I promised myself on Snapchat the day I received my settlement check in the mail — from the California Pizza Kitchen lawsuit over a toxic work environment — that I’d speak my truth. I stayed quiet for so long, carrying the weight of what happened to me. But now, I’m ready to release it, especially because I’ve finally been upgraded to doing what I love: working as a photographer and a wedding day coordinator. I’ve moved on — but that doesn’t mean I forgot what it took to get here.
This post is for every moment I was treated unfairly. Every time I cried before a shift. Every time I was silenced, blamed, and left out. This is my story.
They Didn’t Respect My Time
Let’s start with the basics — respect. There was none. Managers regularly tried to extend shifts without asking. I once told my manager it was the end of my shift and I was heading home. She didn’t even realize my shift was over until she checked the schedule — no communication, no respect. I wasn’t asked to stay longer… I was just expected to.
The Worst Accusation of My Life
The moment that destroyed my confidence happened in front of a child.
Two women were arguing about who arrived first. I calmly stepped in and asked both how many were in their parties. One said five, the other said two. The available table was meant for five, so logically, I seated the larger party first. But the woman with the smaller party — who was Black — accused me of being racist in front of her 6 or 7-year-old daughter.
I was heartbroken. I calmly explained my decision had nothing to do with race — it was purely based on party size. But it didn’t matter. I eventually asked if she wanted to speak with a manager. She said yes.
When my manager came out, the woman doubled down:
“Am I not being served because I’m Black?”
Other customers witnessed everything and came up to the manager afterward, saying I did nothing wrong. Still, the damage was done. I had never been accused of something so awful, so untrue. I’m White but Spanish is my first language. I treat everyone with respect. That accusation haunted me. I developed terrible social anxiety. I started crying before almost every shift.
The woman even left through the back door — maybe she knew deep down she was wrong. But the pain stayed with me.
I Was Verbally Approved for Time Off… But Still Punished
I had planned a trip to EDC in Las Vegas and asked the assistant managers (we’ll call them E and J) for the time off. They verbally approved it — no one ever told me I had to request it in the system. I had no idea.
While I was in Vegas, the general manager (we’ll call him H) called and asked me to come in. When I said I was out of town, he was furious. What did he expect me to do — cancel thousands of dollars’ worth of plans, drive 5 hours home, and make it to a shift for a couple hundred bucks?
From that point forward, H had a problem with me. He’d speak negatively about me in front of other employees — sometimes even while I was standing at the host stand. He thought I didn’t notice. I did.
Left Out, Lied About, and Disrespected
My coworkers constantly made plans together — right in front of me — and never once included me. It was isolating and demeaning. I was treated like I didn’t exist. The more I tried to be friendly, the more they shut me out.
One coworker, “L,” told me she left her Stanley Cup in the server station and somehow made it seem like I had thrown it away. I didn’t. At all. Another coworker told me L regularly left it behind at work and just didn’t want to take responsibility. Despite that, I still offered to pay for a new one… and she still talked badly about me behind my back.
She lied. And I still showed kindness.
Passed Over Again and Again
After that, I was barely getting scheduled. Maybe two shifts a week. Then came the final insult: two people — a busboy and a brand-new host — got promoted to takeout before me. I had been working as a hostess for over three years. I waited patiently. I never asked for handouts. But they were prioritized without question.
I wasn’t even considered.
I Finally Broke
The new assistant manager, “P,” was two years younger than me but acted like she ran the place. She brought up the drama with L and refused to hear my side. She clearly favored L and shut me down whenever I tried to defend myself.
I broke down crying in the restroom. That was my limit.
I messaged my managers. I told them that P was immature and inappropriate. I told them I was quitting. Because clearly, after everything, I was no longer wanted there.
And Now? I’m Thriving.
I’m not writing this for pity. I’m writing this for healing. I’ve worked through so much pain, anxiety, and self-doubt. I lost pieces of myself in that job, but I’ve built myself back up again — stronger, wiser, and more creative than ever.
Now I’m thriving in a career I love. I’m a photographer and wedding day coordinator, and I’m doing it on my own terms — with joy, purpose, and pride. I’m not crying before work anymore. I’m creating magic.
If you were ever treated like this by a job — I see you. You’re not alone. You deserve better.
A Metamorphosis Addiction 