Tweet
I do not post on here very much so I will give a bit of a background: I have worked in the restaurant business for over 28 years and 19 years (as 8-3-13) at my current job. In November of last year I picked up a second job to make money and fell in love with that job. I ended up going full time at my second job in May as they offer some excellent benefits that my restaurant job does not and therefore I have been working two full time jobs since May.
I decided towards the end of May that I was going to give my notice at my restaurant job, I promised to stay through the summer and through the Sturgis Rally as that is the busiest time for us. Our store is the second highest volume restaurant in our chain (we are a west-mex taco place that is not the Bell) and I wanted to help my boss out as she is also my best friend plus I am part of the management team and she needed time to recruit and train an new manager to take my spot.
Fast forward to today-I have two shifts left, today was my last Taco Tuesday, I was sad! I cried when I got to my car as I had to say goodbye to some of my most precious customers and they were saying such nice things! I held it in until I clocked out but I was feeling heartbroken. I know I am going to be a huge mess on Thursday (my last day). One cannot work in a business for 19 years and not feel some emotion, that place has been my rock and my home for all these years, the owners are like my family and many of my coworkers have become such close friends! One of the main reasons I decide to leave was the fact that I am getting too old for the work, I leave there everyday in such pain because of being on my feet all day long, my back hurts constantly and my left knee has arthritis and is constantly in pain. There has been a lot of drama there lately that was a factor in part of my decision to leave and last but not least I am only 6 classes from graduating with my business management degree and I plan on working towards a degree in either social work or special education which will help me advance within the ranks of my current job.
Second job- I just LOVE this job, I am an overnight associate instructor in community home for disabled individuals, the disabilities range from downs syndrome all the way to autism and more, some also have physical disabilities. The job of an associate instructor is to teach each one life skills so they may one day live indepently. The homes I work out of are regular 5 bedroom homes in regular neighborhoods but they must be staffed 24-7 as per state regulations, although there are some residents who could be unsupervised for periods of time. Everyone of them has jobs, either in the community or with the company itself. This company is a non profit and it contracts work with hotels, the air force base, the hospital and a bunch of other companies so they can teach those with disabilities how to work a normal job. I love the company because they strive to encourage positivity within the ranks of the employees, they have what they call Attitude for Gratitude which is online and employees are encourage to write on there to say positive things about their fellow co workers, such as thank you's and job well done and such (there are several categories) and everyone in the company can read this. They really push this infact they mention it every month at the staff meetings and hold drawings for those who have used it that month to win gift cards. That is just one of the many things they do to encourage positive attitudes with the staff. Everyone from the CEO down to the low man on the totem pole is treated with the utmost respect! I have never seen anything like it! Our main focus is the "people we serve", we are person centered and it is so fun and rewarding. There is NOTHING like going to work and having 5 individuals rush up to you and hug you and tell you that they love you!!!! There is NOTHING like dealing with a person who usually has behavior issues and getting a break through when that person starts to hug you each time you come to work!! It is such a fantastic job! The overnight position is so easy too, I get to work 10 to 12 hour shifts but I just have to do some basic housekeeping and be available if someone needs something in the middle of the night otherwise I just read and watch television all night until it is time to wake them up for meds, breakfast and to help them get ready for work. No more pain since I do not have to be on my feet all day!!
So yes, I will no longer be in the restaurant business and I found a job that is so satisfying and rewarding. I may go back to the restaurant in a few months just as part time to make money for school but I have to think about it.
I decided towards the end of May that I was going to give my notice at my restaurant job, I promised to stay through the summer and through the Sturgis Rally as that is the busiest time for us. Our store is the second highest volume restaurant in our chain (we are a west-mex taco place that is not the Bell) and I wanted to help my boss out as she is also my best friend plus I am part of the management team and she needed time to recruit and train an new manager to take my spot.
Fast forward to today-I have two shifts left, today was my last Taco Tuesday, I was sad! I cried when I got to my car as I had to say goodbye to some of my most precious customers and they were saying such nice things! I held it in until I clocked out but I was feeling heartbroken. I know I am going to be a huge mess on Thursday (my last day). One cannot work in a business for 19 years and not feel some emotion, that place has been my rock and my home for all these years, the owners are like my family and many of my coworkers have become such close friends! One of the main reasons I decide to leave was the fact that I am getting too old for the work, I leave there everyday in such pain because of being on my feet all day long, my back hurts constantly and my left knee has arthritis and is constantly in pain. There has been a lot of drama there lately that was a factor in part of my decision to leave and last but not least I am only 6 classes from graduating with my business management degree and I plan on working towards a degree in either social work or special education which will help me advance within the ranks of my current job.
Second job- I just LOVE this job, I am an overnight associate instructor in community home for disabled individuals, the disabilities range from downs syndrome all the way to autism and more, some also have physical disabilities. The job of an associate instructor is to teach each one life skills so they may one day live indepently. The homes I work out of are regular 5 bedroom homes in regular neighborhoods but they must be staffed 24-7 as per state regulations, although there are some residents who could be unsupervised for periods of time. Everyone of them has jobs, either in the community or with the company itself. This company is a non profit and it contracts work with hotels, the air force base, the hospital and a bunch of other companies so they can teach those with disabilities how to work a normal job. I love the company because they strive to encourage positivity within the ranks of the employees, they have what they call Attitude for Gratitude which is online and employees are encourage to write on there to say positive things about their fellow co workers, such as thank you's and job well done and such (there are several categories) and everyone in the company can read this. They really push this infact they mention it every month at the staff meetings and hold drawings for those who have used it that month to win gift cards. That is just one of the many things they do to encourage positive attitudes with the staff. Everyone from the CEO down to the low man on the totem pole is treated with the utmost respect! I have never seen anything like it! Our main focus is the "people we serve", we are person centered and it is so fun and rewarding. There is NOTHING like going to work and having 5 individuals rush up to you and hug you and tell you that they love you!!!! There is NOTHING like dealing with a person who usually has behavior issues and getting a break through when that person starts to hug you each time you come to work!! It is such a fantastic job! The overnight position is so easy too, I get to work 10 to 12 hour shifts but I just have to do some basic housekeeping and be available if someone needs something in the middle of the night otherwise I just read and watch television all night until it is time to wake them up for meds, breakfast and to help them get ready for work. No more pain since I do not have to be on my feet all day!!
So yes, I will no longer be in the restaurant business and I found a job that is so satisfying and rewarding. I may go back to the restaurant in a few months just as part time to make money for school but I have to think about it.
Comment