I (F21) have started working at a new bakery/cafe. The first day of my shift was great! It's always a little chaotic when starting somewhere new. However, today I made a mistake and smudged three cakes. I felt ashamed but figured it wasn't too bad, especially since the manager told me to get the cake decorator to fix it.
As I was about to head back there, several coworkers warned me that I was about to be yelled at and to “bite the bullet.” This filled me with anxiety and dread. I've worked in kitchens before and expect some sort of repercussion, but I have never had an entire staff warn me about potential verbal abuse.
When I went back there, I could tell they were annoyed, but they didn’t say anything to me. Maybe they gave me a pass because I'm new. However, when I returned, the staff were huddled around whispering about what I'd done. They weren’t rude, and the assistant manager told me to ignore the cake decorators and not to worry about it, saying it happens to everyone. Still, this felt like a major red flag to me.
Afterward, I couldn't perform well and began making more mistakes. Now, I’m filled with dread about returning to work. Should I ask the manager about this? While I'm okay with growing a thick skin, everyone seemed to be on edge and concerned for me.
After some snooping, I noticed several concerning reviews from other ex-employees sharing the same sentiment. I don't know what to do. I don't want to feel this dread every time I come into work, anticipating a mistake. The main manager also reached out to me nonchalantly via text after my shift, telling me how to fix my mistake. I feel like I’m about to be executed for making a mistake on my second day of work.
Should I bring this up with the manager, or is this just how things are here? How should I handle this situation to avoid feeling constant anxiety at work? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.