May 18th, 2023
706
School making me make all the food for lunch today
Subbing at a high school today. Was supposed to be teaching Spanish but the entire lunch staff quit at the beginning of this week and did things to the remaining supply of food that made it, shall we say, inedible. So this morning the front office told me they would pay me twice my usual rate and reimburse me if I could make a run to HEB and get enough ingredients to make food for every student. If I wasn’t completely broke, I would have walked right then and there and never come back. But I need the money desperately, so here I am, stuck in traffic with $1000 worth of pasta, sauce, and frozen pizzas in my trunk. FML I need to find a new job.
EDIT: thanks for all the comments. Long story short I only got reimbursed for $300 today. The rest will be sent to me “pending board approval.” I am beyond furious. I stormed out after cooking and serving all the food, and am considering leaving a nasty online review of the school.
EDIT 2: Have decided to go to the media. Thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully this school is exposed.
May 18th, 2023
706
Comments:
Ahsiuqal
2
DependentProof8305
2
leodog13
2
Remarkable-Ad-4133
2
heathers1
2
musememo
Never, ever spend your own money. Ever.
Sorry this happened to you.
4
bosonrider
Why did they all quit? You should not fill in for workers who quit en masse.
That is wrong on so many levels.
3
[deleted]
3
corneliusduff
3
Tomasmcd7
i completely understand your anger and it is more than justified. but i would have pounced at that offer.
edit. wait they made you pay and will pay you back? i would not have done that at all.
2
painefultruth76
You fronted a Grand??? Are you an idiot? Well, if this is what ya'll are teaching kids about capitalism, no wonder we are in late stage...
You have to treat every fucking interaction as an investment in yourself and KNOW your fucking value.
Raise leaders, not serfs and peasants.
2
RandomPersonRedPanda
1
Terricabox
One, if they didn't have food, they shouldn't have accepted the kids in for school. Two, they should have had a purchase card for you to use. fuck reimbursement. Three- Absolutely report them to the media. The USDA, local government entities.
They can't take you down.. whistleblower laws apply..
2
tooful
Don't you need to take a food handler test to prepare and serve food at a school????
Wow. They were so out of line.
2
Mercurio_Arboria
2
[deleted]
2
TheLastNameAllowed
2
Sufficient_Purple297
2
Urbanredneck2
2
Thunderfxck
2
EconomyCriticism7584
2
[deleted]
2
bdpprincess
2
Character-Ring7926
Holy absolute cow the edit is infuriating. This is a completely inappropriate request to begin with but "We'll reimburse you (pending board approval)" should absolutely have been information you received upfront, as common courtesy, in absolutely any profession - that completely changes this "favor" they asked of you.
I do not know anyone who would willingly lend an interest-free sum of $700 to their employer indefinitely. So completely unacceptable, and most subs I know could not afford to float that much.
2
sdmh77
When I was a preschool teacher, the new director thought I was missing credits so I was the cook. I don’t even cook for myself bc I burned water😂😂😂 but most importantly I have NEVER had a food handlers permit - which is vital to know the proper temps, emergency procedures AND cleaning procedures. I would tell HR asap!! If you got burned or something g happened in the kitchen if it wasn’t up to code and you were hurt then that would be awful! Note to everyone: a simple looking request is NOT simple in education
2
[deleted]
Before you cook a single spot of that, you walk yourself right into that office with a receipt and get reimbursed. Tell them you won't cook a thing until you get your money back. If they refuse, take that food to a food bank and walk out.
It's completely inappropriate they even asked this of you!
171
[deleted]
This!! It’ll be 8 months before you see that money!!
55
chouse33
At LEAST!!
3
snowite0
or take it back to the store
16
PuzzleheadedBet8041
stores cant take grocery items back as returns to put back on the shelf. they have to throw it away in case the food has been tampered with. you may get your money back but it'd be a waste of food
6
woohoo789
This person can’t afford to donate that much food. Back to the store it is!
5
LaurelRose519
Actually, it’s only some items that they can’t restock, most they can as long as they’re still sealed.
2
DilbertHigh
Major stores in the US still won't restock any food item that has left the building and been returned. For example I am most familiar with Hy-Vee and Target and neither will restock food that has left the building.
2
LaurelRose519
I worked in a grocery store for four and a half years and that isn’t true 🤷🏻♀️
2
DilbertHigh
I worked both at target and Hy-Vee. Neither would even consider putting food back on the shelf if it left the store. What kind of store did you work at?
2
LaurelRose519
Kroger. Which is the biggest grocer in the nation besides Walmart.
We didn’t put back formula or vitamins (even if they were still sealed) but almost everything else we were allowed to put back, per official company policy.
3
DilbertHigh
Never been to a Kroger, they aren't my state or most of upper Midwest I don't think. Pretty wild that they were doing things that way. Although everything I have heard makes them sound like the most average store.
1
Unhappy_Performer538
I worked at Walmart & we were not allowed to restock any type of food, even cans.
1
PuzzleheadedBet8041
i tried to return bulk bags of hershey chocolate once, unopened, and they tossed them
1
LaurelRose519
I know at my store a lot of people thought the rule was it all had to be tossed, but that wasn’t actually the rule. Could be the case here.
Or, if you were at a Kroger store but not the same Kroger banner as I worked at, it could be that it varies based on the banner.
1
[deleted]
This!!!!
6
Lulu_531
111
LuciusDickusMaximus
another commenter pointed out the illegality earlier so I brought up that point to the office and they basically said, in nice terms, that if I reported them I would go down with them
65
macetheace_1998
Would be a real shame if a bunch of redditors took action and reported them…
45
[deleted]
Yessssss
8
RenaissanceFreakShow
They are trying to scare you into submission. This independent “school” needs to be shut down and with staff resigning like that I don’t see it opening up for next year if you report this.
30
Urbanredneck2
Actually if they shut down she can forget getting any money then.
8
RenaissanceFreakShow
With unethical practices like this, that $300 might be all op is getting back. Revenge pays you back in other ways.
9
Urbanredneck2
Correct. With what she said I'm guessing this is a charter school and it might be out of business soon and shes SOL for the rest of her money or even her sub pay.
I just hoped she saved a copy of the receipt so she has legal standing to sue.
8
VelourMagic
Wrong, if the employer hasn’t scheduled a ServSafe certified person, that does not fall on the employee to meet those food safety and sanitation regulations
20
eldonhughes
If you reported them? No. I seriously doubt that you would.
14
the_ber1
Yeah, I don't think you will go down with them. You aren't a food service person and likely would have had no idea you needed a food handlers permit. I would absolutely report them. For ever single thing I could.
12
RichSoupSandwich
I am a food person, and nope. Report it to the health department. You have done nothing wrong here.
10
Yeschefheardchef
Not true at all, I spent 10 years in all sets and settings of food service. Every reputable establishment I've worked in has required me to provide a proof of food handlers certificate BEFORE handling any food. Restaurants don't do this to look out for you, they do it because they know it's extremely illegal to allow anyone without that certification to work with food. Bring this up with whatever governing body in your state (presumably Texas) handles food inspections.
7
DilbertHigh
Why do you assume this fake story is in Texas?
1
lauraebeth
HEB is THE Texas grocery chain
3
DilbertHigh
Ahh, never heard of it. I don't go very far south often though. Most Texas related news I consume is related to education and such anyway.
Edit: typo
2
SabertoothLotus
why di you assume it's a fake story?
0
Yeschefheardchef
Mention of the HEB, Texas based grocery chain.
0
Jimbo12308
You would go down with them? Lol.
What is this, the mafia?
Also, no offense, but what kind of “going down” can you do that is comparable to the school? Have your sub cert stripped from you? Oh no!
The school has way way more to lose. They are bullshitting you, you realize that you now own their asses? I’m not one for extortion, but they crossed about 7 different lines here. I can’t say I’d blame you if you leveraged this.
6
Evergreen27108
Honestly no offense meant (coming from another sub), but you’re going to the supermarket to buy food that you’re going to prepare for an entire school? A school that’s so shitty the whole dept quit?
If you’re “going down with them…” Well, exactly how far could you even fall from this current position?
A school this shitty was never a reliable reference to use elsewhere in the first place.
9
[deleted]
Let us friendly Redditors help you…
5
bavindicator
You are protected legally by whistleblower laws. You won't go down for anything.
5
nosleep2020
Why would you know that you would need a food handlers license? (I didn't until I read it here)
As a substitute, I cannot imagine any ethical person deem you had knowledge of committing a crime nor having criminal intent.
They are trying to blackmail you into remaining silent about their shenanigans.
6
Phishling
You’re not going down with a school. They aren’t the mafia.
2
Over-War-6813
Record a conversation like everyone else does and post it online…boom. You are cleared!
1
shwittyg
Is this not like a thing everyone has in the US? I got mine in high school 😅 they made us all take them for home ec
1
keanenottheband
2
macetheace_1998
Being that H‑E‑B was mentioned, 99.9% chance it’s Texas. I live in the SE part of the state and do not believe that they exist outside of Texas and some parts of northern Mexico.
3
Urbanredneck2
2
Different_Pattern273
98
LuciusDickusMaximus
It’s a really sketchy independent school. They’ve pulled worse before, according to what I’ve heard from the staff. But they pay well…
57
Different_Pattern273
I would be curious to see in that case if they even have their food service license up to date.
15
BreakingUp47
Do you have a food handler's license? That's where I would have said no.
If the kitchen crew spiked the food I hope the police were called. I'm an AH but if you want me to get fired up mess with kids.
Major kudos for you for stepping up and feeding the kids. Def NTA.
14
[deleted]
File a police report and file a lawsuit in small claims court. Then go to the media.
5
adamthx1138
Did you read this was posted by a burner account and is probably fake?
1
mountainmorticia
40
ntrrrmilf
I was a lunch lady for about a year when I was changing a lot of things about my life.
I cannot imagine how badly that staff was treated to lead them to quit en masse AND destroy the food. My main issues with the job involved being unable to feed children well.
17
PleasantAddition
Why not just have the school order Little Caesar's at that point?
Because they only want to pay $300 for $1000 worth of food! (See OP's update)
5
mountainmorticia
Damn. I hope the media runs with this. That's just despicable!
1
Xelrathi
23
Urbanredneck2
AND you can bet if a kid got sick they would throw her under the bus so fast.
5
adamthx1138
Notes from the account this was posted from: "Notice: this is a Pakistani Commune Account (PCA). Hundreds of users use this account as a burner. Therefore, messages to any specific poster will not be received by them."
I call BS on this post.
18
[deleted]
14
the_ber1
No the school would be responsible. Not the employee.
1
[deleted]
There’s no formal contract with this employee and their duties. There’s too much legal room to be scapegoated here.
1
Turbulent-Tackle2620
11
mostlikelynotasnail
9
keanenottheband
9
adamthx1138
This post is probably fake. Note on the account that posted this: "Notice: this is a Pakistani Commune Account (PCA). Hundreds of users use this account as a burner. Therefore, messages to any specific poster will not be received by them."
9
keanenottheband
Yeah, whoa. Thanks for pointing that out. What a douche (OP is just to clarify)
5
Ben_Ham33n
5
Useful_Bison4280
4
Wonky-Bee
4
Chasman1965
It's a Pakistani scam account
2
ceerrusca
3
rampaging_beardie
Yeahhh if they could afford to pay $1000 upfront for food, they are not broke. It says they were expecting to be reimbursed…..
3
Chasman1965
And that's why the story is fake
2
Kawaiipanda2022
3
ororora
3
[deleted]
3
nosleep2020
I would make the case that the cafeteria workers had some excellent reasons for basically lobbing a food grenade and walking out.
I am assuming it is a private school. If it were public, the district would restock the school in some manner.
Something shady is going down at that school.
3
Ok_Calligrapher_281
3
Riksor
5
Upbeat-Poem-1284
Look at the account info. I’ve never heard of a commune account but that could explain the varying types of posts in the history
3
LuciusDickusMaximus
I’m using a free trial of a burner account. On my end in the app I don’t see anything in my post history besides this post.. different for you?
adamthx1138
You're full of it.
4
[deleted]
4
Reality_Choice
2
Letters285
2
Aev_ACNH
I’m gonna need you to update this thread after you got reimbursed …. Today…
Edit
Remindme! 1 day
2
RemindMeBot
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1
[deleted]
2
LuciusDickusMaximus
Not sure, but most of the rumors seem to be centered on the fact that the admin was trying to force the lunch staff to basically “volunteer” to renovate the lunchroom over the summer.
1
risingwithhope
2
Awkward-Yak-2733
This is outrageous. You're a teacher.
Food service workers also have to have a food handler license, which I'm betting the school didn't even think about. This will hopefully backfire on the school.
I'll bet the media would be interested in this.
2
CocoGesundheit
2
shwittyg
2
Crystalraf
2
I-Am_9
2
libananahammock
2
Kawaiipanda2022
1
LuciusDickusMaximus
? My brother is a nurse , that’s the closest I am to being a doctor.
1
[deleted]
1
adamthx1138
Because it's fake: "Notice: this is a Pakistani Commune Account (PCA). Hundreds of users use this account as a burner. Therefore, messages to any specific poster will not be received by them."
5
macetheace_1998
1
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