So I’ve been working front desk in hotels for about 2 years.
I like it since during downtime I can do homework and there is no break or lunch I have to clock out for, so I get paid the full 8 hours.
I’ve worked in corporate hotels and hotels that were privately owned and less strict. They both have their cons.
Super corporate hotels don’t like seeing their employees sit or take breaks, despite us not getting set lunches. And despite the fact that they are supposed to let us sit or eat whenever there isn’t guests present.
They micromanage to hell, and you’ll have guests treating you like garbage plus your boss. You can’t do anything! You’ll tell a guest “no we can’t do that it’s our policy.” And your manager will come right in and make you look stupid by saying “We will do this for you just once….”
But… privately owned chill hotels usually have the “We’re a family” sentiment. They make you feel like you HAVE to come in on your days off, have to be on call 24/7 to answer questions for them and have to go above and beyond because “We’re a family!” And no, they definitely won’t be paying us for answering work calls off the clock.
It’s usually a way smaller team as well, so you end up doing duties not even in your job description. I would be doing multiple jobs, running breakfast and working the desk. Then cleaning the whole kitchen AND working the desk.
Which is super hard to go back and forth. So many gloves wasted…
Anyway, my family has obviously started thinking im the problem. Understandably. I stay somewhere and then I’m miserable. So I go to the next hotel. Hotels really need people so it’s easy if you have ANY prior experience.
But, I just landed a new job. My mental health was screwed up from the toxic work cultures I’ve been in, so before my anti depressants started working I asked my new boss if I could leave earlier on one of my first days.
I was just honest. I wasn’t feeling myself and I didn’t think I’d be doing my best. She understood? Without any guilt tripping?
I would get any boss being annoyed about that, it’s not a good look. My work ethic was screwed up after all my hellish bosses. But I was so surprised by her response.
I ended up telling her I neeeded more time before I could start. I asked if we could push the start date. Like by some weeks. I didn’t know if she would accept since we agreed on a start date previously, but I knew I was lying to myself thinking I could jump right in. She was very understanding.
I’m not overly honest about being on anti depressants or anything, I just told her I needed more time to prepare. Now, after my break I feel so ready to start. My meds seem to be working and I’m so happy that I was allowed to do this.
I’m not gonna be asking to leave early or anything unless I’m sick. I do like my schedule as well. But she understood when I needed a break and that is really big to me. If any bosses are reading this, it makes me wanna do a better job!