01/27/2026
Asking for help isn’t easy for me, but right now it’s necessary.
In November, I took a short-term leave from work for a shoulder injury and a much-needed mental health break. This wasn’t a sudden decision—it was something that had been building for a while, and I took the leave only after being assured that my job and pay would be protected and that everything would be handled properly.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Throughout the entire 12 weeks of my leave, I had to repeatedly fight for the pay I was told I would receive. I was only paid for four of those weeks, which made it incredibly difficult to actually heal—mentally or physically—because I was constantly worried about how I was going to pay my bills and survive while I was supposed to be recovering.
At the very end of my leave, I was informed that due to a paperwork and timing technicality on the company’s end, not only would I not be receiving the roughly $4,000 in back pay I was owed, but I am now also being required to repay $2,500 that had already been paid to me. This situation was not caused by any mistake on my part, but I’m still the one left dealing with the consequences.
I return to work on February 1, but I won’t see a paycheck for at least two weeks after that. Until then, I have nothing to fall back on. Even once I’m paid again, my checks will be reduced because of having to repay money I never should have been asked to repay in the first place. My family has helped as much as they possibly can, but they have their own responsibilities, and I can’t rely on them any further.
Any help I receive will go toward very basic necessities—my car payment and gas so I can get to and from work, food, and utilities. This support would help bridge the gap so I can return to work without the added stress of not knowing how I’ll make it through the next few weeks.
If you’re able and willing to help, contributions can be sent via PayPal here:
http://www.paypal.me/jadearcadex
This past year has been one of the hardest of my life, but I’m finally in a place where I’m stable enough to move forward. I’m not giving up, and I’m doing everything I can to get back on my feet. If you can’t donate, sharing this also helps more than you know.
Thank you for reading and for supporting me in a really difficult moment.
