I got hired as a “kitchen manager” and was paid the LOWEST LEGAL annual salary a person could receive. No benefits. No PTO. No vacation time. I was expected to work 60+ hours a week sometimes. I got to the worst point of my drinking during this time. Every time I would open the conversation of a raise they always came back with stuff I needed to improve on. Even when labor was brought up I would literally work open-close and use minimal staff possible. Never ever saw a raise.

I ended up quitting because an employee came in still drunk from the night before and was threatening bodily harm on me. When I realized I did not want to handle the situation myself I asked another manager. They just stood back silent and let this dude continue to threaten me. I realized right there I would never have the support i knew I deserved. Owners didn’t even do anything.

First time I had ever walked on a job. And I never returned to the restaurant/bar industry. I fell into such a bad depression.

A month went by and they actually reached out asking me if I could come back because they needed the help. I kindly declined.

Actually have ran into some of the staff that worked under me there and they all apologized to me about how I was treated and that I didn’t deserve it. But nobody ever wants to speak up in the moment because that’s just how the industry is.