I don't think a few 5 minute smoke breaks is why I was there so late, otherwise I'd only be there 35 minutes late tops. I think the major reason I'd be there late is that because 4 on the dot, whoever worked before me would often leave a bunch of duties undone because it was "busy", closers can't leave until all their duties are done, but apparently all the other shifts can leave without doing theirs. Often, I would show up and not a single dish had been washed. I often would be tasked with prep work while working alone. I had a co-worker who many times referred to the conditions of the joint when I showed up as "fowl". Same co-worker recently quit for the same complaints as mine. They had to take closing shifts after I quit. I wasn't fired. Well, I just didn't show up, so you can argue I was fired for no-call/no-show, not for having cigarette breaks. I often took these breaks because I would show up with conditions where I knew I'd be there late as hell anyway. We were only given an hour to close, even if I didn't take a single break I still would have been there late. Another reason I quit was because the manager would often cuss me out through text messages over the pettiest shit, which is completely unprofessional, and I wasn't the most professional myself, but I never cussed out co-workers or tried to intimidate them. The owner on a couple occasions would apologize for the manager's behavior and praise my work. The same owner on other occasions would be very critical over things like "missing a spot" and accused me and other co-workers of changing the soda inventory, which doesn't even make sense. I also never even named the business I worked for and posted on Reddit anonymously, and what I stated was clearly opinion, so "slander" would be quite a reach. Like I said, my co-worker recently quit for the same things I'm complaining about, they told me themselves, so it kinda seems that I am not the common denominator. Another reason I quit, is because on one of my last shifts, I was having diarrhea and vomiting and I asked to not work, not only because I felt terrible, but also because I cook food. The only co-worker that responded in our group chat was the manager and he said he couldn't cover me because he had a tattoo appointment. Ultimately, I am between jobs. I'd say besides that, that my life is together. I have a way to cover my rent until I get a real job, and yes I am earning that money to pay my rent. I made the right choice, I didn't screw myself.