Should I quit?
I recently started working as a dental assistant for a dentist in Canada. He told me it would be a “part-time” role, but it’s actually 6 hours a day, 6 days a week, and this week I worked 7 days straight for around 50 hours total.
This is my first job ever, so I genuinely didn’t know what was considered normal workplace behavior. The dentist expects me to learn extremely quickly because several experienced assistants are going on maternity leave, and he wants me to be at the same level as assistants who have been working with him for 2–20 years.
The issue is the way he treats me. He constantly yells at me in front of staff and patients. Some patients have even asked me if I’m okay and told him to be nicer to me. He brushes it off by saying he’s “just training” me. Today he yelled at me for almost 5 hours straight, and I ended up crying when I got home.
He handed out paychecks to everyone today except me and said he would “give mine later.” That made me really anxious because I’m considering quitting due to how badly I’m being treated, but I’m scared he’ll refuse to pay me if I leave.
My dad told me to quit because this environment sounds toxic, but I honestly don’t know what to do since this is my first job and I don’t know what’s normal or how to handle this professionally.
I guess I’m asking:
• Is this behavior normal in dental offices?
• How should I ask for my pay without creating conflict?
• If I quit, how can I make sure I still get paid for the hours I already worked?
• Has anyone dealt with something similar in healthcare/dental settings?
I’d really appreciate advice because I feel overwhelmed and inexperienced right now.