JCC Pretty sure this is it...I'm about to have a mental breakdown

Working 6 days a week without an actual rest day (the 7th day is always spent on errands) for the past few months has finally brought me to the edge. I am getting so sick of dealing with people. If you go to a restaurant and the server kindly explains to you that your meal will be taking longer than expected due to the kitchen crashing, what the heck gives you the nerve to blame the server and accusing him/her of supposedly ringing in your meal late?

This is but one of hundreds of stupid, moronic issues I've had to deal with this past week, and I think I've had enough. Just enough. People get so worked up and angry about their food service without bothering to understand how the whole restaurant system works, so the server always gets the business end of the stupid stick. Not going to tip me because the kitchen messed up? Yeah, that's a server's fault. Not going to tip because the prices aren't comparable to McDonald's? Yeah, the server's to blame for that, too. And hey, you're yelling so loud that spittle is spraying from your face and the server has resorted to a manager to deal with you from now on so you won't tip? Yup. You guessed it. That's the server's fault.

Oh. My. God. Working two high volume restaurant jobs has doubled my stress, doubled my internal turmoil (lol?), and has doubled my absolute misery with everything.

Last week, a fight also broke out at one of my restaurants because of the Patriots losing to the Ravens. A huge fight between six guys in which tables were turned over, people (old women, little children) were pushed aside so these men could smash their fists into each other's faces and spray blood everywhere.

What the frak. Restaurant jobs are so underrated with regards to tension and stress.

 

Live within your means so that you don't have to kill yourself to leave beyond your means.

 

Working with customers is the number one reason I went back to school to find employment where I don't have to deal with people. I may not make the most money in the world, nor is my job glamorous or interesting to anyone outside of my field but I like that I wake up and look forward to going into work because I never have to deal with customers.

Also I argee with Harps. Cut back so you don't have to drive yourself crazy to make ends meet.

 

I've long thought that instead of mandatory military service, everyone should be forced to work some sort of customer service oriented job for two years.

 

Have you considered looking for other lines of work?

 

Microsoft is hiring tons of people down there to open their new stores, check it out.

 

I do love Microsoft...


As for other lines of work. I've been looking and working in other lines of work since I graduated with my MBA. But nothing pays as well as the jobs I currently work. Bills have forced me to stay in an industry where people forget that we're supposed to be above animals.

 

that's why i work in the kitchen. make steady bank, don't have to deal with customers, and i get to berate servers if i feel like it.

 

quit one of your jobs and spend some time with your family! this is such a no-brainer valyn. ugh. your daughter is only going to be this small once, and not only are you going to miss it you're going to be miserable the whole time!

 

That's sound advice tom. I missed the first 7 months of my son's life training for my current job. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.

 

How were the tips?

 

So beezel DID take my advice and ask you for a loan...


In all seriousness, hunt around, find something which has a good starting pay which can cover your bills and give you a little something extra. You cannot expect to make exactly what you were making when you transition your career from one sector to another, you may need to lower your expectations a bit in order to get your foot in the door to where you can make more with time. Friend of mine was in a similar position, had a job in sales for years, got an MIS degree but started out doing tech support for the ISP I used to work for. He eventually built up his resume to the point where employers were comfortable hiring him to do stuff he went to school for. The longer he was in sales, the bigger a shadow it cast over his IT ambitions and made potential employers shy away from hiring him for MIS degree jobs. You only live once, grab the bull by the horns and enjoy the ride.

 

kyle katarn, performing mouth to mouth as always on the desiccated, worm-eaten, eye-less corpse of the american dream.

but seriously valyn i think you're judgement is getting better. when i saw this thread i was like damn by the time i click this they'll have driven him to suicide. but you were just complaining about work, not the kind of overshare we love to take advantage of. good on you

that's not fair. dude's a young dad with a kid. its hard out here for a pimp

 

I hear ya. I absolutely hate, HATE working with customers and on some levels my job involves doing just that. But luckily my interactions are mostly limited to a few calls here and there and many emails, nowhere near as hectic and crappy as what Valyn describes.

Valyn, dude, I can't recall how many times I told you to get out of the service industry while you still could. But that was many years ago before a wife and a baby came along. Now you have to make ends meet for the three of you and I sincerely don't envy you. Regardless, it's never too late to consider a career change or reconsider other options that could potentially improve your living standard; even in this economy there are always options.

But there has got to be some way in which you could cut costs that may allow you to have a decent standard of living without slaving yourself to death or insanity. Review your bank and cc statements and analyze your spending. See what activities or otherwise superfluous expenditures you should refrain from and, of course, reach a consensus with your partner in that regard. Your may find yourself with considerably more money in your wallet that way. There's nothing you can do about fixed expenses, but perhaps there is some way in which you can restructure your credit card or student loan debt. Perhaps think about doing so with your mortgage as well if you have a chance to refinance your loan for a lower rate and monthly payment. And failing that...maybe consider finding yourself a new place suitable for your needs as well as your budget.

I'm certain you have certain personal factors to consider in regards to making drastic changes in your lifestyle, but I suspect the reality of your situation is now hitting you hard and relentlessly. So it's time for a change, man. You best get to it now before it's too late.

 

The hard thing when you're that busy is that you're too tired to look for another job. Sounds crazy but its true, that's how it worked at my original office job... we were all miserable but couldn't seem to break free.

And then of course the longer you stay in this industry the harder it will be to get out.

You need to give it a shot.

 

what's the point of the additional income if you're miserable?.

 

BUSINESS END OF THE STUPID STICK

 

Whoever said the customer is always right never accounted for the depths of human stupidity.