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Walmart employee was upset about having to work on Labor Day — she went home $1 million richer

The Walmart staff worker had planned for the whole day with her family but was asked to work on the holiday. She did not regret it after.

BY TIYASA BISWAS

PUBLISHED 12 HOURS AGO

Walmart employee Anna Hines walks through the parking lot of the soon-to-opened Wal-Mart September 21, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Tim Boyle)

Hard work pays off in more ways than one. A Walmart employee dragged herself to work on Labor Day but reaped the benefits upon returning home. Rebeca Gonzalez, who worked at a Walmart store in Los Angeles, was called in last minute by her manager on the occasion. Easy to figure, she was not at all thrilled about it, rather displeased, about her foiled plans, but somehow clocked in at work. Moments later, she walked home with a million dollars under her name, as reported by the California Lottery.

A Wal-Mart employee in a product aisle. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | James Leynse)

Counting on the Labor Day leave for some time, Gonzalez had planned for a sweet family time and a barbecue to celebrate her holiday. However, the urgent call to work on her day off left her at a crossroads. Not willing to risk her job, she decided to go as the L.A. County Walmart store had been short-staffed on the busy holiday. She said, “It was Labor Day, and they only needed me for three hours. I wanted to obviously be home with my family because we planned to barbecue.” Originally, Gonzalez had decided to buy a Single, Double,Triple Scratchers game at lunch, but completely forgot about it while at work. She almost forgot about it until on her way back, rushing to the ongoing barbecue at her home.

Family cooking on a grill in their garden. (Representative Image source: Getty Images |Klaus Vedfelt)

When passing by a vendor, she suddenly recalled her plan and bought a game– one that would change her life for the better. “I’d planned on buying one on my break, but it was so busy I totally forgot. I didn’t remember I was going to buy a Scratchers until I left for the night and passed by the machines,” Gonzalez explained. Until now, she had purchased two scratchers for a month to earn some extra cash from the state lottery. The biggest amount she could win was $50. On Labor Day, Gonzalez decided to try her luck once again. As the machine checked out her ticket, her face lit up with joy when she realized she had actually won a million dollars. “I couldn’t believe it!” she exclaimed

A woman holding a pen near lottery tickets on a table. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | LightFieldStudios)

With a mere $10 investment, Gonzalez became an instant millionaire. She paid off her debt, bought a new five-bedroom home with her husband, and above all, was happy she went to work that day. However, as one would expect, she did not quit her job at Walmart. Meanwhile, nobody at work knew about her newfound fortune besides one person– the manager who had called her to work late on Labor Day. “I’ve only told one person at work, and it was the manager who wanted me to stay late on a holiday. He couldn’t believe it,” she told the California Lottery.

Happy young adult woman winning money in lottery. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Xavier Lorenzo)

She later told the LA Times that she was hesitant to buy the ticket. In her pocket, she discovered a $10 note, some leftover change she had after buying shaved ice for her daughter. Gonzalez used the money to purchase the scratcher and transformed her entire life. Speak of miracles!