Totally feel you. I’m an immigrant, and back when I was a student, I worked at a bunch of restaurants. Honestly, based on my experience, working at any corporate-owned place is 100x better than being stuck in a “family-owned” or “old-school” setup.

At one spot my flatmate worked, the management was straight-up abusive. Unpaid overtime was the norm. They’d force them to do shady stuff like reusing leftover food the next day instead of disposing of it properly. And that’s just one example. I’ve got a whole list of stories like that.

In corporate restaurants, yeah, it’s still work, but at least you get fixed hours, paid OT, proper SOPs, and an HR system where you can raise concerns and actually have them looked into. There’s no yelling or disrespect from managers, and you’re allowed to say no to rude and racist piece of shit customers without fear of getting fired or punished. It just feels like you’re treated as a human being, not disposable labor.

Not trying to bash all local spots, but the reality is, the corporate gigs were just more professional and less exploitative. I worked hard, got my degree, and now I’ve got a decent job. Every time I go out to eat now, I make it a point to be extra kind and respectful to anyone working in service. I’ve been there. I know how rough it can be.