Just quit my server/bartending/manger job after being in industry for over 15 years.
I worked at a small business with about 15 employees that was family owned. The owner was also the GM and hired family members and friends. There were only a couple of us who weren't related in any way. I worked my way up from busser, to server, to bartender, then I would manage a few nights a week. My boss told me that a family member would be taking over all management duties effective immediately, so I quit.
I worked there 3 years, the first year I didn't say much as I was trying to build tenure, the second year I started to get frustrated with the favoritism. Third year I started speaking to my boss about how its destroying the moral of the company when the people get special treatment and that was the beginning of the end. I started to be scrutinized for things that were mainly untrue after being the star employee for years.
When you own the business, even if you are morally wrong, you can still step over the people below you because you have power to do so and they are financially dependent on you. There are no checks and balances, its very much a dictatorship. 985
The entire business is inherently exploitative. Cooks are paid shit, do most of the work, and are frequently from disadvantaged backgrounds. Servers and Bartenders are paid minimum wage , live off tips, and have to deal with customers. Then on top of that the servers and bartenders have to tip out bussers, food runners, and hosts, so the employees are subsidizing wages for the owner.
Even if you are a good person, being in this business will eventually emotionally and morally bankrupt you. At the end of the day its about the business making money, and if you are perceived the get in the way of that, you will be axed even if you are a perfect employees otherwise.
NEVER BECOME A MANGER UNLESS YOU PLAN ON TRANSITIONING OUT THE INDUSTRY.
Being a manger only brings you more responsibilities and unless you are the GM/AGM at a nice restaurant, you will make less money. You will have to pick up shifts whenever someone calls out. You basically work harder for less money and then owner still ultimately makes decisions, so there really isn't any benefit to being the manger unless you like working long weeks and to be blamed for everything.
I hope to never work in the industry ever again. I'd work a coffee shop or cafe style place before ever returning to a full-service restaurant. 985