My job sucks!!!

Well, I'm a bartender so I work a lot of hours. Our shifts are generally 10 hours long with NO time to eat. (Just too busy for that.) Besides, I think I am the only "health conscience" one on the payroll. So here's my delima... we get NO breaks and I eat good all day, (prior to work), which means I am saving cals for later.

SO- by 10 pm I am about to pass out and try to sneak in a few bites of whatever... (chips, tuna, strawberries, cake... I dont care at this point!!! Just feed me!) But considering you have less than 30 secs to down/inhale it, I usually go for the higher cal stuff so that I dont hit the floor while cleaning later. I end up eating 700-800 cals before leaving home and then another 1000 either while at work or after because I am so famished!

There's got to be better ways! I've tried packing my own snacks but I get faint quick so unless I'm eating high cal stuff I'm not going to make it through the night!!

HELP!!

I don't what country you're employed in but - even in busy work environments - workers are entitled to a reasonable number of breaks.  In European countries that is covered by the European Working Time Directive and employers can be prosecuted if they don't comply.  You can't expect to function properly having gone 10 hours without eating.  If you're passing out that's absoutely not healthy at all. 

Talk to your co-workers, perhaps.  If you all insist on a series of breaks and work out a staggered schedule so that the bar has cover then maybe your employer will go with your suggestion.  If not, you should think about getting a different job.

I second gi-jane.  I dont know where you are, but here on a 10 hour shift you should be entitled AT THE VERY LEAST to a half hour unpaid break, and 2 10-15 min paid breaks. Your boss sounds dodgy.

Original Post by singing_girl:

I second gi-jane.  I dont know where you are, but here on a 10 hour shift you should be entitled AT THE VERY LEAST to a half hour unpaid break, and 2 10-15 min paid breaks. Your boss sounds dodgy.

Damn straight... you need to take a look at the big poster they SHOULD have in the breakroom with the list of workers' rights and laws (if you're in the US)... there should be a section on breaks in there... while you're at it you might want to take a look and make sure they're paying you enough, as there're limits on how low they can pay employees, even those 'making tips' (gotta love the ridiculous US system of factoring in voluntary customer contributions so they can pay us less...)

THANKS AND ALTHOUGH I KNOW YOU ARE SO RIGHT, (U.S. HERE.) THEY JUST DON'T DO IT. IT'S A GREAT JOB AND A NEW JOB WITH THE EXCEPTON OF THE B.S.

I AM ON THE VERGE OF LETTING THEM KNOW IT'S ILLEGAL BUT I AM ALSO NEW AND TRYING TO KEEP THE PEACE. THE MONEY IS GREAT. I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTS, (EVEN THOUGH I'VE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT ALL OF THAT.) I JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE PEACE A LIL BIT LONGER. IT'S A GOLF COURSE AND WE ARE CRAZY BUSY BUT IT IS COMING ANY DAY NOW THAT I WILL BURSTS, (CONSIDERING I'M NOT ONE TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT AS IS... LOL.)

BUT FOR NOW I'M JUST LOOKING FOR COPING MECHANISMS.

PEACE, LOVE AND HEALTH...

ODIE

 

PS- WHAT BREAK ROOM? THAT WOULD IMPLY WE GET BREAKS... LOL?????

....I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT THE ONLY CO WORKER I WORK WITH IS THE MANAGER AND SHE'S A BITCH!!!! (AND FOR THAT MATTER, MAKES THE RULES.)

... AND YES I AGREE WITH THE WHOLE U.S. SYSTEM OF PAYING US LESS FOR OTHER'S "CONTRIBUTIONS" - BUT F.Y.I. MOST TIPPED EMPLOYES ARE WORKING FOR $2.00 PER HR!!! :(

I, ON THE OTHER HAND, AM GETTING PAID $8.50 PLUS TIPS.

No-one likes to feel that they are 'rocking the boat' but if you don't insist on regular breaks then your $8.50 an hour is badly eroded because you're working at least an extra hour and a half for free.  Unless you're happy being an exploited doormat (the employers must think you fell off the Christmas Tree) it's not the 'great job' you're making it out to be.  ('My job sucks' is your post title.. remember?)

Employees that insist on good working conditions are usually treated with more respect when it comes to other matters.  Don't 'burst', but be assertive.   The longer you let it go on, the more it looks like the situation is acceptable.  I expect your bitchy manager doesn't go 10 hours without a break if she's making the rules.  And if they fire you... so what?  Better some other donkey kills themself with the workload than you.

One of the reasons you get so hungry and faint is because you are burning a TON of calories being on your feet and working for ten hours at a time. Don't feel guilty about eating 'higher calorie' stuff - you need it! As for your non-existant breaks, you need to make some waves to make sure you get them or you're going to kill yourself working that hard...

YEAH, I AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU. PERHAPS I JUST NEED TO GO OVER HER HEAD AND TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE.

BUT AS FOR THE JOB, I DO LOVE MY JOB. YEP, EVEN THOUGH IT SUCKS SOMETIMES. LOL.

WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR IS SOME ADVICE REGARDING SUBSTAINING HUNGER A LITTLE LONGER, SUCH AS FOODS THAT STAY WITH YOU LONGER THAN SAY MY TUNA SANDWHICH I HAVE BEFORE WORK. SHOULD I JUST GO HAVE A DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES BEFORE EVERY SHIFT AND EAT WHEN I CAN?

I DO UNDERSTAND ABOUT DEMANDING THE BREAKS. I JUST WISH YOU GUYS COULD UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SERIOUSLY THAT BUSY AND WHEN YOUVE GOT OWNERS, MANAGERS AND EVERY EMP IN THE PLACE RUNNING THIER BUTTS OFF IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT I AM GOING TO SIT IN THE OFFICE EATING.

HOWEVER, I AM GOING TO ASK THAT BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE GETS CUT, (BECAUSE I DO CLOSE), THAT I GET TIME TO MYSELF TO EAT OR WHATEVER.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY FOR 15 YEARS AND MOST PLACES DO NOT GIVE BREAKS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE JOBS AND THIS ONE IS THAT THIER SHIFTS USUALLY LAST ABOUT 5 HOURS.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS PUTTING IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR ME THOUGH! AND PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE TITLED THIS "SUBSTAINING HUNGER" BUT I WAS TIRED, MAD AND VENTING. LOL. THANKS GUYS!

Please realize - it is illegal and if your bitch of a manager wants to keep her butt out of court - somehow they will find time to give you your breaks. I would suggest printing out your state laws about this.

I had to do the same and I work for a hugeeeee bank. Once they figured out I was serious they gave me my breaks and lunch too!!!

By the way, they can't fire you for asking for what is yours - if they do - get an attorney - then you won't have to work 10 hour shift

I'm a bartender also, and I understand where your coming from.  We serve fried food so I usually end up snacking on french fries all night.  My solution is to try a nutritional drink.  Carnation instant breakfast is very good and has a ton of protein and fiber so it really fills you up.  The no sugar added ones aren't bad either and they only have 150 calories when added to fat free milk.  Also the Slim fast optima shakes are very filling and give you tons of energy - but they take a little getting used too(at least for me).   You can keep them next to you and sip off them between orders.

Another option is to bring in your own snacks.  Have a baggy full of grapes or apple slice next to you station/cash register that you can easily snack on as your ringing up an order or mixing a drink.  Another snack I like to keep with me is the cereal Cookie Crisp ( I know a ton of sugar) but they curb my need for chocolate and their only 100 calories for 3/4 of a cup and they taste like mini chocolate chip cookies.  I buy a box and divide it up into little baggies right away, this way I know that every little bag I eat is 100 calories.  Their small and can fit in your purse/apron and you don't have to worry about them going bad. 

I hope this helps

I know EXACTLY where you're coming from Odie! I have the exact same job and I totally understand how it's extremely difficult to get a break during "regular" eating hours.

As I do closes too, I always sit down and have something to eat before my last co-worker gets cut even though it's usually around 10pm, but if i'm staying up til 3am anyways then it doesn't seem so late...relatively speaking. If you take an unpaid 30 minute break it should make no difference to your employer who minds the bar while you are eating.

I also sneak snacks in the beer fridge during my shift, usually berries or apple slices, sometimes even a high-carb protein shake or bar so when I go grab a fresh case of beer or change a keg I can refuel.

And I always eat a filling meal right before my shift so that I can make it til 10 without my stomach threatening to eat itself. Try a baked potato, a 4oz chicken breast (I add cajun spice) and a pile of veggies. If I don't eat right before work then i'm doomed to pick at whatever I can get my hands on, it's amazing how many french fries can "fall off" a guests plate and accidently land in my mouth! LOL

The bonus of our job is that we burn a ton of calories while we run our butts off all night, make sure you are accounting for these calories in your BMR and eating accordingly, I totally underestimated how much I burn in a shift.

Cheers!

 

Thanks girls. That is the info I ws looking for. I think I will buy some 100 cal snack packs. I know we burn alot of cals but me eating a whole basket of FF is defeating the purpose. Prior to taking the new job I wouldn't put anything in my mouth that wasn't extremely healthy, (fruit, veg, lean protein), but I think a small bag of FF chips would still be better than some of the **** I have been eating lately. I think I'm exhausted this week too. We had a couple of big outings and I am downright tired.

SO, how many cals do you guys calculate for a night of work per hour? 100?

I worked as a cook for almost a decade.  Same problem in that profession.  And let me tell you guys, illegal or not, if you are the only person behind the bar or in front of the stove, you are NOT getting your two breaks and lunch hour except on slow days.

So, I wouldn't suggest trying to eat MORE before you go to work.  Your energy levels will flag after a few hours no matter how much you eat at home.  Sipping on a protein shake over the course of the night until you have time to dig into some healthy snacks brought from home is a fabulous idea.  The aforementioned Carnation Instant breakfast or Slim Fast type shakes are good suggestions, but you can also make your own healthy smoothie and bring it to work with you; just stash it in the fridge and sip as needed.  That's what I used to do when trying to diet and be a cook at the same time.  Not easy, that.

Good luck to you!

Original Post by babybelly1:

I also sneak snacks in the beer fridge during my shift, usually berries or apple slices, sometimes even a high-carb protein shake or bar so when I go grab a fresh case of beer or change a keg I can refuel

I literally do the same thing! I keep my lunch in the beer cooler and snack as a restock the beer! Coronas in one hand, a sandwich in the other lol

I am a boss and I make my staff take breaks. We all need breaks. I keep raw almonds on hand. Although they are high in fat, they are nutrient dense and have lots of fiber. Also, baby carrots are a good source to snack on. You can keep both in a baggie in the pocket of your apron (if you wear one). Good luck!!!