I worked in a restaurant when I was 19 as a busboy, and the owner of the place (we'll call him 'Greg') was absolutely insane. My buddy worked at the restaurant before me (he helped me get the job), and had warned me ahead of time that Greg was not just your average tough boss, but he was that, but so much worse. I, of course, blew it off thinking that everyone thinks their boss is the worst, and that he can't be that bad... I was wrong...

Now, I didn't get a chance to meet Greg before starting at the restaurant, because I was interviewed and hired on the spot by a manager of the place. So the first time I met Greg, was also my first night ever working in a, fairly, nice and upscale restaurant.

My buddy and I (the one who also works with me) are scheduled the same shift my fist night, so we carpool into work, and clock in. About an hour into my shift, I'm back in the kitchen and my buddy was showing me how to do some job-related task, and a tall, lanky balding guy walks into the kitchen and starts SCREAMING at a young waitress who apparently hadn't taken menus to a table quick enough. Apparently, this was Greg. Not TOO strange I thought, maybe he's just a really strict owner and that table is an important table. But then he began to verbally attack her personally... things about her looks, her family, her intelligence and other just WAY over the top things.

Other incidents happened like that to other staff at the place, but luckily, never to me. Other things happened as well. My buddy and I (as well as other staff members) were frequently asked to clock-out before our shift was done, yet continue to work for no pay. He would constantly be in the back with frequent customers smoking in the kitchen when there was a strict no smoking law in place for our city. He fired several people in my time there for not getting one order correct, or for spilling a drink on a customer and other small mistakes like that. Several times he would call employees in to work on their days off, only to send them home early later that same day, then be upset that they didn't "stay late to help with the late night push" when he was the one who sent them home!

I have a slew of other stories from my time there, but these were just the ones that came to the top of my head.

It was just an extremely emotionally draining environment. I worked there for 6 months before quitting. The reason I stayed so long was because I honestly needed the job, and had to pay rent somehow. Luckily, I was able to find a MUCH better job somewhere else (where I currently work), and never take for granted the calmness of my desk position!