Alight, so I've been at my job for going on a year and a half. I've pretty much ingrained myself into the fabric of the resturant, and by this point I'm pretty much their go-to guy for hosting and bussing and whatnot. The problem is lately I've been miserable there. I'm getting screwed over by the Managers, fucked with by the servers and generally hate being there. But this kind of thing seems to go in cycles. Things had been really good for the last two or three months before this, but before that it was just like now.

I've been told I pretty much have a spot there as long as I want it. They've already started treating me like they want me to mentor/manage one day, even though I can't do anything but Host until September, and then I can only grill.

But here's the thing. Last Saturday I had pretty much the worst day ever, culmination of a week were I was just over-worked and generally treated like shit. So yesterday I'm out eating at a Resturant right by where I work now, and a friend works there. She says they're hiring and that I'm pretty much a shoe in to get hired there, since she's seen me out and about at BD's. They pay pretty much the same, except for tip-out, which is about three times higher, due to them being more busy. So I'm torn. I really love BD's and the people there, with a few exceptions, are like family to me. It's a steady job where I've pretty much been told I have a good future there, if I want it. I don't really want to work in resturants all my life, but until I get my writing break, it's a good place to be. So do I leave BD's for More money, or stick it out and hope things get better?

Bascially I'm just wondering if any of you guys have been in a position like this before, and have any advice to share...

Being more busy=working harder. So if you went to the other restaurant, you'd be working more by default.

It's a tough spot. Here's a question: how are the managers & servers screwing with you/screwing you over?

Basically, and this is going to sound horribly egotistic, just remember that most hosts are my age but lazy, they're so used to me going out of my way to help them out and bust my ass to get things done that they've come to the conclusion that I'm just going to do everything they don't feel like, are to lazy or generally stupid to do. I wouldn't have a problem with the extra workload if A: I was asked, and B: I got some help when I need it. I get neither. It's ASSUMED that I'll do it all and I can't get the time of day some nights. Every time I bring it up to a manager it's "We'll work on it" and it'll get better for a week or so, then right back to the way things were. Usually, I can just man-up and handle it, but sometimes, like this past week in particular, I just can't handle having to play Atlas for an entire resturant. I'm just one guy, after all.

I feel ya, man. Restaurant managers aren't the most sympathetic of people. I got some of the same treatment when I worked at a Perkins in high school. I was host/busboy/cashier. And I was the only person doing any of those things. Which is even worse when you consider that I have a horrible metabolism and sweat all over the place.

Yeah, I quit there too.

See a pattern?

If you can leave without burning bridges, do it. I'll add a disclaimer here, since I'm completely intolerant of taking people's shit and have quit three different jobs because they decided to be clever and put me on the schedule without asking me or "accidentally" locking me into the wrong pay rate, so of course I'm going to tell you to leave. If you ride it out, it may get better, but if it's really stressing you out, don't stand for it. You can always go back if you really hate it at the other place.

No offense but I fail to see the problem with your first job. If you can go 2-4 months without any serious irritations then you have a pretty good job for the most part. I've had jobs where I had to get as far away as possible from the place once Friday night came around or there was a good chance that I was going to burn the place down.

I worked at a catalog/retail showroom for almost six years. I thought I was invaluable to the place, had alot of friends, had it easy, decent pay etc. I thought I'd be losing alot when/if I ever quit. Things started getting shitty and I was miserable. I finally just up and quit, with no firm job to go to.

Two weeks later, a better job found me. Made more money, I was happier, place was nicer, etc.

Really, unless you OWN the business, it's just a job. If it's making you miserable, then bolt.

I'll second that. Entry level jobs are a dime a dozen, and they pretty much all suck. If you can find one that pays you .10 more per hour, take it.

LFV, I feel your pain. I've had the same issues at jobs I've had in the past and it's definately a shitty thing to have going for you so........

Just keep in mind a couple of things.........

-The Grass always looks greener on the other side.

-Take into consideration some other issues. Do you think a change of scenery would help? Would the money you're making at the other job be worth all of the change? Any hot chicks work at the new place??

Integration into a new workplace, especially restaurants (Much experience here) can be a huge pain in the ass, and just kind of uncomfortable. Getting to know all these new douchebags, as opposed to the old douchebags that you already know how to deal with, is just kind of annoying to me.

I mean, if you're serious about leaving anyway, then why not really DO something about your complaints. Next time someone "fucks with you", tell them to suck your dick, and walk away. Next time a manager gives you that apathetic bullshit, call them on it and tell them you want a resolution to this problem, not just to have it put on the backburner like everything else they do.

My only other advice outside of that would be that watch out with this "3 times more" money thing. Because my guess is you got that info from someone who works at this other job. Alot of times people will inflate the "how much do you make" number, just by pure wishful thinking if nothing else. Not sure if this is applicable here, but alot of times when you're talking about tips/tip-outs, that number is gonna fluctuate so much you simply can't pinpoint it.

Thanks for the advice, guys. Tonight I'm going to call my cousin, who apparently worked there, and find out what she thought of the place. I probably won't leave BD's, at least not yet, since apparently they're "actually serious" about making changes this time. I'm going to take a couple weeks off though, just so I can have some time to be, you know, seventeen for once. I'll keep you guys updated if anything changes, though.