4 ms·

There are some fun aspects to the service industry. I worked in food service for a decade and enjoyed it, but it's worth noting the obvious downsides. In food

There are some fun aspects to the service industry. I worked in food service for a decade and enjoyed it, but it's worth noting the obvious downsides. In food service particularly abuses run rampant, including widespread wage theft. Many restaurants have a toxic culture, all the way up to the top. I've known chefs who got violent, restaurant owners who brandished a gun at work, and have both experienced firsthand as well witnessing others being abused verbally or even sexually at work. Sure it can be fun, but the price for that fun is high. Lots of uncertainty about your financial future, high turnover as staff are essentially disposable, physical wear and tear on your body... I wouldn't want my kids to do it outside of a summer job. Sure, product managers are annoying. But nobody is going to fire me for checking my messages at work. I don't have to beg for time off or cover my shifts. Nobody has ever admonished me for stopping to catch my breath by saying "if you have time to lean, you have time to clean". I don't come home smelling like seafood or soy sauce or fryer grease. I don't have to miss birthdays or holidays anymore. And I make an order of magnitude more money than I ever could waiting tables (with health insurance to boot). Going back is unimaginable.

pcthrowaway 4y ago
> I don't have to miss birthdays or holidays anymore Interesting, my experience is the same except for this point. I feel like I never leave work now, I'm so stressed out I don't feel like I can properly socialize. When I'm not "working" I'm still trying to keep up with the latest tech, make sure I'm a competitive candidate and can get another job if I don't have one tomorrow (and I haven't felt any sense of security with my job for 3 years). Contrasting with service industry, I never missed birthdays; even if I had to show up at the tail end of the party sometimes, I showed up in a good mood and was generally excited for all the fun things I did in life outside of work. Yes, the pay wasn't as good, but I was much happier. I did get pretty lucky to never get sexually abused or a gun brandished on me at work though, I know that happens to people as well (though let's not kid ourselves and pretend sexual abuse doesn't happen in the tech industry as well) Also, the only time I've ever been physically struck by a superior was in a tech job (in Canada believe it or not). It was a light slap and after work drinks, but still, there are problems in all industries (and I slapped him back)

pcthrowaway 4y ago

> I don't have to miss birthdays or holidays anymore Interesting, my experience is the same except for this point. I feel like I never leave work now, I'm so stressed out I don't feel like I can properly socialize. When I'm not "working" I'm still trying to keep up with the latest tech, make sure I'm a competitive candidate and can get another job if I don't have one tomorrow (and I haven't felt any sense of security with my job for 3 years). Contrasting with service industry, I never missed birthdays; even if I had to show up at the tail end of the party sometimes, I showed up in a good mood and was generally excited for all the fun things I did in life outside of work. Yes, the pay wasn't as good, but I was much happier. I did get pretty lucky to never get sexually abused or a gun brandished on me at work though, I know that happens to people as well (though let's not kid ourselves and pretend sexual abuse doesn't happen in the tech industry as well) Also, the only time I've ever been physically struck by a superior was in a tech job (in Canada believe it or not). It was a light slap and after work drinks, but still, there are problems in all industries (and I slapped him back)