I've been a restaurant worker since sixteen, I am now thirty three. For years I never even made close to fifteen an hour. Almost every position you could think of, I have worked. Most recently I was dishwashing. The place I worked at resides right by lake michigan, in a district that's very much aimed at attracting tourists.
So I'm making $13/hr, five nights a week. It's a two man pit, I am doing everything by myself. The serving staff doesn't do shit to help put away or organize which they should. The temperature is rising, the customer numbers keep going up. Many nights I'm constantly wiping the sweat out of my eyes.
Yesterday I went in and the washer was busted, so they had guys working on repairing it. I sat for over an hour, unable to do my job just thinking. My son just turned four, and I'm putting up with this? I'm lifting so much, that waking up physically hurts for this amount of pay? To be sidelined this passively?
I walked. Today is my first day free. I'm upset, feel betrayed, wasted, I have no leads but a lot of connections. I've enough to pay rent, that's about it. If I am ever to be paid less than this ever again, it ends before the interview does. No more.