‘Anywhoodles, I told the GM I’m done': Family-owned hotel blames everything on the only non-family-member employee, finally quits after the ‘last straw’

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
May 3, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

It's no easy task to start your own business. Starting from scratch and working your way up is exhausting, but, hopefully, in the long run satisfying—you may start as a "small" business, but can grow to who know's how big! It's great to see family-owned/ small business thrive. We always encourage to shop local, support smaller business, etc. It's what makes a community strong and wholesome. 

 

That being said, not every family is as wholesome as they like to make their local community believe… Some families are toxic and provide a work environment that needs therapy just as desperately as their family does. That might sound harsh, but that's just how it is! Take this family owned hotel that totally skirted blame to the only non-family member employee!

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  • The employee was constantly getting berated by the owner for mistakes that were not her fault. In fact, the last mistake she got yelled at for was the owner's son's fault—but, of course, the son could not possibly have done anything wrong, so it must've been her fault! Funny thing about that is that she wasn't even working that day, so… She quit. ASAP. 

  • Cheezburger Image 10500005376
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "I just gave my notice!"

    Last straw happened on Monday. This hotel is in a VERY tourist based area and should not even be open during the winter. But the owner can do whatever he wants, right? But because it's so slow, we have no housekeeping.
    via Kristylane
  • The very first time I was told I had to clean rooms I should have noped the F outta there, but for some reason, I didn't. And that still isn't the reason I quit.
    via Kristylane
  • First of all, I work Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The owner called me on Monday and went off on me. Yelled that he told me on Friday to do XYZ. And I better do XYZ NOW because he told me on Friday to do XYZ! I'm going to bet a dollar that all of you have. already said to
    via Kristylane
  • yourselves, "wait... She doesn't even work Fridays" which makes all of you a billion times smarter than the owner. "Owner, I assure you we did not have this conversation." "YES WE DID! I TOLD YOU"
    via Kristylane
  • "Owner, I did not work on Friday. It absolutely was not me that you talked to. I have a guest walking up to the desk, goodbye" (I did not have a guest walking up to the desk)
    via Kristylane
  • And you know who was responsible for XYZ? The maintenance guy. The maintenance guy who (and know this is unbelievable) is the owner's son. The very same maintenance guy who still has tickets sitting out from July that he hasn't done.
    via Kristylane
  • The crazy thing is how everyone else that works there is so used to this behavior. Everyone is just like oh, that's just how he is. Eh, just forget it because owner already has. Yeah, no. There are a
    via Kristylane
  • hundred fricken hotels within 30 minutes of me that are all in the process of opening for the season. But I do blame myself. First because I never should have taken the job when I found out it's a family owned
    via Kristylane
  • operation. You'll always. get the blame because of course the son could not possibly be responsible and family could never do anything wrong. Second when I found out the GM had only started last May.
    via Kristylane
  • And when I say he started last May, I mean the first time he ever worked in a hotel was in May. And finally, like I said, when I had to start cleaning rooms.
    via Kristylane
  • Anywhoodles, I told the GM I'm done. (He was expecting it after I told him how the owner yelled at me) That I'll work this weekend (only because of my coworkers) but if he can get me done sooner, that's fine. I haven't heard back, but Monday will be my last day.
    via Kristylane
  • And I'm not gonna clean any frickin' rooms this weekend.
    via Kristylane
  • Cheezburger Image 10500015872
    via Unsplash+ (and Getty Images)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • RoyallyOakie Until everyone follows your lead, they won't learn. Do something petty on your way out. Onward and upward!
    via RoyallyOakie
  • Kristylane OP I'm generally very petty, but I can't do petty to my fellow front deskers. None of them have hotel experience beyond this place, so they don't even know how messed up this place is.
    via Kristylane
  • hackedMama20 This reminds me of when I work at a dog daycare/hotel about 10 years ago. Clients were generally chill, but the owners were awful, nickle and diming (possibly committing fraud) pieces of trash. There were many reasons I had to quit, but the final straw was because of something similar to this story. We offered a limo service where the male owner would go with a mini bus and pick up your pets from
    via hackedMama20
  • your house. We at the front desk had to print the list of pets and addresses every night for the next day. One morning I get a call from Jean (real name cause f I answer he's screaming at me "I NEED THE this guy) and as soon as ADDRESS FOR dog name" I was shocked and sputtered "what?" He
    via hackedMama20
  • screams again "Get me the address for dog name NOW! ITS NOT ON LIST!" Still shocked I get THIS him the address and he hangs up. When he returns with the dog, he's pissy as all h I and doesn't say anything. Not that it matters, but I didn't print the list the previous night and as far as I know he never spoke with the person who did.
    via hackedMama20
  • The other front desk person there that morning shrugs and says this is a regular occurrence, not to take it personally (which I didn't). I quit the next day with the female owner. She just gave me a smug, knowing smile and said, "Because of Jean?" toxic people those 2. I'd be surprised if the daycare was still open.
    via hackedMama20
  • Scenic Drive-at5 My last job was at a print shop which was also family owned. It was a horrible experience; easily one of the most toxic workplaces I've had the displeasure of being employed with. When I finally couldn't take it anymore and put my two weeks in (primarily due to late pay checks, mind you) - my former boss.
    via ScenicDrive-at5
  • acknowledged my resignation, but had nothing to say in response to my question about when all the funds owed to me would be provided. I turned that letter in early Friday afternoon, and seeing that he ignored my subsequent messages, I came in Monday morning and told his assistant I'll be staying long enough to turn over any material I still had and would be not coming thereafter.
    via ScenicDrive-at5
  • Nothing more liberating than walking away from a burning fire that's trying to moonlight as a 'functioning' business. More power to you, and I hope your next experience is much better.
    via ScenicDrive-at5

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