I quit my job today...

[BunnyMan]

Well technically I put in my two weeks but its the same thing. I've been working at Applebees for about a year now, I started as a server acctually on 8/31/06, and became a bartender about 4 months ago as well. The money was great at first, but something changed as the restaurant finished construction, as the new mall that had been basically built around it finished construction, and our competition greatly increased. We went from being the only casual dinning restaurant in the mall/area to being one of 7 just in the mall alone (and being the cheapest of them all as well). This meant a huge drop in our cliental which lead to a huge drop in tips, which meant more and more good server/employees quitting and going elsewhere, which meant having to pull more slack with crappy co-workers, etc. Now it seems that all we get are the poor people in the nearby area who can't afford the other restaurants but want something better than the food court. As a result we've had worse customers with increased work. The lack of sales has also created a situation where the only times we acctually have a dish washer on staff is friday and saturday night and the servers (making the wisconsin state minimum wage for tipped employees; $2.33 an hour) having to wash dishes in addition to all the other side work and taking care of tables.

So to say the least this summer hasn't been too great. Not to mention while they are pinching all these pennies from the employees they are spending tons of money to double the size of the restaurant and put in, i think 12, plasma tvs. (Funny side note, they are doubling the size of the restaurant but only giving us a bigger beer cooler and freezer in the kitchen, aka same kitchen now has to handle twice the volume) Several other, as my manager would say, "A squad servers" have quit in recent weeks and I know at least two more servers and two bartenders planning to do the same. Thats how bad it has been there.

Well today I was the highest number, which means the server responsible fo rmaking the other servers do their side work, and in the day shift lately that includes making sure dishes are caught up at the end of the shift. My last table paid me and all the day time servers started to get their side work done so they could go home, one of the other servers, a new girl who already wants to quit after like 3 weeks, and myself double teamed the dishes and even though it took like 20 minutes, we got all but a few pots and pans done leaving them for the other three servers on the floor. The day-time manager started screaming about the few dishes left, claiming we were "picking and choosing what dishes to do" and despite my trying to explain to her at least twice that the other server and myself had simply done our share not "all that needed to be done" she just kept freaking out on me and I finally snapped and told her I was tired of getting constantly ragged on about doing dishes cause they're too cheap to staff a dish washer.

She told me if I didn't like the way they ran things I should quit.

I said, "Then you can do me a favor and write up my two week notice than." and walked away.

And that folks is how I quit my job. Fun part though, I get to open the next two days, including tomorrow with my general manager who witnessed part of my quitting and I know will want to talk to me it.

[Maximal]

Good for you BM.....Now get a job you bum!

[BunnyMan]

I have two weeks till I'm a bum... technically.

I'd laugh if they have me training someone durring my last week. (Did I mention that including myself, 3 of the people who have already put in notice or quit in the last week are "certified trainers"?) Fun shit.

[mommysalomi]

Sorry to hear that BM. I have never worked in resturant buisness as I could not handle the customers being assholes. But to have to deal with mangers or other employees being assholes too No way!! Sounds like you handled yourself well to I would have told them to shove there dishes up there ass and left then !! Good luck on your new job search

[Purple Dragon]

good for you BM.hope you find better job soon ,keep us informed..

[BunnyMan]

The manager who does the schedules and such basically begged me to not quit today. It was kind of sad but also kind of funny.

[Maximal]

wait a minute....you were making 2.33 an hour plus tips....hell I'd quit too!

[BunnyMan]

it varies from state to state, but in wisconsin that is all you have to pay a tipped employee. Doesn't matter what restaurant, as long as they receive their tips in cash on a shift to shift basis. (aka tip-pool employees can't be paid $2.33 an hour but they can be paid $4.50 an hour, which is what I make when I'm a bartender)