[pussyslayer_]

Been working food service this past year and it's been draining me. Talking to hundreds of people per day, the constant drama from coworkers, and the random times get scheduled. I personally feel like there is a system where both money and time can be used efficiently for both buisnesses and employees but with such mass layoffs and huge new workforce coming through, this isn't possible. Unionizing doesn't work because everyone depends on the money to live. Just feels like I'm living day to day, paycheck to paycheck, wondering when I could get a different job.

[Ichigoassassin47]

It depends on what you want to do, how much effort you’re willing to give, and how much you want to make.  If you’re planning a lateral move, you could try and find a different restaurant that has better management and coworkers.  Generally, higher-end restaurants will have those, but the barrier to entry is harder.  I noticed you mentioned paycheck to paycheck.  I know of some people who invested in fixed assets or tools like lawn mowing or pool supplies and solicit to neighborhoods around their city for work (you can learn how to clean a pool on YouTube as an example).  They usually start off as cost focused, promoting same quality for less payment.  As your reputation/brand loyalty builds, you could slowly increase the price to a reasonable rate, maybe still less than competitors.  If you can grow that customer base more, you could hire part-timers in which you can retain some profit, maybe 10-20% by having others clean those pools.  By then you just have to train them, manage them/their time, and worry about scaling the business more.  I hope this did not sound too ambitious and helps!