I've had a fair share of employment stories in my time and this is one of my first ones.
Back in the days, when I was a student, one of my first job was in housekeeping for a relatively big and well known hotel chain. After a couple of days of training, we (the new recruits) were sent on our own…. I know, I know… cleaning a hotel room is as easy as cleaning your own room at home. Well … almost so, if you get to clean a few in a day. Not so much if you get to clean 10 or 15 in an 8 hour shift and still get it done perfectly. No OT ofc. OT for base hourly pay is expensive. 🙂
As a couple of weeks went by, the manager started complaining about the level of work we do and how their top 10 years on the job cleaners get it right and we the fresh blood s*** at it. Here come the daily “You'll be fired on the spot” … warnings to say it politely… if you don't do your job as the above mentioned veterans. “Hey, we can't really do it perfect and fast … yet.” and I got an angly face staring at me.
Fast forward a week of daily “fired on the spot” talk and we get to the day X. “The department is slightly understaffed today so each of you gets 20 rooms. Do it fast and perfect or get … fired on the spot.”
This got too long so give me a line or two more to finish it up.
“So I'm sorry but I don't really feel comfortable with unrealistic goals and constant abuse so here, take my card and my rooms list and have a good day.” – that's kinda fun thing to say to your manager on an understaffed and overly busy day. There was some yelling, a small involvement of security to make sure I leave the hotel… like I wanted to stay… and as some buddies (who did not quit that day) reported the manager had to put on the apron and get to work like she has not done in the last few years at least.
And besides that, although we paid for food, we were frawned upon if we eat more at lunch than management determined…. arbitrary ofc.