I just quit my job!

I just want to share my experience with everyone!

A bit of backstory: I started working at this restaurant as a part-time server while I was in college. I’ve been there ever since, even through changes in ownership. I’m practically the oldest employee here, and I even taught the current boss’s girlfriend how to use the POS system and learn the menu when she first came on board.

Last year, while I was interning at a corporate office, they suddenly stopped scheduling my weekend shifts. It was unexpected, but I rolled with it because I was swamped with office work anyway. After graduation, when I couldn’t land a job, I returned to the restaurant and also picked up shifts at my friend’s family restaurant. Even though I’m technically a part-timer, my hours are close to full-time. I asked for more regular shifts after our team lead—who was truly wonderful—left, but instead of accommodating my request, they only give me shifts when no one else can cover. My co-workers even complained about it, thinking it’s unfair that less experienced servers get the prime, busy shifts—the money-making days—while I’m sidelined.

And you know what? I am damn proud of my work ethic. I’m never late, I don’t slack off, and I bust my tail to keep customers happy and get the job done. My co-workers love working with me because they know I’m reliable and honest. I genuinely like my boss—he’s chill, around my age, mature enough to resolve conflicts, and knows how to keep everyone happy, even if he’s a bit smooth-talking at times.

But his girlfriend? She’s a whole different story. She works the front with us and shares tips equally, but she slacks off—big time. We all have our moments of slacking, sure. Some of my co-workers sneak off for a smoke or find ways to stay in the corner, but as long as I’m not doing 70% of the work, I don’t mind. But this woman just sits around, contributing nothing, and expects to share in the tips. Because she’s the boss’s girlfriend, we’ve all just let it slide… until now.

Here’s what happened this past Thursday: I arrived at work, and she was outside on a phone call. When it got a bit busy, she didn’t even bother to come in and help. One of my co-workers suggested we should adjust the tip share since she wasn’t doing anything. We politely asked her about it, and she immediately got defensive, acting like we were being petty over “a dozen dollars” and questioning why we were being so “calculating.” She even tried to single us out individually to find out whose idea it was. Thankfully, no one ratted each other out—we’re a team. She didn’t try that with me, though. She knows better after I’ve stood up to her in the past during closing time. I don’t sugarcoat things, and she’s a bit afraid of that.

But it didn’t stop there. She humiliated us in front of the entire kitchen, throwing cash around and yelling in her language. It was demeaning and crossed every line of professionalism.

There have been so many moments where she made me uncomfortable. Once, she essentially threatened my job by saying, “Jason, I’ve got two full-timers starting in a few weeks.” Another time, after a minor accidental bump in a crowded space, she shouted, “YOU hit me!” as if I’d done something awful. And just last night, while I was packing my employee meal, she barked at me, “Go work, please, thank you,” in the most condescending tone imaginable.

Everyone here is fed up. All of us, except the new full-timers, have been at this restaurant for at least two years. New employees rarely last more than a few weeks. One of the new guys who planned to work here for a year or two now just wants to quit—he’s even considering changing his flight ticket to get out of here sooner.

So, I worked again on Friday with the same crew that had the confrontation with her on Thursday. I hoped she had learned her lesson. I even thought about sticking around for another month, just until one of our sweetest co-workers returns from Ohio and the boss’s girlfriend leaves to visit her family. But I was wrong—she’s still treating us like garbage. She had the audacity to tell me that a new employee who joined just two days ago had passed the “interview” phase. Then she handed me an opened letter with my name on it, saying I could get $200 if I signed up for a job alert. Why was my name on that letter? And why did she open it? It felt like a threat, like she was trying to undermine me.

At the end of my shift, I finally spoke to my boss. He apologized profusely—for ten minutes straight.

But that doesn’t erase what’s happened. I’m done being disrespected and undervalued. This was the last straw.

End of story.