... oh my!
So, in my short long stint-not holiday from A-level graduation to University course initiations, another part-time job i roped myself into is working as a part-time barista at a certain FnB. So far I can say I feel intensely lucky to have been placed to the outlet I work at, as the people really are just one family, we all feel familiar and comfortable with each other, even with the Bosses - though we still each do our jobs well. :) The environment is great. Really, the people are <3.
It's the hours and toll that worry.
Having started some time in late April, the first few weeks I only worked 2-3 in a week, but as the Sea Games and various concerts occurred, the schedules grew thicker and more frequent as did the crowd. During the peak period of June, the days became 5-8 days in a row, though thankfully none full-day shifts.
Speaking of full-day shifts, it brings up one of my points, which is the somehow lacking number of full-time staff or managers we have. There are times where it is unfortunate timings and chance that leads to poor managers and full-time staff working full shifts in a row, sometimes reaching 3-4 times.
Working as a barista, your arms and legs are always busy. Your hands undergo rapidly changing environments, from ice to water, from hot glasses to harsh soaps - precautions may be taken, but eventually your hands do turn dry and cracked. Standing is 70% of our job, walking the other large percent, and sitting is maybe those precious break times. I basically worry for the health of our people.
Asians. A lot of us have the stubborn quality. To not waste, to not accept weakness, to strive to get a job done. Sometimes, no matter how tired, we stubbornly hang on till we are close to not being able to even hold on to. A lot of staff end up with little self time - or said self time are spent barely resting and then back to work they go. Family time is reduced, severely, especially for people who work full shifts, going out and coming back at odd hours.
Okay, exaggeration may be there but still it has merit that i feel that burdens should be lessened and more staff should be more aggressively found. But words are words that do nothing.
Like now, I too am leaving the job for school and hopefully i can still help out whenever.
