I worked at a fast food chain in 2019 and it was one of the most miserable experiences of my life. Mainly a vent about my horrible job experience.
When I graduated HS I was finally looking up from one of the worst lows of depression in my life, so safe to say I really didn't have a direction figured out for my life upon graduating. I started applying everywhere after my grad. My dad got sick (important) so I just basically took the first job offer I got because I was desperate to help with bills.
The job was an absolute nightmare. I had backshift and was the only back kitchen employee, and was expected to do all the dishes/clean the lobby while balancing also making food in a very busy area. My main manager was amazing and often helped me, but there were still full weeks where I'd be skipping my lunch just so things could be done.
I genuinely think the work was slowly killing me after only a few months. My commute was so long that it was a literal sleep, shower, commute, work, commute, sleep cycle.
Long story short, I injured myself on the job and was too scared to report it because I was scared of losing my job. My dad was still in the hospital and I just… couldn't. My knee is still fucked to this day because of it.
Shortly after, my dad died. I took two weeks off, and during that time my childhood dog also died. Honestly one of the worst years of my life. I tried going back to work but I genuinely could not do it anymore. When I said I was quitting, the morning manager (not my cool overnight one) immediately tried to imply I was being weak when I mentioned my knee because she had a severe medical issue she worked through every day and never complained.
I think that specifically was what made me just pause and realized how fucked up of an environment it was. I was so taken aback by the fact that a 30 year old woman was trying to one up an 18 year old on how much suffering we were going through. I was basically expected to break myself for an ounce of respect. Really drilled into me just how dogshit things were out there. I never looked back after I left.
I wish work conditions were better. I like my current job. I like it a whole lot and would probably still do it if it wasn't mandatory to live, but even through they haven't screwed me over (yet) there is something so draining about my inescapable place in the system. I enjoy what I do but it's still slowly killing me because I'm expected to throw away the majority of my life for nothing. I was born to make art forever and have a good time with my friends until I die, not be a profit machine. I genuinely don't understand how people can look at this and say any of it is fine.