You can get PTSD anywhere. From the cradle, we have always had people cater for our needs but things changed when puberty and/or adulthood set in. A great deal of responsibility vis-a-vis personal needs has been carried into your very hands. This is why, as a general rule of thumb, we work to at least get our basic needs met except for those born with a silver spoon perhaps. Getting work - just any work - is not as easy as it sounds but it only dawns on an individual when the worth of the reward does not match the work done. Naturally, life ain’t fair. I know.
Photo by Petr Sevcovic on Unsplash
I have undertaken some jobs in my little existence but one of such that I won’t dare do again is being a Waiter. Nigerians, especially in the South, are a form of ceremonies. There are always some people who do not even know for whom a party was thrown but they are still in attendance anyway. This is why an event with a “strictly by invitation” tag is considered a stingy one. I digress.
How It Started
I could remember vividly, it was during one of those occasional tertiary school teachers’ strikes. My mum had gone to visit an older friend, who owns a catering survive outlet, who told her that they needed some extra hands for an event the following weekend. As one who was bored of just sitting at home all day, I obliged. Little me, I didn’t know what I signed on for.
The day came and I was quick to get to the point of meeting where all the pots, glass wares and all other catering entities were stored. I met some guys washing plates and I was told to join them. That’s where it all began! We washed hundreds of plates - something that I had never washed one-tenth of even at home. Then, we had to wait for hours before the big madam came with a car. Next, we loaded all the utilities into the car as heavy as they were individually. Mind you, I was already tired at this point.
Can I just go home into my parents’ arms already?
The event ground was only a few kilometers away, on getting there I saw that some things were just being planned for - the tents, chairs etc. Guess what? We still had to help set up the whole thing. can you imagine? I have not even started what I am to be paid for.
The Main Course
Fast forward to the main deal, after the food had been brought and we were ready to serve the food. Left to me, I thought as my role implied, I would ONLY serve! Blatantly wrong! I had to receive orders from certain people in the event hall, go back and scoop the order in some plates, and go back into the hall to serve. In the same vein, we all had to go back and retrieve the plates after they were done eating for who was going to wash them. Rinse and repeat. Imagine doing this for about half a thousand people. We were just less than 6! And for what? Just 1500 naira ($2) then and some free food which didn’t reach anywhere.
I got home completely stressed out, my legs trembled through the night. I told myself that I would never be poor in life. Nothing will make me do this kind of job again. You say what if the pay was huge? I remain on my decision, I won’t dare. Healthwise, I do not like to stand for, or else I'll get body aches. And the reward even in those areas they pay more, I believe it is still way short of the worth of the work done.
I completely understand how you must be feeling right now. It's incredibly frustrating and unfair that someone would put you through so much stress and only offer such a small compensation of 2 dollars. You put in a lot of hard work and effort, and you deserve to be compensated fairly for that. It's really disappointing to see that the person in question took advantage of you like that. In my opinion, a fair compensation would have been at least 15 dollars for everything you went through
It was damn frustrating, I only waited till we finished because of the respect I had for the woman prior to that event and how close she was to my mother. In fact, what I went through that day, I don't think any money could even be worth it.. 😆
Lol even if she offers you $100?
Well,maybe
And we would need to work out the specifics of the role. I want no surprises..😅😅
But I'll outsource the job😎
Hmmm, being a waitress on occasion? I only did it once and I told myself, never again. they will make you do much more work than you bargained for and still pay peanut.
It is not fair you had to went through all that and I'm glad that is all in the past now. Sending a !luv your way our Uncle T❤
@temibot, @funshee(1/4) sent LUV. | connect | community | HiveWiki | NFT | <>< daily
! help(no space) to get help on Hive. InfoYou have an experience with it? Finally, someone that can directly relate!
It is always too much work, and I see that as taking advantage of people, which is unfair. I heard some of those madams who got the contract must have taken half the money meant for jobs like that, only to hand meagre amounts to the workers.
It's all in the past, nothing can make me do it. Thank you, momma.😊
Smile. No jobs is stress free but the question is does it actually worth the stress. I can’t laugh when you narrated how you washed loads of plates you never did at home. 😂. But I never did that job before and I can’t even get close. I just don’t know why. Hehe.
Exactly, this is the true question! Bro, I am the second to the last in my family, but I have never worked like that in my life even when we have extended family with us.
I used to fancy these waiters and waitresses. I see the work as not stressful and their command over the party food.
We own a rental business and I'm used to this vibe in parties.
Yours didn't work well because the pay was low coupled with the fact the workforce was not much
Any event work is stressful already. and even normally. And yes, if the pay was much better and worth it, then Ok. You are into a rental biz? I think I might need some info from you. I think rental business is something very viable.
That's a hectic kind of job. The role of a waiter is not well defined such a case. It's just like hiring you to use your for a certain time. No resting!!!
Exactly, it wasn't well defined. I was naive then though, I didn't ask questions. But now I make sure that I have the details highlighted before taking up any role, paid or not.
Haha well serving isnt much of a big deal, the deal actually is washing the plates.. now that will be a job i'll never do even if i get paid
Actually, if it has been jot what it is - serving food - it is okay. But adding some others works to it made it seem too much, and no on etold me from the onset.
Well if its the others work to it then maybe it must be hard