I left earlier this month, but I decided it was better to wait and let ~~my final paycheck clear~~ myself cool off.

I actually enjoyed where I was and what I was doing until right before my one year mark (February 2022). The anti-union gaslighting had gone completely mask off (we had a mandatory 2 hour long "pizza party" at 8PM just to "discuss the facts"), the customers were getting ruder, and corporate was expecting us to haul our assess even more while our hours kept getting slashed and raises delayed. And then a lot of people I cared for started to vanish.

We had so many seasoned bartenders and shifts "separated" under the most obviously shady circumstances, and they were all people who not only did their job like they were supposed to, but also made the place run like clockwork. Quickly, the store began to rot from the inside. By the time this summer had rolled around, I had enough, and began looking to transfer. I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't start Coffee Master because I wanted to look good for a transfer, but I sure did put in the work for that course and appreciated what I got out of it. I initially didn't even want to wear the black apron once I got it because I thought I'd look pretentious. But, out of nowhere, I was denied this transfer, and I decided that was my last straw.

I called in sick for the next two days just to work on my resume and apply for a new job. When I came back in, I had essentially more than quiet quit, I did so little that most of my shift i'd have some excuse to be off of the floor. I had my two week's notice ready to go to the point where I handed it in 30 minutes after I got hired somewhere else. And then I decided only then, would I wear that stupid black apron, during those final shifts where I took my sweet time saying goodbye to regulars I bonded with by rewarding them with free drinks and listening to spotify while doing dishes.

I just want everyone here to know your worth, and that there are far better places that would beg for your ass in their door if you did so much as look in their direction. I am making SSV pay right now with even less stress than I had as a barista. The Siren can and will replace you and your skills without a second thought, so beat them to the punch and replace them with a place that actually treats you right.