Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
User submission
1.7K
‘Guys. She Quit After One Shift’: Person From An Office Job Tries Working In A Food Service Job, Gets A Reality Check
What do you think of when you think of working for minimum wage? Flipping burgers? Sweeping floors? Putting money in a cash register? Maybe if you haven’t had one of those jobs before. Otherwise, you’re probably thinking of carrying bags of garbage that weigh half as much as you do, sweating profusely, sticking your hands in disgusting substances, and being treated like dirt by the general public.
A Tumblr page that invites followers to submit stories airing their frustrations with working in service jobs posted this submission in which a waiter witnessed what happened when someone who was used to having a cushy office job gave food service a try. She didn’t even last one shift after finding out what anybody who works in food service could have told her, that “low-skill” jobs are not low-effort.
RELATED:
Image credits: gurmit singh (Not the actual photo)
Someone submitted this story to a blog where service workers vent
Obviously, every work environment has its disadvantages, but another person who went from working in retail to a desk job agreed that it feels downright luxurious compared to being on your feet all day and being nagged not to lean on the counter or drink water in front of customers.
People with desk jobs might take their freedom for granted: a study in the UK in 2016 found that on average, office workers spent barely three hours of their eight-hour workday focusing on work. That’s not necessarily a condemnation of them—psychologists suspect that there’s simply an upper limit to the time people can focus on cognitive work like writing, and in a culture of 40-hour work weeks for all, that time just isn’t used efficiently.
This user shared their experience going from retail to a desk job
You might have been told before that everybody should work in food service at least once in their life. Reading this thread, it’s hard not to agree. If you eventually end up in a job that’s less physically demanding, knowing what the service world is like can give you empathy, unlike people who verbally abuse service workers and argue against minimum wage increases from a position of not even knowing what their jobs are like.
Commenters agreed that service jobs are not for the faint of heart
129Kviews
Share on Facebook What do you think ?
John L 6 years ago
There seems to be an inverse relationship to how much someone is paid and how hard they work. Well I guess that's what happens when you shift to a service based economy from an industrial one.
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
The prez getting briefed watching his favorite tv shows and communicating with his fellow citizens via Twitter comes to mind. Saad
Load More Replies...
Daniel R. 6 years ago
I work in an office where this girl got hired from a completely different background job and now she takes absolute full advantage of stopping and chit chatting/gobbling up all the snacks in the break room because she never had that before at any other of her jobs. I get it's new to her and she likes the leniency but don't just abuse the system - you'll ruin it for the rest of us. For anyone reading this heading to a job where they are lenient about your tardiness or breaks, please keep the rest of your co-workers in mind and not blow it for everyone else.
Geri Stevens 5 years ago
Cut your comment out and stick it to her monitor (=
Load More Replies... 
Kathleen Barlow 6 years ago
I actually used to love working in kitchens back in the day. I've worked in an office for the last 15 years and I am bored most days in work, have limited relationships with my colleagues and I am way way fatter! Yes, it was really hard work and low paid, but I got more joy out of those jobs (and I was fitter!) than I do out my working in finance behind a computer screen. Couldn't afford to go back though, sadly.
L McN 6 years ago
I work a low paid office job now. Skilled work, but not really challenging. I hate it! In the past I worked at McDonalds, then the Army, then a contractor overseas. Contracting paid the most but was not stable, so it doesn't really get counted as comparable in that respect, and I was paid mainly for being willing to risk my life to do a basic job (where military I risked my life but was barely paid...hmmm). All of those jobs were physically demanding, in one form or another. Sure, I didn't need to run 6 miles per day working at McDonalds but I never got to sit either. I miss those jobs, I miss moving, I miss not being a fatass with medical problems. If I could pay my bills on that rate I SO would do it (in fact my wife and I are trying to make that happen....)
Load More Replies...
Jason Doakes 6 years ago
I can attest that some office jobs are quite "relaxing" (if you're not planning on having a carreer). Working hard is necessary in some jobs, but please do not mix up a "hard job" with a "job made difficult by the boss to save money". You are not a robot, you are not a slave, you have a right to rest at least 8 hours, and you deserve a living wage. In some civilized countries, imposing "hard work" is an excuse to exploit you. People doing the cleaning here where I live make at least 25.-- per hour and work in teams of four. Here, an experienced carpenter makes more money than an experienced office clerk. Here, a cashier's job at McDonalds is cashing in, and the burger-flipper flips burgers. It's not just the job, it's how your boss (and the lobbyists) wants the job to be.
Carol Emory 6 years ago
I worked as a waitress for one weekend. I made fantastic tips, but the work involved made it clear that it was not worth it. Then I see these young people woking for $2.13 an hour and the state expecting their tips will make up the difference to $7.25 per hour. No..the tips should be ON TOP OF $7.25 per hour. This is the first thing that needs to change in minimum wage. I know of one restaurant that isn't paying the difference when the waitresses fall short of $7.25 like they are supposed to by law. I tried to report the place, but the Department of Labor says the employees have to lodge a complaint. I couldn't get any of them to do it because, as crappy as the job was, it was better than being unemployed. That's why I tip the wait staff directly in cash and try to let them know of other, higher paying, less stressful jobs when I come across them.
Jacob-Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 6 years ago (edited)
I worked a few retail jobs when I was just starting to work. Teens and twenties. Then I got a job as a waitress for the 3 longest years of my life. (Cracker barrel). I sweat to death and come home smelling like turnip green juice because it would slosh out of those little bowls onto me every time. Then I would go home and pass out early every night. I will forever have respect for people in the food business. And I know not to be rude to people who touch your food. My daughter has her first job at the same restaurant. So she learned early to respect people who prepare food. Made me miss reatail.
Jon S. 6 years ago
I concur. My two months as a waiter were the worst in my life. I've worked as hard since, but only one or two days at a time when deadlines loom. Not each and every day. By comparison my office job has so much less pressure, so many more perks (I can stop for food or go to the toilet when the hell I like!), and due to my excellent colleagues, a great social life.
Fionn Dudley 6 years ago (edited)
Double the fun - food service in a hotel. Try getting up at 3:30 A.M., serving a full breakfast to oh, 200 people single-handedly, then tearing down, cleaning up and setting up for the next day. And truck deliveries twice a week. For unspeakably insulting wages, and no tips. And I'm almost 60. Please, if you stay in a hotel that offers you that awesome free breakfast, tip the poor kitchen slave.
John L 6 years ago
There seems to be an inverse relationship to how much someone is paid and how hard they work. Well I guess that's what happens when you shift to a service based economy from an industrial one.
Monika Soffronow 6 years ago
The prez getting briefed watching his favorite tv shows and communicating with his fellow citizens via Twitter comes to mind. Saad
Load More Replies... Daniel R. 6 years ago
I work in an office where this girl got hired from a completely different background job and now she takes absolute full advantage of stopping and chit chatting/gobbling up all the snacks in the break room because she never had that before at any other of her jobs. I get it's new to her and she likes the leniency but don't just abuse the system - you'll ruin it for the rest of us. For anyone reading this heading to a job where they are lenient about your tardiness or breaks, please keep the rest of your co-workers in mind and not blow it for everyone else.
Geri Stevens 5 years ago
Cut your comment out and stick it to her monitor (=
Load More Replies... Kathleen Barlow 6 years ago
I actually used to love working in kitchens back in the day. I've worked in an office for the last 15 years and I am bored most days in work, have limited relationships with my colleagues and I am way way fatter! Yes, it was really hard work and low paid, but I got more joy out of those jobs (and I was fitter!) than I do out my working in finance behind a computer screen. Couldn't afford to go back though, sadly.
L McN 6 years ago
I work a low paid office job now. Skilled work, but not really challenging. I hate it! In the past I worked at McDonalds, then the Army, then a contractor overseas. Contracting paid the most but was not stable, so it doesn't really get counted as comparable in that respect, and I was paid mainly for being willing to risk my life to do a basic job (where military I risked my life but was barely paid...hmmm). All of those jobs were physically demanding, in one form or another. Sure, I didn't need to run 6 miles per day working at McDonalds but I never got to sit either. I miss those jobs, I miss moving, I miss not being a fatass with medical problems. If I could pay my bills on that rate I SO would do it (in fact my wife and I are trying to make that happen....)
Load More Replies... Jason Doakes 6 years ago
I can attest that some office jobs are quite "relaxing" (if you're not planning on having a carreer). Working hard is necessary in some jobs, but please do not mix up a "hard job" with a "job made difficult by the boss to save money". You are not a robot, you are not a slave, you have a right to rest at least 8 hours, and you deserve a living wage. In some civilized countries, imposing "hard work" is an excuse to exploit you. People doing the cleaning here where I live make at least 25.-- per hour and work in teams of four. Here, an experienced carpenter makes more money than an experienced office clerk. Here, a cashier's job at McDonalds is cashing in, and the burger-flipper flips burgers. It's not just the job, it's how your boss (and the lobbyists) wants the job to be.
Carol Emory 6 years ago
I worked as a waitress for one weekend. I made fantastic tips, but the work involved made it clear that it was not worth it. Then I see these young people woking for $2.13 an hour and the state expecting their tips will make up the difference to $7.25 per hour. No..the tips should be ON TOP OF $7.25 per hour. This is the first thing that needs to change in minimum wage. I know of one restaurant that isn't paying the difference when the waitresses fall short of $7.25 like they are supposed to by law. I tried to report the place, but the Department of Labor says the employees have to lodge a complaint. I couldn't get any of them to do it because, as crappy as the job was, it was better than being unemployed. That's why I tip the wait staff directly in cash and try to let them know of other, higher paying, less stressful jobs when I come across them.
Jacob-Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 6 years ago (edited)
I worked a few retail jobs when I was just starting to work. Teens and twenties. Then I got a job as a waitress for the 3 longest years of my life. (Cracker barrel). I sweat to death and come home smelling like turnip green juice because it would slosh out of those little bowls onto me every time. Then I would go home and pass out early every night. I will forever have respect for people in the food business. And I know not to be rude to people who touch your food. My daughter has her first job at the same restaurant. So she learned early to respect people who prepare food. Made me miss reatail.
Jon S. 6 years ago
I concur. My two months as a waiter were the worst in my life. I've worked as hard since, but only one or two days at a time when deadlines loom. Not each and every day. By comparison my office job has so much less pressure, so many more perks (I can stop for food or go to the toilet when the hell I like!), and due to my excellent colleagues, a great social life.
Fionn Dudley 6 years ago (edited)
Double the fun - food service in a hotel. Try getting up at 3:30 A.M., serving a full breakfast to oh, 200 people single-handedly, then tearing down, cleaning up and setting up for the next day. And truck deliveries twice a week. For unspeakably insulting wages, and no tips. And I'm almost 60. Please, if you stay in a hotel that offers you that awesome free breakfast, tip the poor kitchen slave.
You May Like 160 Motivational Quotes For Work To Get Those Projects Done 64 Of The Worst Jobs Ever, As Shared By People On The Internet 124 Motivational Gym Quotes Better Than Protein
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Neilas Šurkus
Saimonas Lukošius
Related on Bored Panda
154
51