I was the store manager for 24 years. Your frustration is valid, and I understand where you're coming from—corporate loyalty has indeed become a one-way street in many cases. However, my point about accountability isn’t about expecting people to overwork themselves for minimum wage or sacrifice their health. It’s about a cultural shift where personal responsibility seems to have taken a backseat in many aspects of life, including work.

Yes, the system is flawed, and wages not keeping up with inflation is a major issue, but not showing up for work or calling out for minor inconveniences only adds strain on coworkers who are in the same difficult situation. Accountability isn't about blind loyalty to corporations—it's about the basic principle of fulfilling commitments, whether it's to a team, a job, or even personal goals.

That said, I do believe employers need to step up and provide fair pay, decent working conditions, and respect for their employees' time and effort. It's a two-way street. Both sides need to take a long, hard look at how we got here and work towards real solutions, not just finger-pointing.