u/TheRainbowFruit

I'm a 34 year old cook. Most of the servers at my job are 18-30, with a good percentage under 25. Most of our cooks are 30+, with a number of them in their late 40s to late 50s. I grew up with a gaggle of sisters 8-16 years younger than I am, I'm the oldest, so my default mode is big brother for sure lol I've been at my job about a year now and the servers adore me. But I'm also not weird with them, I look out for them and help where I can. They are just more little sisters to me 🤣

I was recently transferred to a smaller kitchen at our facility then went on medical leave for a few weeks for surgery recovery. Right before my surgery I trained a 50 some odd year old cook how to run the station I was leaving for the other kitchen. He seemed like a cool guy in general, plenty capable.

I happened to be scheduled a shift on my old station recently and come to find out, this guy spent pretty much my entire leave bugging the servers. Asking them if they missed me, asking them why they don't like him as much as they do me, pointing out when they don't say good morning to him or smile at him, etc. The day I worked the station he was on a station nearby and even went out of his way to ask a young female server in front of me why she likes me more than him. Poor thing was giving me the help eyes as I looked on in horror. I did step in and tell him it's because I've been here a year and took the time to make friends with them and he's only been here a couple of months. It was freaking bizarre.

And really, he's not the only one. At my new kitchen, one of our other cooks who's also in his 50s being trained there was following one of our 19 year old servers around. Everywhere she went, he would appear within a few minutes. To the point that she actually yelled at him in front of everyone a couple days later to leave her alone and stop being a creep and took it to HR. We also had a cook who was recently fired that would follow girls into the walk in when they were alone and touch their shoulders or back any chance he got. This came out AFTER he was fired because they were scared of him, they just started going into the walk in in pairs to stay safer. I have assured them they can tell me if anything is happening and I will back them up if they need it.

I see this ALL THE TIME and maybe I'm just too young to understand it lol but why on earth do older cooks get so weird with really young female servers?? It's not even just this job, it's happened at all of the jobs I've had with servers and it's just so gross and unsettling.

Had surgery 3 weeks ago as of tomorrow, which is the day I return to work. Stitches removed a week ago and as of today I have the all clear to use silicone strips and lotion and whatever else.

Incision site is still pretty hard and a little sore. It split a little bit between the stitches and while those splits are now "dry", it's still technically an open wound.

Obviously I'll be wearing gloves for food prep but wondering the best bandaging situation if I'm washing my hands frequently. I've been using the thin white fabric bandages but not sure that's doable for my job.

Was thinking maybe a strip of silicone bandaging and one of those bigger rectangular bandages on my palm? Just kinda looking for a way to pad it so using my knife won't hurt as much and also make it so I can wash it. Other option I suppose is washing when I get in, putting a glove on, and using a second glove over the first to keep any moisture off my incision/bandages.

Thoughts?

Girlfriend has lived here longer than I have, her parents lived here before her and we are unsure who lived here prior to that but we have noticed a number of odd things since I moved in last April.

The garbage disposal was facing the wrong way, the caulking and grouting in the bathrooms were done horribly, the wiring going to the back yard outlet is wonky (I don't play with electricity though lol) etc. this was either repairs done by her mother or the owners prior to 1994 or so. Repairs are needed.

Currently my issue is the shower. They grouted every single part including the corners and where the floor meets the walls. A big no no. I have a scraper but it did nothing. I don't want to just try everything until I find something to remove this so what is the best tool for this?

The grouting is chipped, collecting dirt and maybe mold, and has some small holes in spaces.. it needs to be replaced but I'm unsure what that next best step would be. I have the caulk, just need to pry off the grout.