Food service boss denies loyal employee's request for rotating weekends, gives new hires weekends off in less than 3 months: 'I'm not sure what to make of this and feel really frustrated'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Dec 23, 2025 10:00 PM EST

One of the things that you should expect at a job is loyalty. If you're putting in your effort and hours to a job, then you probably expect something in return. Maybe you've helped them through rough moments or demonstrated exceptional ability. Maybe you've never thought about going anywhere else, and they can always rely on you to be there. Maybe you go above and beyond when you can, in hopes of demonstrating your ability and commitment to the company. These are all qualities that employers should look for and reward when they see them. Because it's not often that you get this out of an employee. 

Especially in the food service industry. It's one of those jobs that has a huge amount of turnover, so anyone who is willing to put years into a certain place is immediately head and shoulders above everyone else. And employers would do their best to recognize those people and to do anything in their power to keep them around. It would be a bad idea to take them for granted. But that doesn't stop some employers, who are just thinking about the bottom line, and aren't as adept at their people management skills. It requires some delicate finagling to keep these kinds of employees around. Because once they sense they're being taken advantage of, they're likely to run for the hills. That's what was starting to happen in this story, when a worker who had given so much time and energy to a restaurant had one simple request. 

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  • A stressed out cafe worker takes a break on the steps outside.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • He wanted some weekends off every now and again. A fair enough ask, given how much he had put into that job. But he quickly reached an impasse with his boss when they simply wouldn't listen to his desires. And to twist the knife even more, they kept rewarding employees who hadn't been there as long. This is sort of the opposite of how it's supposed to go. So it's no wonder that the employee started to look elsewhere. But he wasn't sure if he was right to do so. Read the rest of the story to find out what happened and see what other workers had to say about it.

  • Boss denied my request for rotating weekends but new hires are getting weekends off.

    Long story short, I have worked every weekend since i started my job, and I've requested to have rotating weekends or every Saturday off about 3 times now, I work part time in food service and have been loyal to the company for over a year, I've been denied because my boss told me they
    via u/Secure-Theory-6487
  • didn't have enough staff to take the weekend shifts that I wanted off, fast forward to now, the company had hired a bunch of new staff that I've trained and helped and when I look at the schedule I notice these new hires are getting rotating weekends or a Saturday off and also work part time, they've only been with the company less than 3 months.
    via u/Secure-Theory-6487
  • When I politely asked a few about it, they told me that they never requested weekends off, that's just how the schedule looks. The company is still telling me that they don't have enough staff to take my weekend shift despite hiring a bunch of new people. I'm not sure what to make of this and feel really frustrated. I am currently
    via u/Secure-Theory-6487
  • looking for a different job. Just don't know what to even respond with to my boss at this point. I've wanted to know what determines if someone works weekends or not.
    via u/Secure-Theory-6487
  • moonhippie You say food service? Do you work in a restaurant? If so, no manager in their right mind would put inexperienced new employees on to work on what's likely their busiest days. They need the guy that's been there awhile.
    via u/Secure-Theory-6487
  • This is part of the problem in the food service industry. Weekends are just another day. If you don't want weekends, you need to find another industry.
    via u/Secure-Theory-6487
  • A stressed out cafe workers sits in front of the coffee shop.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Commenters came in with their thoughts.

    G-reeper66 Find a new job, you have experience, drop them in the shit!
    via u/G-reeper66
  • M1RL3N They've had plenty of time to rectify the situation; they're not going to do anything about it, find that new job
    via u/M1RL3N
  • ihaveabigjohnson69 tell your boss you have to have 2 weekends off each month or you are leaving
    via u/ihaveabigjohnson69
  • Slack-and-Slacker If they think they can make you do it they will, that's why you start with offering rotating weekends before being hired
    via u/Slack-and-Slacker
  • camideza That's infuriating. You've been there over a year, worked every weekend, asked three times, trained the new people, and now they're getting weekends off without even requesting it? While you're still being told there's "not enough staff"?
    via u/camideza
  • That's not a scheduling problem. That's them taking advantage of the fact that you've always said yes. What determines who works weekends? Honestly, often it's just who they think will push back versus who won't. You've been reliable and flexible, so they slot you in and give the new people better schedules to keep them from quitting early. It's not fair, but it's common.
    via u/camideza
  • At this point, you have a few options: Stop asking and start telling. "I need to have rotating weekends starting next month. How do we make that work?" Not rude, but not a request either. You've asked politely three times. That's enough.
    via u/camideza
  • Be willing to walk. You're already job hunting, which is smart. If they know you'll leave over this, they might suddenly find coverage. If they don't, you have your answer about how much they value you.
    via u/camideza
  • Call out the inconsistency directly. "I've noticed the new hires are getting weekends off without requesting it. I've been here a year and asked multiple times. Can you help me understand what's different about my situation?" You've been loyal. They've been taking advantage of that loyalty. You don't owe them unlimited flexibility when they won't give you any in return.
    via u/camideza
  • No Roof 1812 Find a new job. Quit this job right before a weekend.
    via u/NoRoof1812
  • Successful_Club30... Transfer if possible or just find new better job.
    via u/Successful_Club3005
  • LuckyWriter1292 Time to leave - make it your bosses problem.
    via u/LuckyWriter1292
  • bopperbopper Keep working, but keep looking for a new job
    via u/bopperbopper

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Tags

loyalty antiwork job security job food service Horrible Bosses employment
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