Sad story

I was having a conversation with my dishwasher about the most hours we ever worked. I told him my highest was 84 hours at my first job out of college. He responded “wow, that’s like a $700 paycheck!”. He’s a good guy but had some drug issues most of his life and never pushed himself into higher paying positions.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was 2k after taxes.

He’s in a union, so I can’t control his pay. The union is terrible and dude makes like $10 an hour, after a big raise this year. Dude is the happiest guy I ever met and loves his terrible pay. He doesn’t realize how low it is.

in KitchenConfidentialby Orangeshowergal

961

93%

13d

Technical_Contact836

701

13d

Dude. I'm an union dishie making 17.5. Please let him know to fight for his worth.

MemesSoldSeparately

206

13d

Wait wait wait. Where do all these kitchen workers unionize? Unheard of around here.

Technical_Contact836

120

13d

Here's mine https://www.unitehere1.org/

MemesSoldSeparately

13d

Legit. Nice.

justASlothyGiraffe

13d

Oh hell yeah! I'm no longer in the industry, and not in Chicago, but I know someone there that is. My friends better be ready for my excitement when I share this with them.

jofizzm

13d

Hospitals. Dish crew make around $24 an hour based on expirence. Cap is $26 something.

Edit: Oregon

194749457339

13d

I know union dishes making like 20.25 in canada

weGloomy

13d

Bro what. That's how much I make as a line cook in Canada. I need to join a union.

194749457339

13d

This was at a university so it was a fairly large kitchen, Sodexo at the time. I don't work there anymore cuz fuck 'em and I'm so much happier.

DrZeus104

13d

I worked at a university with Sodexo and we tried to unionize. They spent a least $200-300k in propaganda and propaganda speakers to prevent it. It never even got to a vote…. Now there is half the staff, 3x the work and still shitty pay. I’m glad I left.

_Qanukl3h3d_

13d

$27 here as a line cook in a union hotel, $24 at my non union other job here in canada

Rough-Set4902

Dish

12d

21-23 in the retirement homes. That's where I'm aiming for!

Compass Group is pretty good.

monkeyzero76

12d

Compass Group is just like Sedexo. Run!

mallarme1

216

13d

$2K for 84 hours is why I left the industry 15 years ago.

derangedlinecook

13d

What industry did you choose? Currently head chef, but in the process of trying to change industries.

hudson27

103

13d

Went from kitchen manager at $23/hr to entry-level landscaper at $25/hr, and got bumped up to $27/hr within the first month.

It's improved my life in every way possible. I'm basically being paid to get fit, tan, and play in the dirt all day long. We just do yard maintenance, so there aren't any particular time-sensitive jobs we do, just drive around, mow lawns, pull weeds, plant trees, etc. Also get paid to drive between properties, which amounts to about 2 hours or so a day (and by drive, I mean sit in my boss's truck and fiddle on my phone while he drives).

I now enjoy coming home and making nice meals, mainly because I work up such a massive appetite that all I think about all day is what I'm going to eat next. My sleep schedule is normalized now, I'm more in tune with my body, and I feel more connected to nature and the change of the seasons.

TuftedMousetits

13d

Be careful out there, in terms of sunblock. No kidding. The sun ages you faster than meth, if appearances matter to you. I ran a community garden at the same time I was an executive chef. Used my own supply. Was cool while it lasted, but just...be careful with sun exposure.

Also, fuck wasps. Put your nest where I can see it or I'll have to kill you cause you stung me 20 times cause you conceled your nest!

SignificanceFluid773

13d

I agree. Just wanted to add, watch out for skin cancer. On the ears, nose and stuff. I've known multiple construction guys that have had it cut out.

hudson27

12d

Sunblock, sun hat, and long sleeves on the really hot days, this should all go without saying.

objectivelyyourmum

10d

Or suncream every half hour 😂

Fuckfuckfuckhelpme00

13d

After hearing about so many people who hate their job and general existence (partially due to lack of control over circumstances), this comment is a real breath of fresh air. I’m glad you’re enjoying what you do, best wishes!

hudson27

12d

Thanks! As someone who would say everytime he left a kitchen that it would be the last, it really feels good to be out. I'm not making major money over here, but my needs are met, and my job is actively contributing to my physical and mental wellbeing, which I genuinely didn't think was possible.

molliebrd

13d

I may look into this lol. I used to work for my uncles company in high school, fun stuff!

TechieGee

13d

How do you get started in that industry with no prior experience?

russsaa

13d

Landscape specific business's are absolutely everywhere and as long as you're physically fit and have a very basic understanding of yard care, and they'll probably hire you.

Theres also things like gardening, nurseries, and farms. I just started working in a nursery, taking care of flowers.

hudson27

12d

Depending where you live, there are likely many landscaping companies in your area looking to expand. It doesn't take long to get trained up on the regular stuff, my boss takes care of the edging and pruning, and I just weed and mow. It's just the two of us and it's working out great

mission_to_mors

13d

still cooking but no Restaurants/hotels anymore.....I now cook from 06.00 till 14.00 (no exceptions) on five days a week in a big kitchen where we make food for schools and Kindergartens and such....best decision ever didnt even have to haggle for money 😀😀

mallarme1

13d

I bet your union reped as well. Good move, homie.

mission_to_mors

13d

sadly there is no union in austria....☹️

ShakeAgile

13d

Feeding the next generation, respect!

Vapored

12d

the organization i work for now feeds kids in schools. We rent out the kitchen (bakery coffee shop) I used to cook in for a wage of $16/h. We pay our workers a starting salary of $29/h (CAD). The public sector of cooking is so much more livable than any form of small business.

mallarme1

13d

I totally left the industry after working my way to sous. I went back to college, got a master’s degree. Now I do comms for a research institute. That poor dude making $2K for 84 hours of work, I net $6K for that much work.

lyndonBeej

13d

Random injector here, I climb/care/remove trees now. It has the same balance of "come-correct-or-die" in chef'ing, but I make more and feel less stressed.

kitterpants

-1

20+ Years

13d

Almost everyone I know who quit the industry either went into IT or sales (food, real estate, cars, etc.)

tinteoj

13d

I left kitchens after not quite 20 years to become a social worker.

Well, I didn't leave to become one but that is the field I ended up in after a few years of aimlessness after leaving restaurants.

derangedlinecook

13d

Did you go to school after leaving the industry?

tinteoj

13d

I was working in restaurants when I went to college (which was while I was in my 30s.)

When I was in grad school I worked some food retail jobs (a fancy cheese store and a Mediterranean import store) but no more actual restaurant jobs.

derangedlinecook

13d

Currently looking into a sales role, thought Sysco or gfs could be a good transferable industry.

porkchop2022

13d

I left and got my mortgage license. Took 3 months off to study and go to classes. Got my license and on the drive in to my first day, they called me and said don’t bother. They had laid off half of their entire work force and closed the branch I was heading to.

kitterpants

20+ Years

13d

Holy shit, I’m sorry. I imagine it was roughly around the time when I thought “hey maybe I actually can afford a house.”

olive12108

13d

$30/hr~ is bad pay? I agree OP should have gotten some type of OT but that seems like a pretty decent rate. IDK.

keepingitrealgowrong

13d

depends on where you live and how much you feel entitled to

resplendentcentcent

13d

depends what your cost of living is - but regardless, you could probably earn equivalent compensation and far, far less demanding jobs. I doubt anyone goes into hospitality for the money though.

Alibumayefan

252

13d

Tell him. Let him strive for better

Perdoname_gracias

13d

Encourage him to hold his union leaders to account. He deserves better.

scienceworksbitches

13d

they certainly dont work for 10 bucks an hour.

El_Mariachi_Vive

15+ Years

13d

He should know.

TheRaccoonist

13d

I feel like part of your job as a manager is to help your employees achieve their career goals. If one of your guys isn't even aware of the possibilities that's partially on you.

getmeoutmyhead

13d

I feel this. I tell even my greener cooks, "Tou are going to train someone on this station next week. I need you to run the station. No one is ever going to delegate leadership to you unless they see you doing it already. So, best to start practicing now."

User deleted comment

13d

Specialist-Strain502

13d

If saying to a coworker "hey, you're being underpaid here" is going to "drain your mental health," I guess you DO have bigger problems you need to work on.

olivinebean

13d

Withholding information about pay to co workers is still poor manners though. Once we convince ourselves that the people less off than us don't deserve an equal conversation, what are we?

PreferredSelection

13d

He doesn't want to risk losing a $10/hr dishwasher who is all smiles.

He can frame it however he wants, but that's all I see here.

TheRaccoonist

13d

I can't imagine having a conversation about goals is going to damage your mental health

User deleted comment

13d

Specialist-Strain502

13d

Then why did you post here? To masturbate about exactly how much your coworker is getting fucked over?

EarDelicious9835

13d

You may not be a bad person but this certainly isn’t a good look for you.

Orangeshowergal

-28

13d

To be upset that someone is sharing their experiences on an online forum is interesting. Not a bad look for me, at all.

EarDelicious9835

13d

Yes, and the experience your sharing doesn’t paint you in the best light. I’m not upset, just wondering why you seem to think that helping a fellow human would “drain your own mental health”. By help I’m not saying you should hold their hand but a quick conversation about how low his pay would go a long way. Sure, the individual has certainly made some mistakes in life but that does not mean you shouldn’t have empathy for them. The age of the individual is not relevant. This industry is abusive, solidarity with fellow workers is important.

Orangeshowergal

-16

13d

93 other people enjoyed the post, approval rating is through the roof I guess

TheRaccoonist

13d

You're more concerned with fake reddit points than the well-being of someone who reports to you?

Yea, that's a really bad look

edit.... Shitty manager blocked me 😆😆

Nomadic_Chef

13d

Yea man you're just a shitty person

Dolemite-is-My-Name

13d

You don't deserve them. Read back what you've written here and reflect a little

Appropriate_Law3189

13d

Virtue signalling bullshit 😂

zestylimes9

13d

So why make a whole post about it?

parfnb

13d

Best dishie I ever had when I was a GM absolutely did not want to move past dish. Late 20s/early 30s and was an absolute badass.

Every year I would ask if he wanted to train on the line (he would of crushed it). Had zero interest. Didn't want the stress & was cool with where he was at 🤷 he wasnt union though so we definitely made sure dude was paid right. Can't lose the good ones!

SpookyPotatoes

13d

I personally don’t think it’s “draining” to discuss wages or encourage someone to better themselves, more like “basic empathy” but you sound like someone who would.

East-Specialist-4847

13d

You're hurting him by not telling him

tinteoj

13d

They don't care. A bunch of people have told them already but somehow letting the dish guy know would be bad for OP's mental health.

Which sounds like a bullshit excuse to justify just watching a guy get fucked over if you ask me.

I met some great people when I worked in restaurants. I worked with a whole lot more selfish assholes who only looked out for themselves, though, and it is definitely something I do NOT miss about the industry.

PreferredSelection

13d

It's the title that kills me. "Sad Story."

Dude just wanted us to shake our heads in pity at a dishwasher who 'had some drug issues,' as if most of us haven't worked in the kitchen where the dishie in recovery was the most rock solid guy on staff.

getmeoutmyhead

13d

We used to have a dishes in recovery. He's the Sous now.

KokiriRapGod

13d

You really should have said something. He may be unaware that he is underpaid, and could do something to better his situation. The only people you are protecting by not speaking up are the owners, and the bad union reps.

amishdoinks11

13d

I left the kitchen for the IBEW. Our union states a minimum wage we can be paid but we can negotiate a higher wage with the contractor. Does it not work the same for your union?

Orangeshowergal

-3

13d

Wages based on position with raises based on their contracts - which are “negotiated” every three years. Their union rep from the office doesn’t seem effective. Since they can’t strike (see other comment) they have absolutely no way to apply pressure. I’ve recommended they look into what their wages would be on the open market. However, they’re convinced the pension (which you start to get paid into after 5 years), and cheap insurance that is paid is worth the low hourly pay? I’ve ran the numbers and let me tell you, it’s not worth it. This also assumes that the pension will continue to be funded in 10 years. I support the union 100%, but this one is not effective. An interesting atmosphere

Pegomastax_King

20+ years

13d

Sounds like some weird anti union propaganda.

Astraea_Fuor

13d

Nah some unions are genuinely terrible, although admittedly it's still better to have a bad one then none. I can only imagine how poorly this business would treat this guy if there wasn't even a shitty union.

Pegomastax_King

20+ years

13d

I’m trying to think what shit hole state you can get away with paying a dishwasher only $10hr yet is blue enough to have dishwashers unions.

saruin

15+ Years

13d

I live in a red state and know a dude that was getting $7.25 through most of 2021. If our place had stayed open, I'm sure he would've got 2% more each during the "inflation" years.

He may as well be union because they would never fire him because no one else will work for that low. He did the bare minimum and I don't blame him.

Pegomastax_King

20+ years

13d

That’s sad, only 1.3% of Americans make federal minimum wage. Dishwashers in my area start around $18.

Limepink22

13d

She's in Detroit

Astraea_Fuor

13d

It does sound weird af, best faith interpretation is that it's in some midwestern state with a really corrupt, shitty union.

Orangeshowergal

-2

13d

Idk what you want me to say? Not all unions are created equal, and this one is terrible

paulb0t

13d

I straight up don't understand the anti-union sentiment of this post and "controlling his pay." If you're management, you can move someone up their predetermined pay scale at any point.

Neither of you took into account mandatory time and a half (minimum from the DOL).

"The federal overtime provisions are contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Unless exempt, employees covered by the Act must receive overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek at a rate not less than time and one-half their regular rates of pay."

Orangeshowergal

-2

13d

You didn’t understand or read incorrectly . It’s not about our current workplace and overtime, I was telling an anecdote. Your response does not provide anything

paulb0t

13d

"Your dishwasher" would indicate he's on your crew, no?

I understand your anecdote about another job in another spot where you made 2k for working 84 hours. I also understand "not having the heart to tell him" what his pay would be more for an 84 week while calling his union "terrible" makes you sound like a boot licking shill.

The overtime on an 84 hour week was to clarify that neither you – nor he – took that into account. As you should certainly know as management.

Dwagner6

13d

Why would anyone pay union dues to make $10?

Orangeshowergal

13d

You’re asking the wrong person. They also can’t strike because they rarified a no strike clause because they don’t make enough money to go on strike…

3Effie412

13d

$10/hr sounds awfully low for a union position.

BostonWailer

13d

Workers not talking about pay only benefits the rich. It’s taboo in our culture to talk about pay because capitalism, and for no other reason than it make it harder for the powerful to control the working class. TALK ABOUT MONEY.

Orangeshowergal

-3

13d

The information is at their fingertips. Businesses down the street publicly offer more. Some union old heads are convinced that being in a union is worth more than their pay. Not my issue

420buttmage

13d

Kind of a trash take to have if you're in a position of leadership/mentorship tbh

cheesyrotini

13d

OP phrased it as if they were doing the poor guy a favor too

ArchitectofExperienc

13d

I work in the film industry and holy shit, this sounds so familiar. Tell him, he's obviously worth more than a tenner an hour, and knowing is the first step on getting better pay.

Working 75+ hours a week is brutal, too common, and is barely worth 2k a week, much less 750 a week. It hurts to see people work so hard for a fraction of what they deserve.

hobonichi_anonymous

Food Service

13d

Craft services?

ArchitectofExperienc

13d

PA, now research, the last time I worked food service was college, but I've tried to stay connected due to similar labor and health issues with the work.

TheDevilsCunt

13d

I think the nicest thing you could do is to let him know that he’s being fucked over

Limepink22

13d

If they can't strike, they can do a slow down. There are many options for the working force to apply pressure

Orangeshowergal

13d

Well it hasn’t worked for the past 30+ years idk

818a

13d

Time to do an anonymous poll of salaries at your kitchen

branston2010

13d

Sorry, but I call bullshit. No way is someone with union backing making $10 an hour with an anti-strike clause. This stinks of NRA propaganda.

keeden13

13d

Yeah, the pay being out of their hands and the union making sure he is paid as little as possible feels like bullshit.

Orangeshowergal

-2

13d

I apologize, he’s making $10.50

branston2010

13d

Oh okay now that it doesn't end in an even dollar amount, I totally believe it! /s

Do you hire this dishwasher, write his schedule, or control his work tasks? Or do you outsource that job to an agency/third party?

Orangeshowergal

-1

13d

We hire, write schedule, and “control” his tasks. His tasks are broadly defined by the union with finer specifics in our allowance. For example, we could hypothetically have him clean a fryer but not ask him to fry food in said fryer.

branston2010

13d

Okay. If you are responsible for hiring him, making his schedule and direct his working tasks, you also control his pay. The union may stipulate his minimum pay and limit his work responsibilities, but ultimately YOU are the one keeping him from earning what I would assume would be fair and/or minimum cost of living compensation. This is why I call bullshit. No union ever would hinder a worker from making more money.

Orangeshowergal

-6

13d

You don’t have the union contract in front of you, so I’m going to tell you that you’re incorrect. Sorry

branston2010

13d

Last question, I swear - in which country does this "union" have the power to limit the compensation the worker is allowed to earn?

SeaEquivalent3303

13d

How can this be legal

Orangeshowergal

13d

How can low pay be legal? Minimum wage is crazy isn’t it

AromaticSherbert

13d

He’s also really bad at math

BlokisTokis

13d

Why didnt you tell the bro that he’s getting underpaid? If you’re really for you’re crew, you’ll let him know that he’s getting fucked over but I guess thats too hard for you? Lmao

lelucif

13d

Working at a 2** restaurant, we worked 90 hours a week. I got 2280 dollars a month.

To be fair, that’s just how Michelin-starred restaurants function but still

rewrittenfuture

13d

I'm 4 cents away from 19.00 but that's only because I work for a hotel that is owned by one of the kindest holding companies in the hotel game.

I remember the days of washing dishes for 9, 10, 11 and $12 an hour. It absolutely sucked

skallywag126

13d

This is why I got out. I make $1600 for 40hrs straight. I get to spend so much time with my kids now it’s insane. I miss kitchens dearly but it is absolutely not worth it if you want a life outside of work

serenwipiti

13d

What do you do now?

skallywag126

13d

Construction and demolition

serenwipiti

13d

Ah! Neat.

Dixnorkel

12d

Lol

HeatSeekingGhostOSex

13d

There are unions?

Orangeshowergal

13d

My state has a very large hospitality union that covers casinos and our main airport. It also has a few straggling unions in smaller places which is what I consider my current work place to be.

HeatSeekingGhostOSex

13d

Damn I always wanted to unionize, I didn’t think there were any for people like us.

Unlikely-Ad6788

13d

Sounds like my union raise. Signed on for a shitty 16, worked a couple weeks. Got a $1 raise the first week. Made $13 to start then $14 with a raise.

Apricot_queen

13d

is he working legally? when i was a dishie i was making $6 an hour under the table.. got paid weekly in cash. had to hand write my time card

saruin

15+ Years

13d

Dishwashers have unions??

Orangeshowergal

13d

The hospitality sector does, which they’re included in!

Rachelattack

13d

Today a new hire asked their wage and I didn’t know the owner hadn’t mentioned it. I don’t know but my guess is minimum.This girl’s got other irons in the fire but after giving a range in my interview I discovered my first check I shouldn’t have accepted the job. Live and learn. I’m looking.

Aren’t we always fucking looking.

JackPoe

13d

Less than thirty you start fires.

Seefufiat

Moderator

13d

As someone who has before been a union employee, for you to say simply that you can’t control his pay is lazy and self-serving, and you can tell me all you want about not having the contract in front of me or whatever makes you feel better, but it used to be my job to interpret the union contract for a government agency. I don’t think I need a thesaurus and a divination stick to guess that you don’t understand every clause you read.

If you wanted to, you could call his union office and say you want to pay him more and need to speak to his steward. If his steward works in your restaurant, that saves a phone call, but in the extremely slim chance that this isn’t as easy as I’m sure it is, this would be a conversation with the chapter president who would draft a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) that would say that in this specific case, we’re going outside of the contract.

If you have made the call and run this by an employment attorney who has read the contract and confirmed the astronomically unlikely case that this would not work, this contract would likely be invalid some other way, or you need to sit this guy down and tell him that leaving this particular union is his best move right now.

As his boss this is your moral responsibility. If you don’t want to do it, you owe it to the team on a human basis to quit, because you have no spine and don’t deserve to lead. If you think that’s harsh, I don’t think it compares to the cruel dismissiveness I’ve seen throughout your responses to this thread. You need a reality check. Having anyone on your team making so little isn’t criminal, but it’s morally corrupt.

Shag_fu

13d

In our contract the pay rates are a minimum. We can get paid above that without any issue or asking permission.

RandallOfLegend

13d

I was making $10 an hour 20 years ago. No way that's a good pay for an adult these days.

Orangeshowergal

13d

A lot of people don’t want to accept how shitty the world is

sh1ft33

13d

Holy shit I'm in small town, NC and our dishies start at 15. 10 is fucking ridiculous. Dishies work their fucking asses off most nights.

Orangeshowergal

13d

Support the union!!!

SavageGinger13

13d

Probably got a huge dick

rewrittenfuture

13d

I'm 4 cents away from 19.00 but that's only because I work for a hotel that is owned by one of the kindest holding companies in the hotel game.

I remember the days of washing dishes for 9, 10, 11 and $12 an hour. It absolutely sucked

rewrittenfuture

13d

I remember the days of working only for $9, $10 $11 for a 40-hour work week.

It sucked

tarzanhunter

13d

Just took over a kitchen & my dishwasher is making $22

Orangeshowergal

13d

Good, that’s what it should be

bdq-ccc

13d

Shit I thought this was gonna be about a new diner that's doing well but the staff are burnt out and their families are falling apart

Cuz that's me right now.

This industry has a way of crushing dreams and ruining lives

Agitated_Doubt_4707

13d

Wait 10 bucks is considered bad, I know that currency have different worths, but I make 7.25 as a cook that is doing way too much for my salary. Sorry for poor English

DOCO98

12d

$10 an hour was bad in 2010

danball6969

12d

I know that union..dishwater local 105.

Superb_Conference436

-5

13d

Why is it a sad story that a poor person is happy?

AbBrilliantTree

13d

This story is giving me flowers for Algernon flashbacks. He’s a happy doofus being taken advantage of. It’s a reflection of the cruelty of the world that such a story seems to some neither cruel nor unjust.

captaininterwebs

13d

Because there’s no way he’s not struggling on $10 and hour and he’s being lied to and told his struggle is necessary when its not

Superb_Conference436

-13

13d

You don't know what he knows or what his life is.

captaininterwebs

13d

Look, it seems like we both agree he sounds like a great guy, I think that means he should be paid what he deserves, I’ll just say that.

Superb_Conference436

-19

13d

You don't know that he's not getting paid what he deserves

Nomadic_Chef

13d

So you think he doesn't deserve a livable wage?

Astraea_Fuor

13d

he's getting paid $10 an hour I wouldn't give that pay to a three-legged rabid dog who shits on the floor in the dish pit.

therealjoeycora

13d

Unions help workers make more, not less.

Orangeshowergal

13d

Not in this instance!

therealjoeycora

12d

You think they’d make more without a union? Does they have benefits? Sick leave? Vacation?

CustomerService_2024

13d

I was in a Union once in my life & that was for the Cincinnati Reds, say no to U N I O N

Orangeshowergal

13d

You’ll get downvoted because people think all unions are strong and better than playing the free market.

2 missing replies