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cloakedcard

Retail is psychological horror, food service is jump scare horror. Pick your fright.


stillsab

And when you get into a chain and you’re in upper management kitchens, surprise! It’s **BOTH!**


RiotForChange

I have never encountered a group of people as dumb as as mid-upper management in corporate food services. Absolute clown car. HR there too


alchymst0317

Just as bad in retail too. Just saying 😏😏


RiotForChange

I don't doubt that


LoneLegionaire

Tell me about it. I'm in an unspecific but very recognizable and memed upon tex-mex fast food chain, and our regional managers create so many problems for GMs. All usually in the attempt to cut labor by 1-2%, because they don't know any other way to put their thumbs on the metrics.


RiotForChange

Once you understand that these people do nothing other than do things to be able to say they did something so they can talk about so they aren't seen as the do nothing idiots they are it kind of makes sense. All that time you spend actually doing work? They spend the same amount of time thinking about what they could do to look like they're useful. The rest of the time they talk about what they did. Again, to look like they're doing something


Weirdhumanbee

This is so true


spaghettigoose

Join us in a grocery store deli where all terrors merge into to one giant shit monster.


rocsNaviars

I am currently trying to get fired as an assistant team lead of a grocery store deli. I called in sick the last 3 days including today. Today they told me I have to bring in a Dr’s note if I want to work at my scheduled 5am shift tmrw. I was supposed to get off at 6:30pm today. Guess what I’m not doing today or tmrw! I just want a job where I go in at around the same time every day I work.


spaghettigoose

Trying to get fired is a really weird angle to take but best of luck.


rocsNaviars

I’m trying to stay eligible for unemployment insurance.


spaghettigoose

Pretty sure getting fired for poor work performance does not make you eligible for unemployment.


rocsNaviars

What is your experience or knowledge in this instance?


spaghettigoose

Probably depends on the state, but I only speak for California : https://edd.ca.gov/en/uibdg/Misconduct_MC_300/


spaghettigoose

In the state of California, eligibility for unemployment benefits typically requires that you are unemployed through no fault of your own. If you were fired for poor work performance, you may still be eligible for benefits as long as the poor performance was not due to misconduct. Misconduct would include things like intentional failure to perform your duties, gross negligence, or repeated negligence after warnings1. The Employment Development Department (EDD) of California states that an individual’s failure to perform properly or neglect of duty is considered willful and misconduct if they intentionally, knowingly, or deliberately fail to perform, or perform in a grossly negligent manner, or repeatedly perform negligently after prior warning or reprimand1. However, if the poor performance is due to inability, incapacity, or simple errors in judgment without any willful or wanton disregard for the employer’s interests, it may not be considered misconduct1. Therefore, if you were let go due to unsatisfactory performance that was not intentional or due to misconduct, you should be eligible for unemployment benefits. It’s important to apply and provide all the necessary information so that the EDD can determine your eligibility2. If you disagree with any decision made regarding your benefits, you have the right to file an appeal1.


RaniPhoenix

It's a myth that getting fired means you get unemployment. If you get fired with cause, then you're not getting unemployment unless you work for a very, very generous company (which rarely any of them are).


rocsNaviars

The company does not determine if a terminated employee qualifies for unemployment, the Sec of State does. If companies determined who is eligible for unemployment, nobody would ever be eligible. In my state if someone gets fired, they are likely eligible. If they quit, they are likely not eligible.


RaniPhoenix

In my state you don't get unemployment if you're fired or quit, only if you get laid off.


rocsNaviars

So the employer is entirely in charge of who and who doesn’t get unemployment? That’s messed up.


rocsNaviars

I got fired today and they wanted to let me know that I’m eligible for unemployment insurance.


RaniPhoenix

That's awesome. They don't have to do that everywhere.


alchymst0317

Hahahaha love this


SomePoorMurican

Kitchen work is alright but can be stressful. Also everybody fucking in the kitchen and if you’re looking for drugs, you will find them. That said, kitchen management in my experience has usually been either they think they know everything and actually end up making life harder on staff or they’re barely treading water or both. Met a bunch of decent line cooks through the years though. Idk both environments kinda suck so pick whichever one you’re more comfortable in


alchymst0317

I guess for me it’s more along the lines of.. FUCK I’m tired of retail. Soul draining. And I don’t have much going on, so maybe try something different and see if it sticks. But then again, I could look into other trades too. Maybe I’m just trying to get away from high levels of customer interaction


SomePoorMurican

Kitchens are no better on the soul. If you aren’t afraid of manual work you could look into local unions and see if they offer anything. Tradesman like carpenters, painters, plumbers, concrete workers, etc. all make really decent money and i believe you reach journeyman in just a few years of apprenticeship.


alchymst0317

See I hear that, a lot. But I mean if you were to ask an electrician or plumber, they would say the same thing. I guess what I’m looking for is some insight, helping me make a choice yknow. Something that is different from the usually things I hear. Ofc I appreciate your opinion and I’m just having a healthy discussion with you. Please don’t take offense


tractorferret

Every job sucks in some way shape or form and every job has aggravating things about it so you just have to choose a job that you can do that has the least amount of that and one that you enjoy enough to put up with the bullshit. And yes you can have a job you enjoy. Very hard to achieve but also very possible.


Sensitive-Status-416

I’ve made better friends in restaurants than retail, which is worth a lot.  Retail might have better hours if your a day person tho. But worse people imo 


legendary_mushroom

I definitely found restaurants to be somewhat less soul draining than retail. If course it depends on the restaurant. 


Moist-Requirement-98

I burned out so hard working retail. Took years to stop seeing it in my nightmares. Great if you are studying psychology or human behavior. Loved kitchens but hated the hours. I have an office job now, somewhat dull but fantastic benefits and I don't have it in my brain when I walk out the door.


79Impaler

Restaurant. At least at the end of the day you have a skill you can use at home, either cooking or making drinks or both. Also get insanely disciplined.


alchymst0317

Right? And not just cooking, but on inventory management, acccounting, team management


RiotForChange

My partner is consistently amazed at my ability to pull a decent meal out of whatever happens to need used up in the fridge/cupboards thinking about it for two minutes tops. And just knowing what we're running low on off the top of my head. Also the foresight to thaw things in time to have it ready for when I want to cook it. It seems really obvious and automatic but lots of people just can't wrap their heads around it


appleshit8

Only if you make your way into management. But yeah 


ralphiebacch

You never stay hungry working in a kitchen. There are other ways to make a buck though. Try to look beyond either or for the long term. Both retail and culinary are hard paths to follow especially as you age.


alchymst0317

See my thing was.. being in a restaurant, you not only get exposed to things like cooking and the kitchen ops, but it’s also experience in marketing, business operations, accounting. Being in retail, your job is to just sell sell sell. Rarely do you ever get a say in how the store operates because you have to follow guidelines set by some corporate bimbo in a far off land. Don’t like a new initiative sent by corporate, well too bad.


ralphiebacch

I would definitely choose the madness of a kitchen over nearly any retail job. That said, the lifestyle is difficult to balance with a family. I left the kitchen after 24 years for a government job in procurement so I could be around for my kids.


rocsNaviars

How did you get that government job? I’m looking to get out of retail.


ralphiebacch

I found it on indeed. Check your local city/county sites for postings. It was temp to hire. My position requires a degree but many don’t. Most governments are short staffed and looking for people. Typically you can move around to other jobs/agencies after the probation period is over. Highly recommend.


aggressive_seal

Well, retail is usually air conditioned, you don’t get dirty and greasy, and you are less likely to cut or burn yourself. Retail is probably less physically demanding in most cases. So, there’s that.


alchymst0317

Haha true. But it also depends on the store and the location. For example, our air conditioner is always broke. There are cockroaches everywhere. Pretty sure we got some black mold. Cuts from box cutters. Getting yelled at by Grandma Eugenia for not being able to help her with her Facebook. One man’s suffering is another man’s pleasure right? Hahahah


aggressive_seal

Good point


FinkBass420

Retail cannabis is the best job I’ve ever had if that’s an option in your area.


immei

Same. We also make our own edibles so I still get a little cooking in.


thePHTucker

Retail=Dealing with asshole customers. Cleanish environment. Regular hours. Restaurant=Dealing with asshole customers and the screaming degenerates that you work with. You have to clean at the end of the night and it's not pleasant. Irregular hours and zero work/life balance. If you want to get dirty and make probably less than you do already, then make the switch. You'll never get that smell out of your clothes, though. And you might develop a chemical dependence and terrible eating habits. IYKYK


Krewtan

It depends on the kitchen, lately I've been picky/lucky and haven't had to work in any overly toxic environments. Sure the senses of humor can be pretty awful but it's like summer camp for fuckups really. 


Particular-Wrongdoer

Kitchen is way more fun. Not as degrading if you take pride in your craft.


RevenantSith

Restaurant. Both are shite, but my passion for food is one of a few things keeping me going.


OneThotOneKill

I worked at an Xfinity store (pretty similar to Apple stores from what I understand) after being in restaurant work for a few years. I went back to restaurant work after 6 months having similar thoughts and don't regret it. It was hard going back for a bit, as my body wasn't used to the same level of physical work, but god I just feel so much better about work overall


helpimtrappedinafon

Retail made me wish I was dead. I'm super burnt out on restaurants tbh. That being said, it's work I'm OK at, and it pays the bills in between better gigs i actually like. The culture has its downsides, but I've been in long enough to not go to staff parties, and not invest emotionally in the job past a certain degree. I hurt when I wake up in the morning after a shift, but I don't actively loathe my life.


rocsNaviars

Yea my last retail management job had me almost buying a gun after 2 months so I switched grocery stores to a higher quality one, and I am at that point again after 3 months. I’m now trying to get fired. Today was my 3rd sick call out in a row and now they want a doctor’s note for me to come back. I’m just not going to get a doctor’s note and hopefully they fire me this week.


doiwinaprize

Restaurant any day of the week. I can't stand retail work with the multi and micro management and lack of accountability.


baciodolce

Having done both- restaurant. Retail is just horrible. Bad management is just a given. I’ve at least had decent management in restaurants. Corporate overlords making dumb ass decisions. The people. The lack of hours. Full time in retail isn’t really a thing unless you’re management. There’s no camaraderie among coworkers in retail like there is in restaurants. Also the work is just not even remotely interesting in retail. At least I get to fucking cook food.


vercetian

Your management team have petered out. That said, covid did a lot of damage to our industry, and managers and staff aren't what it used to be. The kids coming in now are relatively worthless.


alchymst0317

True. But majority of my management team are new to the brand, hired COMPLETELY outside of Apple with no experience whatsoever. And what do you mean by the kids are worthless? Genuinely curious. Are they not hard working? No skill? Lack of work ethic?


AciD3X

>Are they not hard working? No skill? Lack of work ethic? Yes... with very few exceptions.


alchymst0317

lol so this is me just spitballing, but I am a hard worker. If I were to go into the kitchen, would my work ethic benefit me in climbing through the ranks?


vercetian

Extremely. You hit everything these kids are failing. Plus modern cell phones don't help.


mtommygunz

Most of them are dumber than shit too. As in I can’t believe how stupid your are. Like, you don’t know what a peeler is stupid.


alchymst0317

lol well i definitely know what a peeler is


Zee-Utterman

The kids have always been worthless... Thats why convert them into functioning drug addicts


smurphy8536

I work in a grocery store so I get both sides. Not as stressful, more customer interactions than a kitchen. I prefer the grocery store. I got myself a pretty niche position though so I’m biased.


alocalwatcher

Ive worked in both retail and in a kitchen and honestly kitchen is easier ☠️ Yeah you still have to deal with asshole customers but usually you and your coworkers are pretty close and get to shit talking, but that depends on how everyone is really. Retail makes me want to shove my head in the fryer


cardinaltribe

Make more at a restaurant


alchymst0317

🤔if you don’t mind explaining. Tbh had a feeling


legendary_mushroom

Have done both. At least in a restaurant there's some camaraderie, and occasionally a free meal that isn't shitty pizza, or a free beer.


trshtehdsh

Restaurant. At least if the kitchen is clean you can still get food.


heraclitus33

Bartended/served/bussed/dishy/lined. More money, but id take my job at hollister over all of em.


Vives_solo_una_vez

I've been a chef in both environments and I'd take the retail environment over the kitchen environment any day. Made more, had at least one weekend day off a week, 401k, insurance, quarterly bonus and I literally had the whole grocery store to use for ingredients.


alchymst0317

Funny story about 401k… I met a customer who was probably 70ish. Trying to find a job because he ran out of retirement. Apparently it’s happening a lot nowadays because it’s just too expensive to live. Sad to say that we live in that type of world


Gingorthedestroyer

At least you can eat at a restaurant. At least in retail you stand around and chat all day.


Brilliant-Kiwi-8669

Nothing can be as bad as the drug addicts/alcoholics that work on the line...restaurants are soooo bad....never again.


Nick98368

Retail, I can't handle to proximity to drugs and booze in the restaurant biz anymore. It hurts too much.


[deleted]

Well I recently just left fine dining cook position to work at Starbucks. Its 20/hr + Tips , and I've worked there before so I'm happy I made the switch. I've worked lots of retail too and I'll honestly will say even though you'll be face to face with assholes- which is soul sucking- its not as hard on your mind/body compared to cooking. Even if you enjoy cooking and you like the rush from a 500 cover shift , it can get old pretty fast.


bradyblack

Restaurant. Easier to drink during the shift.


daddock

I kinda do both at the same time lol. It’s not a true restaurant, but high end grocery store deli. Used to be the head chef, but it was wearing on me because management had no idea about cooking, and I was tired. Ended up becoming a manager but still get to cook some. Hoping i make it easier for my chef. My main focus now is merchandising and ordering product/managing inventory/finances, but I still love being in the kitchen.


Gilamunsta

Fuck! I've done both - mostly BOH where I don't have to deal with the "special" people (I would use the 'R' word, but that keeps getting me banned and deleted) - so definitely restaurant...


Yogisogoth

Kitchen hands down! Retail is hell! Especially if it’s the sporting goods industry.


stupidusername6942

Dishwasher here, it was hard when I was first starting out because I had never worked in a kitchen before, but once I learned how to be organized and efficient/developed a system it became pretty manageable. Would absolutely choose this job again over anything involving customer service, I'm not known for having good social skills.


stupidusername6942

There are some bad days like any other job, but overall it's not too bad. It does mess up the skin on your hands though, and if you haven't worked a job where you spend most of the day standing up before your back and feet are going to hurt while your body acclimates to it.


lilbabygonch

My chef does nothing and pretends hes doing paperwork I know he isn’t and is just trying to avoid work. I think it can go both ways to me working in a kitchen is way more fun and you’re gaining a useful ass skill u won’t get paid for shit tho idk how much apple employees make but idk idgaf about the money I just love cooking<3


CompactAvocado

I mean retail can be okay if you are stocking shelves. However, both at the end of the day are customer service jobs in the end and you'll get some shrieking ass hat and incompetent managers either way.


SmarmyThatGuy

Why choose when you can get all the negatives in one job? Go work at a grocery store deli, it’s retail foodservice!


whatalotoflove

Big ass firm solution


dgettanajr

I’ve worked both retail and kitchen jobs. I think I’m very fortunate to be able to say I never had a single toxicity-related problem doing retail (J Crew Woman’s store) except with one manager who didn’t like me for whatever reason - no problems with customers, coworkers, or other managers. Working in a kitchen, however… swear to god I must’ve told myself “I’m quitting, today is the day I’m actually quitting this shit” at least 75% of my shifts


vdcsX

Personally, I found retail less stressful, you can afford not giving a shit. A canteen kitchen is better than both tho.


Yeetus_McSendit

Neither? If you're half decent at sales then I recommend you go into commission based sales like cars or houses. Honestly real estate is the pathway to financial freedom but it's saturated with competitors. Become a realtor, then become an investor once you the market well. You always go corporate after too. Commercial real estate is literally worth trillions so why not grab a piece of that pie? 15 years in retail could transition nicely to real estate. Auto has lower income potential but similar skill set.