Obviously, though, we've got a new person moving in. He was meant to come today, but Two Saints cancelled 20 minutes before he was meant to be here. Which worked well for me actually, I was late to work and it meant that Lou was able to give me a lift. www It's hard to go from working 7 days in a row of closes (at BK and new job) where I don't get in till 3-4am every night, to then a 10am start. But anyway, the new guy's now coming tomorrow at 1pm, and I'll actually be here then because I start work at 5pm. We literally know nothing about him other than that he's at college. And the reason he's moving from his last supported lodgings place is because of "overcrowdness". He would have loved it here with the two addicts and a baby sleeping on the sofa. wwww We also learnt only this morning when they cancelled the meeting today that his name is Ben. A stupidly common name, my brother's name, gives me nothing to go on. www Hopefully he's not as bad as James. Don't know if he can be. People always say things can't get worse, but no no, it can and does, just in different ways, so I'm not getting my hopes up that he's not going to be a massive cunt too.
But anyway, work work jobs money work. So I don't actually know how much I wrote about BK on here before, I think it was just my initial thoughts and how everyone I worked with was like. Basically, they don't treat people properly, they don't pay people properly - when you're on a close, you don't get paid for the hours you do. That's illegal. People kept leaving. Surprisingly, more and more closers. Adrian and Keiron both left within a week. This guy Tyler walked out on this one shift that was the worse BK might have ever had (I'll get to that). And that was in the same week. 3 out of 7 closers gone. So obviously, I got put on 5 closes a week, so I've not had that much time to really do anything else but work.
After my first paycheck, I only got about £700. I can't remember if I actually thought that was good or not or if I was happy or not... But I decided that for the next month I was gonna get even more and work as many hours as possible and ask to stay on extra every day if they'd let me (depending if they could afford the hours or if they were understaffed, etc.) I was working probably around 50 hours a week - only getting paid/it recorded down as between 40-45, though. I still thought that I'd be getting a lot more money than the last paycheck and was working super hard and I really tried. Some people at work would say that I was always there and that it was like I never left and how everytime they came in (not even to work) I'd be there. And they all thought I was crazy for doing 16 hour shifts, and Lou said to me one of the few times I actually saw her that I need to stop working so much and take time for myself and enjoy life and all that shit and that life isn't about what I say it is; working to pay rent. I can't explain it properly (haha when can i?) but working so much and being so focused on money and everything helps me. Having money problems (or being constantly obsessed/focused on it) and living situations and everything else that comes with it is the most normal thing I've ever had to worry about or think about and it makes me feel just normal. Even though people think it’s weird to be in the situation I'm in at this age, since I don't tell anyone why and no one knows, but being in this situation helps me feel normal and human so wwwwwwwwwwww
The moral of the story is that I NEARLY made a friend. Well done me. www
Anyway//
So yeah, I worked super hard for this month (while still looking for a new job, I've never stopped that since the first day of working here) and was really excited to see the results from it, since Mike, the Thai guy who does the same hours as I was doing (ish) gets over £1000 every payday. How much did I get? For doing a recorded 45 hours a week, but in reality 50+ ish? £800 and something. I nearly cried when I saw that. Since I'm always on closes and we get paid on the 8th (at midnight), I always check my bank while on the close on the 7th of the month past midnight. I was in the changing room when I saw. Felt like crying. wwwwwwwwwwww Since then, I didn't ask to stay on any extra hours (that I wouldn't even get paid for) and would only stay on if they paid for my taxi home, which is what the majority of my wages was going on. £10 a night to get home. And if it was a Sunday, £10 to get to work as well. I kind of just stopped caring a bit after that for a while, and focused more of my energy on finding a new job rather than working overly hard at this one.
I brought it up with the managers, about not getting paid for the hours you do when on a close. It was Aqib I spoke to, did I say about him last time? For ages he hated me and it was always a nightmare working with him, especially on closes. After three months, he eased off and we got on alright. I'd "self trained" well enough to his liking, I guess. I said to him that it says on our clock out slips that we leave at 11:45 or something around that each night, when we stay till 2-4am most nights. He said that they have to clock us out then to be able to close down the system or whatever is was and that they then add the hours that we stay on till the next day. That is half true, I suppose. After talking with him for a while I found out that basically he'll ask one of the guys who's worked here a while on closes what time they reckon we'll be finished. They might say 2:30am or something, so Aqib would give us till 2am. He'll add on the hours the next day to say that we finished at 2am, so we get paid till then. If we don't get out at 3am or 4am or later, then it's our fault for being too slow and we don't get paid. I kept arguing with him saying that it's illegal and everything, because, you know, it is. I kept on at him and he kept trying to deny what I was saying, but then he blurted out that if we haven't made much money that day and are down in sales, then they can't afford to pay us, so they have to cut the hours and make us work without pay. That's illegal..
But yeah, after that I was wasn't bothered. Some of the managers where better about it then him, but we were still being made to work for literally no money.
ANYWAY, this one day when we got super fucked at work, the day that Tyler guy walked out. So, at this point, Keiron had already got his new job and had done a few shifts. While the managers knew he was the best worker here, and they needed to promote people, they wouldn't promote him because he's "unreliable". He tried super hard for a few weeks straight, after being off for a broken leg or something (it was in a cast and he was on crutches) but they still kept saying the same thing. He's now got a job in a proper kitchen and is happy so good for him! ww But yeah, since he'd already been working at the new job, he no showed on this one day that he was meant to do a close (one of his last shifts, I think) and I don't blame him. So we were already 1 person down for this close. There was me (useless), Laura (useless) and Tyler (he'd worked here before, left, and came back for occasional shifts to get some more money while doing his plumming apprenticeship). Jamie was the manager on shift and thank fuck it was him, really, since barely any of the other managers would help if we got busy. Tyler was going to be a little last, so I started my shift early at just past 4pm. I'm not joking, from 4 - when drive-thru closed at 11pm, we were non-stop. Literally, non-stop. I was on production, and was just constantly putting everything down since we were getting through it all so fast. It was a hot day too, and the aircon is broken there, so you can imagine I'm sure what it was like. Since we were so busy, we needed every person in kitchen in kitchen and every person on front on front. That meant that there was no breaks for way past the 4 hour legal limit, no time to have drinks, and all the people that were meant to leave at certain times (one of the till girls was meant to leave at 8pm, for example, but there wasn't time to check out her till or anything, so she didn't leave till gone 9pm). Everyone in the kitchen was desperate for a drink for hours, and everyone that kept asking Jamie, was denied. He was helping on drive-thru, so right by the open window, he probably didn't realise what it was like in the kitchen. I was kinda glad I was on production that day. Every time I had to get something out the freezer, I'd take a really deep breath in and choke on the coldness but it felt really good, almost like drinking water. Tyler already didn't get on with Jamie from when he worked with him before and kept being denied a drink, so he decided that he'd had enough, didn't need to work here anyway, and that he didn't want a drink anymore. Then when he was eventually sent on his first break, he just got changed and left. Because we were so busy, no one noticed till ages later and no one had anytime to do anything about it because we were getting so fucked.
That left just me and Laura on the close.
The two shitest closers.
On the busiest day and the busiest night.
When it got to 11pm, when the drive-thru closes, we still had a load of orders and a queue of people waiting to get to the box to make their order, so Jamie had to go out and turn them away, because we just couldn't serve them.
Typically, all the people that were due to finish at 11pm, where all the 16 and 17 year olds, all college or whatever, all can't stay on past 11pm because of legal reasons, so none of them could of stayed to do the close anyway.
Since we knew how fucked we were, we all just kind of excepted that it was gonna be a late one. We could barely even start cleaning the kitchen because there was washing up stack so high on every surface. It took 3-4 hours to wash most of it up. Jamie spent most of his time in the office texting some girl he's trying to fuck or something, I don't know, but he decided to do DA which he spent 2 hours doing, because he was texting the whole time. The whole shift was just a fucking joke. We got out at 5am. Or rather, me and Laura were forced out because Jamie wouldn't let us stay any longer, even when we said we'd stay and help him because we felt bad leaving him. He was still there at 7am when the morning staff got in. All of those people from them fucking hated me. Most hated me already though, but I can't even be bothered to talk about their childishness. wwww
BK treat the managers shit too, Jamie, as a manager, doesn't even get paid anything past 12:30am, but then he does get paid a bit more per hour.
But yeah, I got out of there, thank fuck. Fuckity bye, Burger King. In one day, three people - Me, Helena and Vix all handed in our notices, on the day of this staff meeting where our main manager finally decided to reveal that he was leaving, even though people knew for months. I had my last shift on Sunday. And it was shit.
Anyway, THE NEW JOB. During one of my breaks at BK, I saw on my phone that the pub was looking for kitchen and bar staff. I always phone the place during my break to see if they do actually have any jobs still going (because plenty I've phoned haven't). The manager that answered asked me a few questions and said that they're still looking and will definitely give me an interview and that I just need to apply online and they'll contact me from there. She took down some of my details over the phone as well. I was on front that day, on tills, and was so buzzing about the prospect of getting home and applying that the day was a breeze~
I applied and got an interview. I turned up a few minutes late, but it went really well. Like, really well. I mean, obviously, since I got the job. wwww It was with two of the managers there, two women, and from working at BK, answering the questions was so easy. Since I've been working and especially since being on tills and perfecting the whole customer service bullshit (my Go Large and Side Orders % were up there every week with the people who've been there for 6+ years), the interview was easier and more of a chat and we were laughing and all this. They said I'd hear from them by phone within 7 days if I got the job, or by email in the same amount of time if I didn't.
I've been seeing my brother maybe once or twice a month now, and told him about it. He said that someone who used to work with him had an interview there for the kitchen and that it didn't go as well. Hearing that, I thought my chances went down to near 0, since there will be other people applying; more qualified, more experience, etc. So I didn't want to put too much hope into it and went back to focusing on work at BK.
I was so shocked when I actually got the call to say I got the job and to come in for a 2 hour trial shift! I kept saying thank you to the manager on the phone and probably sounded overly grateful and she laughed and said it's okay. wwwww
The trial shift went really well and I got on with the other cooks and picked it up quite quick of what to do. It's all just microwaved or put in the fryers or raw meat on the grill. I've still got a lot to get the hang of, and it seems that training itsn't a thing here either, other than just getting experienced with everything and memory, but they really liked me and the manager, who was working in the kitchen that day said that I did really well and offered me the job at the end. Again, I kept saying thank you and probably looked so happy I was gonna cry and was smiling so much and she couldn't help smiling to. And yay, I got the job!
After that, I walked up and down the highstreet grinning like a right twat. I was so happy. I treated myself to a Domino's pizza and took it home on the bus with me. Sure, when I got back it was a bit cold, but it kept my legs warm on the bus, tasted good and was perfect with a well earned drink. Dinner of kings!
I had to go to the induction thing, to sign contracts and everything, but it was in Southampton, at the Wetherspoons there at I had to be there at 10am. I had a close the night before. I stayed at my brother's - who moved a 2 minutes walk from BK - at 3:30am. I fell asleep at 5:30am. Alarm was suppost to go off a 7am. Turned it off and went back to sleep. Thank fuck my brother woke up at 9am and was able to give me a lift in. I then had to be back at work for 6pm for another close. I got no sleep for all that time I was so dead;;
The induction was pretty funny. The guy talking us through the booklet of everything was this really camp, funny, gay guy who constantly made jokes about him being gay. wwww There was also a really cute guy who had those angel bite piercings, used a Hello Kitty pen and had a Hatsune Miku bag (which since then, I've been listening to, along with other vocaliods and it has killed me wwwww). He was going to a pub in Bournmouth and had to come all the way here just for the induction (took him 2 hours). The whole day was alright though. It was suppost to finish at 4pm and I was worried I'd be late for work at 6pm, but we finished at 1:30pm and the guy said that he'll tell them we finished at 4pm, so we'll get paid till then. I got about £30 just from that day! www
When we got copies of our contract, I read how much my starting salary was. Everyone else was all calm and fine and I was there internally screaming and wanting to cry tears of joy. £6.88 an hour!!
I had my first shift on Saturday. I really enjoyed it. I work from 5 to close (or till finish as it's called there). I was working with the only cook in called Adam. It was a busy Saturday so he was quite stressed. wwww I had to wait half an hour before the manager had time to come get me and find me the uniform they ordered in and everything. I get a proper little chefs outfit! ww
I was on potwash most of the night, because we were running out of plates and being the only one in kitchen, Adam didn't have the time to wash and cook. wwwww
It was actually pretty funny, though. 30 minutes into my shift, on potwash, the manager comes in. Adam hands in his notice. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I knew they were already understaffed but hearing that made me think this place might not be better than where I've come from... BUT he's only leaving because he's moving to Southampton and he's got a job as a proper chef, using fresh food, no microwaves, etc. And not because this place is shit, thank fuck. wwwww
We actually finished all the close stuff still by 1am. There's barely anything to do and there was only 2 of us doing it, as well. Afterwards, we just had cutlery left to wrap up, which the kitchen staff do while sat in the bar, after getting changed, while having a drink. So we did that. ^o^ One of the bouncers helped us and we all sat around just drinking and talking till 3am, when the manager had finished all her stuff and was ready to go. She gave me, the bouncer and one of the bar staff a lift home with, I think, her partner. I don't know if it was, or if every women that works here is gay, but whatever. wwwww There's an online rota where you can see everyone's names and shifts, so with the power of Facebook, I'd found some of them before the first shift just out of curiosity. wwwww
BUT ANYWAY ww
We talked about lots of different things and I actually have quite a lot in common with them..! I've never met anyone in real life to be able to talk about these kind of things with! We talked about anime, games, cosplay, conventions, furries, jobs, money, CATS, housing and where we live and loads of other stuff. The bouncer guy is so great. He's so sweet. He has a slight lisp or speech impediment, calls himself "lonely", lives in his one bedroom flat with 9 cats!! He was 7 new born kittens too that he showed me and said they're up for sale since he can't afford to keep all of them and me and Adam, the cook, both really really want one (we all love cats!) but he's also in a shared house/lodgings thing/sleeping on a friends sofa until he moves to Southampton in two week and leaves here. I didn't catch the bouncers name, but he was so lovely. ww Adam loves anime and games and we talked a lot about that. He goes to conventions - the London Comic Con twice a year, and does cosplay! I've seen his pictures on Facebook and he's actually really good! I was saying how I've always wanted to get into that but it's expensive and the bouncer agreed. ww It was really nice to talk like that with people who like similar things. That's literally the first time that's ever happened to me.
I've only had that first shift and the one I had today, so I'll wait till the end of the week or another few months (haaa orz) to write another of these about how it's going, but it seems good! Lou said it looks like I've finally landed on my feet! www
There's still a bit I could talk about, like the taxi driver who melted my heart, but I'll save that for another time//
OH YEAH and I've also had my hair cut again (since the last post) and have it dyed white now! That was a fun journey! I'll post pictures and stuff onto Tumblr another time. ww
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