I hadn't worked in a restaurant in a couple decades and found myself in a country club dining room between Christmas and New Years. I had worked in restaurants for close to 15 years, from high school through graduate school, and have done basically everything. I can remember it being from time to time ribald, but I was not prepared for the mouth of this particular coworker. It seemed every time I dropped a spoon, there “Juan” was with some puerile “no I'm not in prison any more, I couldn't possibly assfuck you comment.” Once, ok hahaha. They kept calling me back in because, well, I'm good. And the comments persisted. I have no fear of work or sweat or sore feet, so when I am there, shit gets done. Their three main servers come from abroad on work visas for an internship: they have housing, $16 an hour, with overtime paid at $17-who says the patriarchy doesn't take care of itself, right-and work six days a week, breakfast, lunch and dinner. They are between 20-22, and it became apparent to me that he was harassing them as well.
After I had had enough, and I was livid on that particular night, I went to the assistant dining room manager and said something to the effect of either you shut him up or I will, and, although she knew about the other three, and even told me they were documenting incidents, she did not ever ask why I was so upset, she just told me I didn't have to be there, we were a “cast of interesting characters,” and I should go with him to complete a task. I excused myself to the rest room, got ahold of myself, and finished the evening. It was only about ten more minutes.
I went home and did not return for my next shift. Two weeks passed, and they asked where I was, so I said we were on the same page. You said I didn't have to be there and I am not. They got my statement, fired the guy the next night, and called me in to work the next night. I returned to find the two managers telling me I should have been more clear, I needed to be more explicit. I just said you have three foreign kids here and you are making this about my anger. I realized that this manager thinks negatively of me, otherwise she might have cared to do her job.
Sorry not sorry. They texted at 6:00 PM last night to ask me to come in to work. Not interested. I can tell they are frantically looking for someone who works like a dog AND has less management experience, so they can shit on them.
It's not that I don't need the money. I've just been so broke for so long that there is no incentive to put up with this bullshit. We have laws for a reason.
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