I am/was a chef, started washing dishes and porting at 14, cooking on the line 15, by June this year (a few months after turning 21) I got my first senior management position.
The Head Chef
Based on the shit I went through to get there, furthermore adding in the shit I was PUT through, I came in blasting.
With my new pull I demanded we get breaks (15 hour shifts, no breaks, up to 12/13 days in a row at times), actually created a detailed and adhered structure to follow to upkeep hygiene, create a new fridge plan and rotation system, asked them to remove the asbestos that was in the storage hall and lastly tried to arrange adequate ventilation for the 36 degree Celsius kitchen.
I was threaten to be potentially fired or worse, then said I’d do whatever I could to help the team myself, which lead to getting gaslight, sabotaged and manipulated on an almost hourly basis by my fellow management and above.
I got to the point of 18 hours a day, done 14 days solid, lost around a stone in weight in 3-4 weeks and couldn’t speak once I left work. I don’t know what it was or how to explain it but I could function on a high level at work but as soon as I clocked home and sat down and freeze, just staring at the wall, locked in my head, girlfriend thought I was nuts.
She forced me to quit seen as I had become a mute skeleton.
The next job I got as head chef, higher pay, smaller place, idyllic small business vibe.
Nope, unlawfully deducted wages of all staff, hired only female migrants (aside from myself), cameras EVERYWHERE, MICROPHONESSSSSSSS TFF
After 3 months, I stood up for myself and everyone, got sacked and also threatened with legal action.
I’m taking my time applying for non-hospitality jobs, enjoying time with my girlfriend and our new kitten, spending time with family and working on a hobby before I can to rejoin the rat race.
If you for some reason read all the way to the end, I congratulate and commend you, wish you all the blessings and thank you for listening.
Cheers!