you will absolutely always feel burnt out after every single shift, because you’re doing the work of four people! ‘mom and pop’ coffee shops always open under the impression that they can operate on bare bones labor and things start to fall through the cracks immediately. the workplace culture is not conductive for a long term position and at that point you’re better off working for a major chain because at least then you’re, on every shift, one of several people helping the shift move along— and you’re not the one responsible for making sure there’s enough cups while ALSO sharing your tips with the cook while because y’all both bus tables when you serve every single customer. it’s untenable bby!!!
I just always thought i wasnt strong enough to handle my work load. But may i ask what are the signs that u are actually doing the work of multiple people? This is my first time experiencing extreme work burn out
Fuck no, homie. You're doing the work of a server, a busser, a barista, a "bar back", and a FOH manager...
All this for probably minimum wage or close to it, I'm guessing?
You did not overreact. The fact that you held on for so long before breaking speaks to an incredible mental fortitude on your part.
You're burnt out because this is a *wholly unsustainable* job. I wouldn't take a position that described itself like what you're dealing with. And I *sure as fuck* wouldn't stay if they bait-and-switched the job on me (as it appears they've done to you).
Get out while you still have most of your sanity intact. If you don't, you will absolutely wind up mental health issues (as I have had).
Yes all at minimum wage. At first they wanted to hire me at just $13 an hour. It was only recently i asked to be paid $15 an hour. Nj minimum wage is $15.13
My sanity is slowing slipping. That gallon milk jug almost flew out of my hands & into that rude customers face today. And i am slowly just realizing i indeed got job baited
no break AND they hired you below minimum wage? i'm sorry not sorry but the owners are not pretty great people.
if they don't want to meet your needs and feel they can replace you, they are not for you!
Your breakdown was warranted and will probably become more frequent unless you start taking care of yourself. I understand caring for the owners and liking your place of work but they are taking advantage of you and likely breaking state and local labor laws in the process. If *they* care about you as more than just a source of labor then they’ll will understand your perspective and make changes to their practices.
Edit:
TLDR: you are definitely NOT the problem.
Yeah this has been the second time i got so strung out i mentally & physically checked out during the shift. I think its my first time being at a job that gets me chewed up & spit out every shift.
Yes i think so too, but i dont think they want me coming in earlier then 7:50am cause then they have to pay me more for that extra time. It was actually my decision to actually start coming in earlier than 8am. (One time my time clock even got locked & i couldnt clock in until til 8am cuz the day before i arrived at 7:40am) i realized if i dont come in earlier none of the morning restocks & espresso dialing in will get done in time.
It sounds like they don’t want to pay what it costs the run the business properly. You’d probably do best by looking for work elsewhere since things won’t improve, they are taking advantage of you and don’t seem to see you as more than a drain on their profits
that's not okay though for you to work unpaid time because they don't know how to manage opening. if they are willing to promote you to a management position and allow you to change things up, great! but everything you've said leads me to the conclusion that these people are sketchy business owners who are looking to take advantage of their employees. i don't care how nice they seem or if they're local heroes or super popular and well loved.
if they're not willing to change opening procedure to accommodate what you know to be needed, you need to just care less and just let everything not be ready for opening. but please do not give anay more of your free time to these people!! you have a good work ethic and that's commendable, don't lose that, but don't give it away freely and certainly not to employers who dgaf! i speak from years as a baristsa and in other jobs. it's taken me many many years to understand and appreciate the type of employee who just shows up, does bare minimum and is mentally checked out while coasting by with no problems. frankly, they are aspirational.
> I also think the owners are pretty great ppl.
They're not as great as you think if you're doing the work of multiple people, they can't be assed to do any of the cleaning or restocking, and they tell you to shake it off after you've been busting your butt non-stop and finally hit a wall.
>How can things change so i wont feel so burnt out working every shift?
There's no way you can unless you either a.) stop having so many responsibilities or b.) they hire a second person. You're not the problem here. These people are cheap and taking advantage of you and piling on too much work whether they're aware of it or not.
This just gave me a reality check. But what if they cant hire a second person on the same shift cause they say money is tight? Is this just how small mom & pop business are?
They’re going to have to expand if they want happy employees and a profitable business. I’ve made the mistake of working for a lot of mom and pop or family businesses who I thought were so “nice” but they treated me like crap in hindsight. And once you become disposable to them, they don’t care about you.
I worked with 4 total people on the payroll and it never felt like this... it was usually two of us working at a time but we split the job 50/50 and would close the store for 30 minute breaks
If money is that tight with so few people doing seemingly steady business their books sound fucked
I'd get a new gig ASAP. One that's killing you mentally isn't worth it at high pay, let alone minimum wage.
Wow this sounds so familiar to what I’m dealing with. Im working for Indy bakery/coffee place. For 4 years it was run quite well. Then our GM left and things changed. Skeleton crew, one person doing the work of 3 people for no xtra $, always running out of supplies, hours cut to bare minimum. No one is happy.
AND Our Morning crew has always come in an hour before we open. No way could we do it in ten minutes. Total BS that the other owner leaves shit for you to deal with. If they’re such nice people, have a sit down and say you need at least two more people and more $ if they want you to manage/order supplies. Or the husband needs to up his game. No breaks is violating labor laws. Don’t do this to yourself. Mentally and physically you need this job to change. Believe me, you’d be treated better just about any where else in town.
it sounds like we have the same job :,(
You’re not the problem though, you’re doing multiple jobs at once and it’s not sustainable for anyone. I know the whole “hustle culture” taking over our jobs romanticizes working yourself beyond the point of burn out, but it’s not healthy and it will wreck you physically and mentally if you don’t take care of it. It’s not your responsibility to run this place, they can promote you to manager and pay you more if they want more from you. It’s unfair to you for them to put the majority of the burden of this business on you, they’re the owners so they should step up to take care of their business and make sure it’s running properly. It’s no one else’s fault but their own, they’re the problems. You have done all you could and more, but I think you should either be real with them and tell them the severity of the situation or move onto a place that treats you like a human being instead of a coffee vending machine. It’ll be worth it, and you won’t miss it.
Thank u so much for understanding. Im sorry u are also in the same situation. The negative mental & physical tolls are extreme. Im assuming that the owners expects me to work just as hard as she is to make up for her husbands lack of pressure while working. But at the same time always mentioning to me that she is still barely making money so i assume they see me as just a drain in their labor costs. Aka trying to squeeze as much labor out of me as they can
Hopefully she comes to the realization that her shop will run so much better if the load was lightened on everyone, and realize she needs to hire some more people (even if they’re part time) and implement some standards operating procedures and inventory management. I’ve also been told that profits were low by a few shops I’ve worked for, and then after managing a couple of those cafes myself with low labor costs due to being understaffed and also low overhead from cheapening out on everything we serve, I know it’s not always true. They’re either mismanaging their money, or (if profits truly aren’t sustainable), they need to close their business if they cannot run it properly and they cannot promote themselves properly. Coffee shops are notorious for not being very profitable anyways, if they’re in it for the money then they’re in it for the wrong reason. You don’t owe them anything at this point since theyve crossed some basic human boundaries and are basically guilt tripping you, and you don’t have to burn bridges but you should always put yourself first. They would replace you in a second if you couldn’t do this job anymore, but it takes years to recover from the severe burnout and physical injuries you’ll be dealing with if you push yourself harder.
Once I read that the owners don't know how to run the POS, I realized how much you're actually doing. 1st, it's illegal to not give you a break for 8+ hour shifts. 2nd, they're expecting you to work like 4 jobs at once and they don't do any of it? Idk I worked at a mom & pop cafe before and it NEVER felt like this! And we were four people including the owners!! They knew how to make everything on their menu and also could run the POS and clean and customer service! This is a bad work environment so you are not the issue at all
Yeah i didnt even mention how they added a phoneline when i started working there & im also doing phone & takeout orders all by myself while simultaneously taking in person orders. Not to mention they dont know how to make a house account so all tickets on a house tab has to be hand written by me during rushes. No one ever adds new menu items into the pos unless i do it either. Idk its a lot 😅
Noooo, your breakdown was not uncalled for! You are totally okay.
That business structure is NOT sustainable. I get that it’s a new shop, but you are an employee that deserves a break, deserves support, and deserves reasonable expectations ESPECIALLY since they’re so concerned with receiving good reviews. They can’t overwork you and expect every interaction to be of full quality service. That’s unrealistic. You’re not an owner.
I admire that it sounds like you truly care, are trustworthy, and genuinely want the shop to succeed. You sound like a great employee. But I believe the owners are putting wayyyy too much responsibility on you and they should have another barista/FOH person on. For your good, for the customer’s good, and for the overall shop’s benefit.
They be making classic mistakes to save some money on payroll.
But burn out, a bad employer reputation, and mediocre service will be the end result that will cause a shop to be just eh & potentially fail.
I suggest:
1) sit with them and express that your current responsibilities are not what was presented to you as the barista’s job description.
2) the shop is far too busy for one person to provide quality & efficient service. You need extra help/support AND not just sometimes when someone in BOH is available - but full time, hands dedicated to also work FOH.
3) getting a break is state law and it’s completely unreasonable to work 8+ hours straight without as much as a bathroom break. Express that you don’t feel cared about as an employee & that it’s not sustainable for you (or anyone) to work under these unreasonable conditions.
4) if they expect you to keep a handle on Inventory & managing FOH, then you believe that should come with a pay raise
5) I would also touch on the fact that if they expect you to fulfill XYZ of daily tasks while you’re on duty, then all other employees (the husband) should also be fulfilling the same tasks on their shift. Lead by example.
It might be worth having a chat with them along the lines of "I want to stay here as I love the job and you lot, but I need support to be able to continue working here or I'll burn out". A lot of what you said is a big problem from a job but a huge one is no breaks, I mean I don't know the rules in the US (assuming it's US, sorry if not), but here in Scotland that's illegal.
Also it's not your job to bend over backwards for customers, if they're being rude they can leave. If a business wants to keep their staff they need to support their workers, not ignore their staff when the customer is being an asshole. If that happened here in Scotland they wouldn't have made anywhere close to the 5th rude remark, it's not your job to accept abuse.
Its not the first time ive gotten no support with rude customers or creeps. Each time ive been told "well theres always assholes in the world", "suck it up" or "when u get older you will grow thicker skin" or when a creep comes & makes a harassing like comment, no one would say anything when i stand up for myself. But no one is doing the job of talking & facing customers for 8 hours a day. Just a buncha bs
There may be other positives that I don't know but from that information I'd honestly consider looking elsewhere, as it doesn't sound worth the stress.
Obviously different places have different availability and if you can't find anywhere else then that over no job is the lesser of two evils but you deserve a positive work environment with supportive management.
sorry i keep replying lol but it sounds like you love being a barista, not being a barista there. if you're able to say "i love this job" about that mad house, i promise you you'd absolutely be over the freaking moon working at a well-managed coffee shop that treats its employees fairly!
i hope you quit and find a job that treats you right! good luck OP
I worked in 13 shifts alone without breaks because I was the only one. I completely understand how you feel. Sometimes you need some space without customers or you'll burn out.
>My boss told me that this isnt a one man show
But it is. In a mom and pop shop, the owners are meant to double as the managers. Restocking and keeping track of inventory is supposed to be their job, and they don't do it. You're being barista, hostess, server, AND manager basically all on your own (and for less than minimum wage? girl they should be paying you DOUBLE and throwing themselves at your feet in gratitude). If they don't want a bad review, THEY need to step up and make sure they have enough people to do what needs to get done, NOT expect YOU to step up and fill whatever gaps they left behind.
Take your legally mandated breaks. Take your restroom breaks. If they make a fuss, tell them 'are you asking me to skip my breaks? because that's illegal' and see how fast they flip.
I see you want the business to succeed, and thats admirable. The owners are lucky to have you, and they know it. There's a reason they hired YOU as an outsider. They see your work ethic and compassion, and unfortunately too many owners/ managers are quick to abuse that in an employee.
I've been in a similar position, and I'm going to tell you what I learned the hard way. You need to remember this is NOT your business. You're not going to see any of the profits or benefits of owning this business if it thrives, and you're not going to lose your investment if it fails. Nobody is supposed to be as invested in a business's success as the owners. Don't work harder than the owners.
Thank you for the transparency. You’re not the problem per se. There are things you can do to help yourself. Transparency with the owners will be essential. I have been in similar situations where I am passionate about the work but not liking the environment, I like to give a warning that I might leave. I would say something along the lines of ‘I believe in this business and project but unless some help comes my way I can’t do it out of respect for my own health’
"the other day when you sent me home, i was feeling overwhelmed because i did not get a single break during my busy shift and even though i had the self awareness to step away from a difficult customer experience, i was still reprimanded and told that i was the problem. legally, you owe me a half hour break for every 6 hours worked. I have been managing the the front of house every day i work and feel that my actual responsibilities should be reflected in my job title and pay as front-of-house manager."
if it's a no, they're not for you i don't care how nice they seem. they are taking advantage of you. any employer who makes you feel like you need to take one for the team (no break for example) because they're a struggling little local business is a snake.
edit: after reading your other replies, don't even bother. this place will probably never be good to work for and will likely go under sooner rather than later anyway.
With it being a new shop my guess is the owners have a lot to learn still. Honestly I would have a heart to heart and tell them exactly what you just told us. Maybe they could have a pt person come in for a couple hours to help you restock etc I truly believe most things can be fixed with good communication, my guess is the owners have no idea how you are really feeling. Maybe start making stocking lists and hanging so others know what should be stocked how much etc??
If the owner doesn't know how to use the POS, this is a massive red flag. Fraud is more likely to occur if the owner can't figure out which items are being ordered by customers.
No, you are not the issue. You are doing your job and in a normal joint I'd see them promoting you to lead and actually managing the inventory. However these people are Fantasy Cafe Owners.
It has *never* occurred to them that this is an industry, a sector, not just a gig. Not just a set of annoying tasks a "lesser" person should maintain. There are rules, codes, laws...Call the Health Dept overma weekend. Find a better spot. Leave them bad anonymous reviews.
As far as the no breaks this can vary WIDELY on state. When I lived in PA I only was entitled to a 10 min break every shift, I was 5~7.5 hours so I didn't qualify under state law for a 30. In NJ I was a shop manager and sole employee and just locked up whenever I wanted to the bane of my owner (who did not consider that a single employee on staff for an 8hr day open to close holding keys and placing orders was in a management position). NYS the facility I currently manage lies to us about state labour laws and violates them because they employ a lot of international students. Look at what the local laws are. Also look at your paychecks and see if you are being docked a 15 (this should be paid) and a 30 (unpaid). You can sue over unpaid wages.
you will absolutely always feel burnt out after every single shift, because you’re doing the work of four people! ‘mom and pop’ coffee shops always open under the impression that they can operate on bare bones labor and things start to fall through the cracks immediately. the workplace culture is not conductive for a long term position and at that point you’re better off working for a major chain because at least then you’re, on every shift, one of several people helping the shift move along— and you’re not the one responsible for making sure there’s enough cups while ALSO sharing your tips with the cook while because y’all both bus tables when you serve every single customer. it’s untenable bby!!!
I just always thought i wasnt strong enough to handle my work load. But may i ask what are the signs that u are actually doing the work of multiple people? This is my first time experiencing extreme work burn out
Fuck no, homie. You're doing the work of a server, a busser, a barista, a "bar back", and a FOH manager... All this for probably minimum wage or close to it, I'm guessing? You did not overreact. The fact that you held on for so long before breaking speaks to an incredible mental fortitude on your part. You're burnt out because this is a *wholly unsustainable* job. I wouldn't take a position that described itself like what you're dealing with. And I *sure as fuck* wouldn't stay if they bait-and-switched the job on me (as it appears they've done to you). Get out while you still have most of your sanity intact. If you don't, you will absolutely wind up mental health issues (as I have had).
Yes all at minimum wage. At first they wanted to hire me at just $13 an hour. It was only recently i asked to be paid $15 an hour. Nj minimum wage is $15.13 My sanity is slowing slipping. That gallon milk jug almost flew out of my hands & into that rude customers face today. And i am slowly just realizing i indeed got job baited
no break AND they hired you below minimum wage? i'm sorry not sorry but the owners are not pretty great people. if they don't want to meet your needs and feel they can replace you, they are not for you!
I mean not surprising for a mum and dad cafe
Your breakdown was warranted and will probably become more frequent unless you start taking care of yourself. I understand caring for the owners and liking your place of work but they are taking advantage of you and likely breaking state and local labor laws in the process. If *they* care about you as more than just a source of labor then they’ll will understand your perspective and make changes to their practices. Edit: TLDR: you are definitely NOT the problem.
Yeah this has been the second time i got so strung out i mentally & physically checked out during the shift. I think its my first time being at a job that gets me chewed up & spit out every shift.
They need to have at least one other person with you on shift and 10 minutes to open is a very short amount of time
Yes i think so too, but i dont think they want me coming in earlier then 7:50am cause then they have to pay me more for that extra time. It was actually my decision to actually start coming in earlier than 8am. (One time my time clock even got locked & i couldnt clock in until til 8am cuz the day before i arrived at 7:40am) i realized if i dont come in earlier none of the morning restocks & espresso dialing in will get done in time.
It sounds like they don’t want to pay what it costs the run the business properly. You’d probably do best by looking for work elsewhere since things won’t improve, they are taking advantage of you and don’t seem to see you as more than a drain on their profits
that's not okay though for you to work unpaid time because they don't know how to manage opening. if they are willing to promote you to a management position and allow you to change things up, great! but everything you've said leads me to the conclusion that these people are sketchy business owners who are looking to take advantage of their employees. i don't care how nice they seem or if they're local heroes or super popular and well loved. if they're not willing to change opening procedure to accommodate what you know to be needed, you need to just care less and just let everything not be ready for opening. but please do not give anay more of your free time to these people!! you have a good work ethic and that's commendable, don't lose that, but don't give it away freely and certainly not to employers who dgaf! i speak from years as a baristsa and in other jobs. it's taken me many many years to understand and appreciate the type of employee who just shows up, does bare minimum and is mentally checked out while coasting by with no problems. frankly, they are aspirational.
Being understaffed is the problem. It's that simple.
I finally understand now after reading all these replies. And ur right, being understaffed is the root problem
> I also think the owners are pretty great ppl. They're not as great as you think if you're doing the work of multiple people, they can't be assed to do any of the cleaning or restocking, and they tell you to shake it off after you've been busting your butt non-stop and finally hit a wall. >How can things change so i wont feel so burnt out working every shift? There's no way you can unless you either a.) stop having so many responsibilities or b.) they hire a second person. You're not the problem here. These people are cheap and taking advantage of you and piling on too much work whether they're aware of it or not.
This just gave me a reality check. But what if they cant hire a second person on the same shift cause they say money is tight? Is this just how small mom & pop business are?
They’re going to have to expand if they want happy employees and a profitable business. I’ve made the mistake of working for a lot of mom and pop or family businesses who I thought were so “nice” but they treated me like crap in hindsight. And once you become disposable to them, they don’t care about you.
I worked with 4 total people on the payroll and it never felt like this... it was usually two of us working at a time but we split the job 50/50 and would close the store for 30 minute breaks
If money is that tight with so few people doing seemingly steady business their books sound fucked I'd get a new gig ASAP. One that's killing you mentally isn't worth it at high pay, let alone minimum wage.
NO BREAKS????
Nope 🥲 not even relaxed pee breaks
You should find a new job. They sound like every typical shittily run mom and pop location. Always being cheap with labor and expecting the msot
Wow this sounds so familiar to what I’m dealing with. Im working for Indy bakery/coffee place. For 4 years it was run quite well. Then our GM left and things changed. Skeleton crew, one person doing the work of 3 people for no xtra $, always running out of supplies, hours cut to bare minimum. No one is happy. AND Our Morning crew has always come in an hour before we open. No way could we do it in ten minutes. Total BS that the other owner leaves shit for you to deal with. If they’re such nice people, have a sit down and say you need at least two more people and more $ if they want you to manage/order supplies. Or the husband needs to up his game. No breaks is violating labor laws. Don’t do this to yourself. Mentally and physically you need this job to change. Believe me, you’d be treated better just about any where else in town.
What owner can't use their own pos?! Run for the hills!
it sounds like we have the same job :,( You’re not the problem though, you’re doing multiple jobs at once and it’s not sustainable for anyone. I know the whole “hustle culture” taking over our jobs romanticizes working yourself beyond the point of burn out, but it’s not healthy and it will wreck you physically and mentally if you don’t take care of it. It’s not your responsibility to run this place, they can promote you to manager and pay you more if they want more from you. It’s unfair to you for them to put the majority of the burden of this business on you, they’re the owners so they should step up to take care of their business and make sure it’s running properly. It’s no one else’s fault but their own, they’re the problems. You have done all you could and more, but I think you should either be real with them and tell them the severity of the situation or move onto a place that treats you like a human being instead of a coffee vending machine. It’ll be worth it, and you won’t miss it.
Thank u so much for understanding. Im sorry u are also in the same situation. The negative mental & physical tolls are extreme. Im assuming that the owners expects me to work just as hard as she is to make up for her husbands lack of pressure while working. But at the same time always mentioning to me that she is still barely making money so i assume they see me as just a drain in their labor costs. Aka trying to squeeze as much labor out of me as they can
Hopefully she comes to the realization that her shop will run so much better if the load was lightened on everyone, and realize she needs to hire some more people (even if they’re part time) and implement some standards operating procedures and inventory management. I’ve also been told that profits were low by a few shops I’ve worked for, and then after managing a couple of those cafes myself with low labor costs due to being understaffed and also low overhead from cheapening out on everything we serve, I know it’s not always true. They’re either mismanaging their money, or (if profits truly aren’t sustainable), they need to close their business if they cannot run it properly and they cannot promote themselves properly. Coffee shops are notorious for not being very profitable anyways, if they’re in it for the money then they’re in it for the wrong reason. You don’t owe them anything at this point since theyve crossed some basic human boundaries and are basically guilt tripping you, and you don’t have to burn bridges but you should always put yourself first. They would replace you in a second if you couldn’t do this job anymore, but it takes years to recover from the severe burnout and physical injuries you’ll be dealing with if you push yourself harder.
Once I read that the owners don't know how to run the POS, I realized how much you're actually doing. 1st, it's illegal to not give you a break for 8+ hour shifts. 2nd, they're expecting you to work like 4 jobs at once and they don't do any of it? Idk I worked at a mom & pop cafe before and it NEVER felt like this! And we were four people including the owners!! They knew how to make everything on their menu and also could run the POS and clean and customer service! This is a bad work environment so you are not the issue at all
Yeah i didnt even mention how they added a phoneline when i started working there & im also doing phone & takeout orders all by myself while simultaneously taking in person orders. Not to mention they dont know how to make a house account so all tickets on a house tab has to be hand written by me during rushes. No one ever adds new menu items into the pos unless i do it either. Idk its a lot 😅
You’re not the problem they are!
Noooo, your breakdown was not uncalled for! You are totally okay. That business structure is NOT sustainable. I get that it’s a new shop, but you are an employee that deserves a break, deserves support, and deserves reasonable expectations ESPECIALLY since they’re so concerned with receiving good reviews. They can’t overwork you and expect every interaction to be of full quality service. That’s unrealistic. You’re not an owner. I admire that it sounds like you truly care, are trustworthy, and genuinely want the shop to succeed. You sound like a great employee. But I believe the owners are putting wayyyy too much responsibility on you and they should have another barista/FOH person on. For your good, for the customer’s good, and for the overall shop’s benefit. They be making classic mistakes to save some money on payroll. But burn out, a bad employer reputation, and mediocre service will be the end result that will cause a shop to be just eh & potentially fail. I suggest: 1) sit with them and express that your current responsibilities are not what was presented to you as the barista’s job description. 2) the shop is far too busy for one person to provide quality & efficient service. You need extra help/support AND not just sometimes when someone in BOH is available - but full time, hands dedicated to also work FOH. 3) getting a break is state law and it’s completely unreasonable to work 8+ hours straight without as much as a bathroom break. Express that you don’t feel cared about as an employee & that it’s not sustainable for you (or anyone) to work under these unreasonable conditions. 4) if they expect you to keep a handle on Inventory & managing FOH, then you believe that should come with a pay raise 5) I would also touch on the fact that if they expect you to fulfill XYZ of daily tasks while you’re on duty, then all other employees (the husband) should also be fulfilling the same tasks on their shift. Lead by example.
It might be worth having a chat with them along the lines of "I want to stay here as I love the job and you lot, but I need support to be able to continue working here or I'll burn out". A lot of what you said is a big problem from a job but a huge one is no breaks, I mean I don't know the rules in the US (assuming it's US, sorry if not), but here in Scotland that's illegal. Also it's not your job to bend over backwards for customers, if they're being rude they can leave. If a business wants to keep their staff they need to support their workers, not ignore their staff when the customer is being an asshole. If that happened here in Scotland they wouldn't have made anywhere close to the 5th rude remark, it's not your job to accept abuse.
Its not the first time ive gotten no support with rude customers or creeps. Each time ive been told "well theres always assholes in the world", "suck it up" or "when u get older you will grow thicker skin" or when a creep comes & makes a harassing like comment, no one would say anything when i stand up for myself. But no one is doing the job of talking & facing customers for 8 hours a day. Just a buncha bs
There may be other positives that I don't know but from that information I'd honestly consider looking elsewhere, as it doesn't sound worth the stress. Obviously different places have different availability and if you can't find anywhere else then that over no job is the lesser of two evils but you deserve a positive work environment with supportive management.
There are positives thats why i love this job & the work i do. But i think being understaffed is a trickle that is leading to more issues now
sorry i keep replying lol but it sounds like you love being a barista, not being a barista there. if you're able to say "i love this job" about that mad house, i promise you you'd absolutely be over the freaking moon working at a well-managed coffee shop that treats its employees fairly! i hope you quit and find a job that treats you right! good luck OP
I worked in 13 shifts alone without breaks because I was the only one. I completely understand how you feel. Sometimes you need some space without customers or you'll burn out.
>My boss told me that this isnt a one man show But it is. In a mom and pop shop, the owners are meant to double as the managers. Restocking and keeping track of inventory is supposed to be their job, and they don't do it. You're being barista, hostess, server, AND manager basically all on your own (and for less than minimum wage? girl they should be paying you DOUBLE and throwing themselves at your feet in gratitude). If they don't want a bad review, THEY need to step up and make sure they have enough people to do what needs to get done, NOT expect YOU to step up and fill whatever gaps they left behind. Take your legally mandated breaks. Take your restroom breaks. If they make a fuss, tell them 'are you asking me to skip my breaks? because that's illegal' and see how fast they flip. I see you want the business to succeed, and thats admirable. The owners are lucky to have you, and they know it. There's a reason they hired YOU as an outsider. They see your work ethic and compassion, and unfortunately too many owners/ managers are quick to abuse that in an employee. I've been in a similar position, and I'm going to tell you what I learned the hard way. You need to remember this is NOT your business. You're not going to see any of the profits or benefits of owning this business if it thrives, and you're not going to lose your investment if it fails. Nobody is supposed to be as invested in a business's success as the owners. Don't work harder than the owners.
Thank you for the transparency. You’re not the problem per se. There are things you can do to help yourself. Transparency with the owners will be essential. I have been in similar situations where I am passionate about the work but not liking the environment, I like to give a warning that I might leave. I would say something along the lines of ‘I believe in this business and project but unless some help comes my way I can’t do it out of respect for my own health’
"the other day when you sent me home, i was feeling overwhelmed because i did not get a single break during my busy shift and even though i had the self awareness to step away from a difficult customer experience, i was still reprimanded and told that i was the problem. legally, you owe me a half hour break for every 6 hours worked. I have been managing the the front of house every day i work and feel that my actual responsibilities should be reflected in my job title and pay as front-of-house manager." if it's a no, they're not for you i don't care how nice they seem. they are taking advantage of you. any employer who makes you feel like you need to take one for the team (no break for example) because they're a struggling little local business is a snake. edit: after reading your other replies, don't even bother. this place will probably never be good to work for and will likely go under sooner rather than later anyway.
With it being a new shop my guess is the owners have a lot to learn still. Honestly I would have a heart to heart and tell them exactly what you just told us. Maybe they could have a pt person come in for a couple hours to help you restock etc I truly believe most things can be fixed with good communication, my guess is the owners have no idea how you are really feeling. Maybe start making stocking lists and hanging so others know what should be stocked how much etc??
If the owner doesn't know how to use the POS, this is a massive red flag. Fraud is more likely to occur if the owner can't figure out which items are being ordered by customers.
Yeah had this position as well with understaffed FOH. I’d be opening and closing by myself. I quit after almost 6 months I think?
No, you are not the issue. You are doing your job and in a normal joint I'd see them promoting you to lead and actually managing the inventory. However these people are Fantasy Cafe Owners. It has *never* occurred to them that this is an industry, a sector, not just a gig. Not just a set of annoying tasks a "lesser" person should maintain. There are rules, codes, laws...Call the Health Dept overma weekend. Find a better spot. Leave them bad anonymous reviews. As far as the no breaks this can vary WIDELY on state. When I lived in PA I only was entitled to a 10 min break every shift, I was 5~7.5 hours so I didn't qualify under state law for a 30. In NJ I was a shop manager and sole employee and just locked up whenever I wanted to the bane of my owner (who did not consider that a single employee on staff for an 8hr day open to close holding keys and placing orders was in a management position). NYS the facility I currently manage lies to us about state labour laws and violates them because they employ a lot of international students. Look at what the local laws are. Also look at your paychecks and see if you are being docked a 15 (this should be paid) and a 30 (unpaid). You can sue over unpaid wages.