Leaving My Job. Again.

Tomorrow morning, will be my last day at this one job.

Little back story:

I started at this restaurant because I needed to get out of the job I was in. My sister was working at this job as a server. I would come on as a line cook. Things were good. I got a raise within a few months. Started learning new things. Within six months I invited myself to the manager meetings. Things were good.

Then, I tore my ACL, and I was out of work for a while. They asked me to come back two weeks before my doctor released me. That was when I knew something wasn't right. My recovery from my ACL surgeries hindered a lot to this day. I was restricted on my hours per doctor's orders. But they didn't see it that way. They didn't care about my recovery.

I had to get a second surgery. They let me have my days off. But I was still had to recover. I needed to recover fully, and I wasn't able to because I couldn't say no. It took me a long time to say no. I should have started looking for a new job right then and there. But this was a for sure job.

One of the departments needed help, so natural they asked me. I was trained for three days then the head of the department quit. I barely knew what I was doing. All I knew was other locations needed the product. I put in twelve fifteen hour days. In a row. Drinking back to back energy drinks.

I had the owner, the owner's wife, and marketing director telling me how to do things and how to run things. Then, I found myself being pulled in other departments. I wasn't getting paid enough for this. I knew I wasn't. I was put in charge of something I knew nothing about. In the middle of summer. So that was a thing.

The best part though I do have to say, was that I was in charge of my own schedule. But what this company didn't realize was that I was doing it all on my own. Sure, I brought on a few people, but they only lasted so long. Then, and old friend started working for the company. We haven't seen each other in about six or seven years. Seeing her again was a surprise. So I brought her on.

She would keep me in line and help out where she could. She did an amazing job. She became my right hand person. I did the making she would help me and guide with all the paper work. I'm not good at paper work. Never was. She kept me organized.

It was getting to point where I was training new people as a manager and finding out they were getting paid more than I was. That was my final straw. Four years I put into this place and they hire on other people and pay them more. I was a manager and I was getting paid less than a new line cook, that I had trained. I was in charge of six locations. SIX!

I was being pulled in about ten different directions. To help other departments because I was one of the strong ones. I couldn't do it anymore. I had so many mental breakdowns. Many times where I cried, because no one would hear me. I was fighting for changes, but they were falling on deaf ears. I gotta say it's probably because I am not a man.

So I decided to move to California and they didn't like that. But they weren't paying me enough. I trained my friend and gave her what she needed. I trained two other people and it was out of my hands. I told them I would keep in touch if they had any questions. They still did. I was happy to answer them.

I came back home from California and my best friend Ethan, got me at job at his new work place. I trained him at our previous job. Turned out another coworker we used to work with worked there too. That place is so much better, and I get paid my worth. Sure it's still cooking, but it's less stress. We're only open for five hours. I'm home early.

I love it. But a few weeks ago my old friend that I trained for the department I left asked me to come back. I did. Only because she helped me out. So I was returning the favor. Told what days I could work since I had my other job, and that I wanted to get paid one dollar less than her. She's my boss now, I wanted to be fair. Well, now, we're both quitting.

I'm quitting again. What they did to me, they are doing to her. It's not right. It's not fair. That department is being treated like dirt and a storage space. It's a big money maker, but the owner doesn't want to waste anymore money on the department. Yet he can go on vacations with his family.

So far this month, this company has lost five more people. Everyone keeps leaving, because they are overworked and underpaid. The owner just keeps piling things onto these kids that are barely out of high school. Who does that? Why would you do that? They're just kids still trying to find their way in the world.

When my friend told me she put in her two weeks I was so happy. We both can't be in that place. Tomorrow is my last day. She's going to stick out until the end of the month. I did my part. But now that he is struggling to find people is karma in my eyes. He had the best people working for him.

Then, he drove them away. He had the best trainers and he drove them away. He's all about family values. But how many family moments has his employees missed because they couldn't get a shift covered? When someone covers their shifts but no one covers theirs. My mom had a heart attack a few years back and I couldn't see her because no one would return the favor I gave. The company is just a wreck.

How does a company go through six General Managers in four months? I'm quitting because what my friend and I have been fighting for has been falling on deaf ears. We're tired. We're done. It's a broken record at this point. We're at the point where we don't care. The turn out rate for that company is the highest I have ever seen.

I've been in the restaurant industry for ten years. Been in plenty of restaurants, and this one was definitely the worst one I have ever worked for. I only went back to help my old department, and that was it. I'm so glad I'm leaving again. I'll be able to breathe again. They filled us with empty promises. No place should ever do that.

If you're not being treated right at a job, leave. They will try to get to you to stay. They will say all the right things, and pull you in. They did it to me. Don't let a company do that to you.