im kidding"😂

My mom had sudden onset terminal lieukemia and put in a hospice to die. I still had to work and commute 240 miles to be with her. The day of her funeral my boss messaged me to find out when I was back as there were rota’s to completed. When I returned to work they had removed two of my managers to recoup the costs of me being missing. Also, had a performance review to say that I’d not been on top of things for the last three months!

I had started a new job and was t-boned. I asked my supervisor if I could work through my lunches so that when I went to physical therapy I wouldn't have to lose any time. She told me no; that I had to just miss the time, but she was letting another employee do it. When it came time for the deposition, I fixed my schedule so that I wouldn't miss any appointments. ( I worked two hours from home). She called a supervisor higher than she, the program manager, and then told me that he said that if I left I could consider myself terminated. I emptied my desk of my property, completed my class, and gave her my ID and keys. 40 days later, I was working my current job. Here I am 15 years later and still there. She meant it for my bad, but God meant it for my good. 😊

This is why I send everything via email. I don't play document everything

You tell her, Veronica! Wow. I wish I had guts like that.

Worked in an office of 50 people. Every single person but me worked from home (but could come to the office if they wanted; most didn't). Some days, I was the only person in the office. Every time I asked to WFH, I was told my role wasn't a remote one and someone had to be there to answer the phones and grab packages (99% of my role was computer based). I eventually quit without notice because this wasn't the only issue. IYKYK.

Wow. After all the toxic work experiences I’ve endured, your videos feel extremely cathartic. That makes me realize how many of these scenarios I’ve been through. I was punished for taking off on a Sunday at work, after my Dad had a stroke and was bleeding all over the place. My Mom couldn’t handle that and needed my help. The punishment was that everyone had to do these stupid tasks, and it was openly stated that it was because I took off, even though someone else had just taken off on a Sunday for family purposes, with 0 retaliation. I ended up quitting like a week later, on the spot, after being yelled at in front of everyone for something insignificant, and then given a second talking to in a meeting. Damn. That was years ago and it still burns. Thanks for your videos 🙏🏽

The best thing about retirement is the toxic work environment goes out the window!

Yep, employees need to be team players but it doesn't work the other way around...🙄 I feel privileged to work in a healthy environment now! 😇

Never pay attention to 'loyalty' or 'family' when used by companies. It's only ever a one-way street. That said, as a manager, I try very hard to make our work environment a place that people recognize is a good place to work. Holding on to good employees is vital.

“The disappointment is mutual.” 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 I will have to use that one. 😂

Why was 1:44 so relatable? The quickness to answer, “How are you?”

The "....test me to see if I'm kidding", was 🔥 🔥 🔥!!!

I had numerous doctors say I needed work from home as a reasonable accommodation but my job said no. One year later the pandemic hit and suddenly work from home was ok. I asked if it could continue like my doctors suggested when we return to the office and was told no. I quit before I had to return and intentionally left a mountain of work for them to cover once I was gone.

My Dad was out of town for work when my Grandma died. They sent the company plane to bring him home. Can't find those companies anymore.

I just love these characters! What goes around comes around.

YOU CAN TEST ME TO SEE IF IM KIDDING 😭😭😭😭 why am i exactly the same 😭😭😭

They put us through so much.

This is spot on, I learned many years ago that being a "Team Player" actually means inconvenience yourself when we, the company, demand it 😂😂😂

Oh my goodness - That was so toxic that I couldn’t even finish watching it because it made me sick to my stomach. That is just so toxic! Thank you for making these movies to illustrate to many of us that some things that we have been putting up with are totally inappropriate and one-sided . Thank you!

Use this time to find another job and get the living hell out of there.

I absolutely loathe call centers and sales rep jobs, did it twice, 20 years ago and I said "never again". Stayed true to my word so far! Same goes for fast food.

I felt so sorry for Veronica. My heart broke when she was simply asking for help. Company profits should never take precedence over human compassion.

I am so thankful that it work for a manager that will literally bend over backwards to make sure that our personal lives are good! I had a similar situation and she was just so lovely about and even emailed corporate letting them know that I will not be at work because of personal reasons!

WOW. How dare any employer say that to someone!