There's a nice Yugopnik video about a "capitalism survival guide" that tries to help navigate a disillusioned worker in the modern hellscape. There are some two VERY important things that he brough up as tips to the modern worker:

  • Everyone is winging it. Regardless of the high expectations you see in job descriptions, you need to figure out how to bullshit your way past them: unless its something like a doctor, pilot, or engineer, you can probably learn the skills without getting a degree in them.

  • Work JUST enough, the employee that stays the extra hours and stuff doesn't always get the promotion. Depending on your work and position, working more might just be a net negative, as your extra mile becomes next time's bare minimum. This can then hurt your co-workers too, and as for you individually, you might suffer the curse of being the "go-to" guy. Ergo, extra work for you for the same pay as before.

  • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    I work kitchens so working hard is pretty much non negotiable, it comes with the territory but:

    Even if you don't smoke, take breaks or tag along when co-workers do. Smoke breaks are union meetings in kitchens. It's also just good to be able to stop the chaos for a second and clear your head. Also you're probably legally entitled to certain amounts of break (I am), not taking it is just allowing wage theft, encourage non smokers to do some for a break like grab a quick bite to eat or just vibe and have a coffee or whatever cause a lot just won't cause they have no real way to occupy the time so they keep working to pass the time faster.

    If servers don't get staff meals sneak them food, if they're hungry throw together an app for them to pick at when they're on the kitchen. They will make your life a lot easier and you can usually get some drinks snuck your way as well.

    Never show your full potential. Keep it super chill and slow when it isn't busy and turn it on only during a rush. If you're good during crunch time you don't catch shit for taking it easy the rest of the time.

    It's kind of a hard one cause while I don't give a shot about the business being negligent on stuff fucks over your co-workers and I have nothing against the customers for the most part and it's not on them that pay sucks for cooks, if they're rude they get shitty food but for the most part I want them to have an awesome meal. There isn't much that doesn't either make your life harder or your co-workers lives harder that doesn't play into the boss's hand

    Edit for most important: STEAL FOOD IN MASSIVE MASSIVE QUANTITIES. there is so much and so much gets wasted. Find places to give it away to and when taking shit for yourself just take prepped ingredients cause you're gonna be sooooo sick of the slop you sling