u/jasperbeep

For context I work at a chain restaurant, and this rule has never existed until now. I’ve worked at 2 different locations of this same restaurant, and I’ve never heard of this rule before.

Apparently (according to my manager), we were supposed to be using bus tubs to bus our tables the entire time.

Yesterday we had a reigonal manager come in, and our managers told us to use bus tubs while bussing our tables. I assumed it was just a one off thing to do in front of the big boss, and not anything permenant.

Today when I came in, the expectation that we use bus tubs stayed the same. I have 5 years of experience as a server, so I have a method on how I like to stack plates and cups and all that. The tubs are stored in the back underneath the dishpit. They’re quite large, and really disgusting. At the moment we only have two of them.

This change in routine has really messed me up, and made me far less efficient. With only two bus tubs, it’s nearly impossible to keep the restaurant clean with other servers using them to clean their own tables. The managers are always on us about keeping our sections clean. The rule is that we can hand bus a table if it “has two cups or less,” which I think is absolutely ridiculous, as I can carry 10 plates in one hand, and at least 7 cups in the other at the same time.

I was tempted to tell them: “You can either have a clean restaurant, or a dirty one.”

I might be overreacting, but I have OCD and don’t do well with sudden changes to my routine, especially one as integrated into my job as this one. I’m beyond frustrated.

Any thoughts on this rule?

I’m an autistic 20 y/o, and I feel like keeping a job is impossible.

Before I start I want to clarify that I have always tried my very hardest at any job I’ve had. I always put in my full effort until I physically and emotionally was not able to anymore.

My first job was at a Montessori school where I worked with toddlers. I loved the kids so much, but it was physically and emotionally exhausting work. I was fired after 9 months for “being too young”, despite being hired at 18. I did nothing for a while after that, and got pretty depressed. It took a lot out of me to even show up every day to that job, and I felt like my body had to recover.

Then I worked as a server at Chilis, and it was terrible. They used to hand me two sections on busy days sometimes, and we were constantly short staffed so I felt like I was running around like a madman. Sometimes my shifts would be 12+ hours long, and I needed at least 2 days after those to recover. A friend convinced me that doing hair would suit me well, as it’s a low(ish) stress environment, where I could still have a creative outlet. I decided to quit my job at Chili’s and go to hair school.

When I got my license, I went to work at a local salon, and was immediately overwhelmed by the environment. I couldn’t really tell, but it felt like every coworker was silently judging me. I felt like I had to fit in as best I could, and started mimicking their behaviors, and their clothing choices etc. I ended up getting a stomach flu for a week (it was terrible), and the manager fired me for “missing an entire work week”, despite me calling in every morning at 7am.

I then moved on to Great Clips. Honestly the fast paced work environment was pretty fun at first, and I felt like I was doing a good job, because I would average about 15-20 clients a day. But it became too much, and my manager began overstepping boundaries by scheduling me almost every single day of the week, all closing shifts, and she also volunteered me to go sub in at another location an hour from where I live. One day I was cussed out by a customer, so I grabbed my things, walked out, and never came back.

I’ve been jobless now for 2 months, and I just can’t fathom finding another job right now. The job market is horrific, and it feels like a maze sorting through all of the different options. Every job I’ve looked at and have had interest in either requires 3+ years of experience, or pays you pennies. I am so unmotivated, and all I do is sleep and cook for my roommate. What do I do? I know I can’t change how my brain works, but are there any suggestions, or job ideas that could be helpful for an autistic person?