So I would like to preface that I am a 16 year old who had a part-time job so obviously if you are like a mum of 5 or something and you are thinking about quitting, I would think it through a lot more than what I am going to mention but like just for the lols I am going to tell you my personal opinion.

I had been working at a restaurant for ages and like it was good and stuff but like also fucking horrible because I was paid fuck all, I was treated like shit but customers and other staff and I was literally working very illegal hours. Like I worked 11 and half an hour shifts one time. And at the end of that shift I was scared that this drunk couple were about to jump me or something. I did love the drama to be honest, but like that was only every once in a while. Tips were alright like but I also don’t think that is the main reason I quit because I mean I feel bad for expecting tips. But I mean even fucking 10p to show your appreciation would be great. But no, I hated the job after a few months of working there and my manager was doing my fucking head in so I just quit. Let me explain some things more for you though to show you why I quit and then I’ll sum up my feelings and regrets.

The Staff

Where the fuck do I even start. Well, I guess I’ll say that the other waiters and waitresses where all lovely and it was my bad for not speaking to them much because I am quite as fuck, but like I do kinda miss that side of it. But there was this one chef who thought he was Gordon fucking Ramsey and would shout at everything you did. He would switch it up sometimes though and would actually be nice but then I would know that in the moment because I was scared that if I laughed or smiled he would dice me up and put me in a stew. So he definitely did my head in and made work a living hell. The thing is that he wasn’t even head chef and would shout at you for nothing. My manager would be like that too. Like they were bipolar as fuck I swear to god. At the start I thought that my manager was really nice and that I just wasn’t good at my job/she was trying to hold in her judgements. But then a few days before I quit, me and the other people working were talking about how fucking annoying she is. Like the best way to explain it is if a Karen did a sneaky twist and actually became the manager. No joke. She had that “school receptionist/nurse” walk and just would stare at me with her eyes wide opening if I even breathed in her direction.

There was one time when it was really busy and I was like what the fuck is even going on and I thought I had just got everything under control and she came over and was like “why didn’t you ring these on?” and then I realised I forgot to ring on some drinks so I was like oh sorry but she was obviously pissed which I guess is understandable but also simmer down. And then later on I forgot again because I was just busy and it went out of my head, and then in front of the fucking customers (who were actually very nice) she went right up in my face and was like “why did you do that again? You can’t do that. That’s really bad. Why are you doing that? This is so bad for the business!” And here I am nearly in tears while she acts like I just bombed the place and the customers are right there and I am just smiling and apologising awkwardly. But I wish I could have said something and walked out because that would have been a bomb moment.

And the thing is, and I realise it now, is that I don’t get paid to give a fuck. I really don’t care if a fucking drink isn’t put on the bill. Maybe tell me again in another £5 pay raise and then we can talk, but like I am the one doing you a favour. I could quite easily get some police down and they would have a field day finding evidence that it is a sketchy fucking employment system, but no, I am going to try my best and if it doesn’t work out then fuck off.

The Hours

So I am in 6th year, which basically means my last 2 year before I go to uni, so it’s stressful and a lot of work, but then I would have to end up doing a work shift after all that as well. Obviously that isn’t there fault because it was my choice, but that was a me problem. The weekend hours and the lack of breaks was what did it for me. So I said before that I did a 11 and a half hour shift, and that wasn’t my first one. I had done 2 other 11 hour shifts before and there was a time where I worked 6 days in a row. I mean I got the money and stuff but here is the catch. Firstly, that is illegal to even offer my age group those types of hours, and secondly, if your shift was over 5 hours, you were only given a 20 minute break. And it doesn’t mean that you get another 20 minutes after 10 hours. No. No matter how long your shift is, as long as it is over 5 hours you only get 20 minutes. It was paid to be fair but like here I am on an 11 hour shift and only 20 minutes break. I would gladly take an unpaid break because I was exhausted at the end. That basically from open to close and having to cope with all the lunch and dinner waves of people. Have to admit I was near in tears all of those times. And this was all on a minimum wage job which is like £4.62 per hour, so I wouldn’t even come home with enough to make it worth it. I would come home with some change and fucking back problem.

Customers…

Do I even need to elaborate on this one? NO. But I will anyways. Don’t get me wrong, there are so many really nice customers that literally make your day and it doesn’t even take much to be in that category. Just a thank you and smiling and not ignoring them. Also, if they’ve made a mistake they have probably had a rough day so just be kind and act like it isn’t a problem. Now that we have cleared that up, lets talk about the Karen’s that you meet.

To be fair, I don’t think I have met them all because I only worked for a few months, but like I have seen more than enough. I have had people be like “this coke is flat” 10 minutes after I gave it to them. Like obviously it’s gonna go flat if you leave it for ages. I have had people swear at me, make me feel uncomfortable *cough*men*cough* and people that are just done right fucking rude. And I can’t do shit about it. There was this one time where this guy was like “can I call you honey” and here is me, 16 years old, just wanting to get his order and finish my fucking shift and just like “ha…” like what the fuck do I say. He literally could have been my granda but like… the audacity of this hoe.

There are also some guys that just wink at you, but I think that a majority of the time it is just what they do because they are literally with their girlfriend. So here I am literally “is that everything” and the guy is just here 😉 winking away and I’m like, charming tbh, but also what the fuck. It is funny though to be honest, especially when they pronounce things weird (although tbh I don’t know how to pronounce some of them) and there are times where people are like “what should I get” but as a literal question and I’m here like “I really don’t fucking know or care. Like I literally have 5 other tables and I don’t give a fuck” and here I am “umm people really like the crispy chilli chicken” and they go for something completely different like “oh right, I’ll go for the fish pie then please” and I’m just there like what the fuck. So 10/10 don’t recommend you do that to anyone.

So I think I am going to wrap it up there but also I have to tell you whether or not I regret quitting and whether or not it was a mistake. I have 2 words for you, FUCK NO. Best decision of my life. I mean I was depressed before my job but during it, that was shit. Like I now have a bit of time to myself, I don’t have to stress our about everything or whether or not table 6 got their bloody bbq sauce. Maybe it just wasn’t for me, but waitressing is not my thing and I respect those who do that as a full time job because I could not be coping. But yeah, that’s me all done and I hope you found this amusing or eye-opening in some sort of way. So if you take anything from this post, let it be this. You are the one doing your boss the favour, not the other way around, so leave that hoe. I hope you have a great day, stay safe and stay yourself PERIODT.

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