Tired of being hungry and weak (more of a rant than anything else)

[broccolichick]

Since working at this new location I've been working so much I've been eating poorly, so I'm hungry all the time and frustrated. This is more of a rant/vent than anything else, since I'm not changing my job or diet.

I work at a restaurant. Okay, we work about a 9 hour shift, sometimes longer. We are allowed no scheduled breaks, not even to eat.

Sometimes if food is sent back or the kitchen makes something in error the girls ask a manager if we can eat it. A lot of times the managers will let the girls eat it if they come in and out of the image room really quickly. The problem is that nothing my restaurant serves is vegan or can be appropriately modified to make vegan.

I've tried hiding food and stashing it in my bag but honestly if I went back into the image room and ate on the regular I'd probably eventually get written up. Three write up's and you're terminated. The reason why the girls can eat sent-back food is because they didn't come to their shift intending (what they'd view as 'expecting') to eat on shift. If I bring food I am obviously intending to eat on shift, which I'm not supposed to plan on doing. It really is very moronic.

Ordinarily I have no problem speaking up from myself but two to three girls have been fired from this new location every week since we opened. I'm not kidding. I cannot afford to lose my job.

But I rarely get two days off in a row, and it takes me so long to get back and forth and when you count that in with how long the shift is, I'm spending a lot of time not eating. I honestly feel like I'm starving all the time. I try to eat big, heavy vegan meals but in two hours I'm hungry. I'll wolf down a couple of crackers while I watch girls go in the back quickly to eat chicken wings and quesadillas.

The smell of the wings with the margarine based sauce on it has a nauseating smell, but the grilled cheese and quesadilla smell so good to me. Sometimes I honestly feel bitter and resentful. I've cried some nights after leaving tired and hungry and knowing it's a two hour trip to home.

It's gotten so bad that even on my day off (when I try to fit in as much eating as possible), that it's never enough, I still feel like I'm starving and my mouth is constantly watering. I've lost five pounds in the past month, but worse, I'm just really unhappy about being hungry constantly.

When I worked for the same chain at another restaurant I wasn't even ovo-lacto yet, and I work thirteen hours in a row but I guess eating deep-fried and battered wings dipped in a margarine based sauce with a huge quesadilla filled me up even though we weren't allowed to eat very long either. So I don't remember being so hungry, if hungry at all.

Sometimes when I stand up I feel weak and see floaties in my vision.

I guess there reallly is no point to this, but I just need encouragement. I'm going in for an interview for a part-time job so I will only work at the other location max three days a week.

[1815alan]

I don't know anything about American employment law but I am sure working nine hours without a break is illegal, they would certainly face prosecution here in England. Is there no local authority you could report your employer to?

[broccolichick]

Oh, it's against NY state law for sure, but I have no intent to jeopardize my employment.

[Blobbenstein]

I assume you are allowed to drink, perhaps you could drink a high calorie soup, disguised as cola...

[Indian Summer]

broccolichick, I tried to read your post, but I had to stop midway because it felt like watching one of those horror movies where the main character makes all the wrong moves and you're twisting and turning in your chair, and thinking "oh no! don't do that! why would an otherwise intelligent person choose to spend the night, alone and unarmed, in Vampire Village on the night of the Blood Moon? No! Don't go near that guy! Can't you see he's a vampire?!" :)

There comes a point in every person's life when they have to take responsibility for their life, no matter how difficult or impossible it seems. Is this the kind of work you see yourself doing long-term? A place where you can get "written up"? Where you're not allowed a lunch break? Is that really a place where anyone should be working? Sorry if I sound bit harsh, but I promise you it comes from a good place.

[Beachbnny]

^ Agree :)

I can't go 9 hours without eating. I just can't. I almost never go more than about 4 hours. I would be drinking soup in a cup that was disguised. I'd be downing Luna bars in the bathroom. That and I'd have a bounty of food waiting for me in my car on the two hour drive home. Goodness that's a long commute!

You sound miserable. It seems like you say you're changing things. That's excellent. Until then, hang on, and try and get something more to eat.

[coley]

I'd suggest quick things like nuts, but I know from other threads you are allergic to so many things. Are you sure they are going to catch you out for smuggling a banana and some dried fruit in your bag? I tend to be able to eat bananas like a monkey (three bites and its gone) when I'm flat out at work.

I think you need to talk to your manager though. I have low blood pressure and weird issues with my sugar levels if I don't eat. From the sounds of it if you're getting spots in your eyes you do too. You need to eat otherwise you may faint. Surely they will listen if it's explained like that? I know it's hard to speak up too much in an environment like your work, especially if you need your job.

Anyway, I hope it gets better when you stop working there so much:hug:

[PTree15]

There comes a point in every person's life when they have to take responsibility for their life, no matter how difficult or impossible it seems. Is this the kind of work you see yourself doing long-term? A place where you can get "written up"? Where you're not allowed a lunch break? Is that really a place where anyone should be working? Sorry if I sound bit harsh, but I promise you it comes from a good place.

This. Seriously, what they are doing is illegal. What would they do if you developed a condition where it would jeopardize your health to go more than three hours without eating? Fire you? Do they allow you to go to the bathroom? This place should be reported.

[luvourmother]

Oh, it's against NY state law for sure, but I have no intent to jeopardize my employment.

you don't have to jeopardize your employment, just make an anonymous call to the state labor board and report the restaurant. let them know you are afraid of termination if you identify yourself etc...

it is against the law and they are probably doing tons of other things that are too:

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/employer/meals.shtm

what restaurant chain is this (if you don't mind saying)?

[chryssiie718]

I am sorry you are going through all this. I do have to agree with the previous poster that the illegal practice of no break should be reported. And a 2 hour commute to a torturous job is just too stressful. Aren't there any other restaurants closer that you could apply to?

[hoodedclawjen]

the image room? -what on earth is that?

if you don't wanna change your job, don't wanna report illegal practices, and don't intend to change your diet, then i guess all you've got left is ranting. i hope it gets you what you need.

.... not that its gonna do much for an empty stomach or help you when you get sick. :-/

you must really want that money or like wearing your uniform to be prepared to jepardise your health for it.

[broccolichick]

There comes a point in every person's life when they have to take responsibility for their life, no matter how difficult or impossible it seems. Is this the kind of work you see yourself doing long-term? A place where you can get "written up"? Where you're not allowed a lunch break? Is that really a place where anyone should be working? Sorry if I sound bit harsh, but I promise you it comes from a good place.

This is just because this is a baby franchise with a new location. When I worked for the same chain, but for corporate, we were allowed scheduled breaks, we also didn't have to tip out as much, and our shifts were shorter. I think this location is going through its growing pains.

I plan on staying with the same chain because I want to work for corporate as my career, but I want to be done with this location. I want to move to Boston anyway, and when I do I'll work there.

[broccolichick]

Do they allow you to go to the bathroom?

Going to the bathroom is fine, sometimes crackers are eaten in there.

[broccolichick]

the image room? -what on earth is that?



Image room's where you do hair and makeup.

[broccolichick]

I guess no one has a problem but me, because no one else goes without eating so long. Food is often messed up or sent back, so they seem to me to always be asking for permission to eat super quickly. It's just me who is the hungry one, because I can't eat the food or ask for permission to eat the food I brought because that would be 'planning to eat'.

I can and have sneaked food as I said, but I don't want to make it habitual because I don't wish to get written up.

[hoodedclawjen]

Image room's where you do hair and makeup.

they have a special room for that? :lol: most places have 'the staff bathroom' or 'your own house'. i learn something new every day. :)

[hoodedclawjen]

if you're allowed drinks, you could take something like a thick protein smoothie. they're barftastic, but its fuel.

[broccolichick]

if you're allowed drinks, you could take something like a thick protein smoothie. they're barftastic, but its fuel.

I was thinking about getting some of those, good idea.

[Vegmedic]

Sometimes I don't have a chance to eat for extended periods of time. I always have cliff bars around. I wouldn't think that eating a cliff bar would be "planning to eat."

[crazycrazyveg]

I worked at a place that wouldn't let us eat, and i would sneak bars or crackers into the bathroom. Not exactly the nicest place to dine, but since the choice was that and starving, well i made do.
Lara bars or anything small that could be stashed in pockets or an apron, that you could munch on whenever you had a second would be good. Or like others mentioned, protein shakes or things like that since your allowed to drink?

I completely understand not wanting to lose your job, and unfortunately there are some companies who are able to get by with having these asinine rules like no eating and no breaks, because they know people need to work. It's terrible. Good luck.

[rissierissie]

On the up side I recently got a letter from some law firm. Seems that someone sued my last employer for exactly what you're ranting about. I'm due a (very small) settlement since I worked there with no breaks.

I did the same thing you did, can't complain because I'd lose my job so I didn't. But I'm glad some one did!

Maybe some one will sue for you and then it'll be money money + lunch breaks all around!

[Midnight Angel]

This. Seriously, what they are doing is illegal. What would they do if you developed a condition where it would jeopardize your health to go more than three hours without eating? Fire you? Do they allow you to go to the bathroom? This place should be reported.

That's a good point. What they are doing is harmful not only to your health, but the health of everybody else (whether they get food or not).


you don't have to jeopardize your employment, just make an anonymous call to the state labor board and report the restaurant. let them know you are afraid of termination if you identify yourself etc..?


That's a good idea.

I understand that you don't want to lose your job, but if you don't do something quick, you'll lose your sanity and make yourself sick (trust me, I've been there before).