Return to the dish pit I realized just wasn't for me.
Quick follow-up to my last post. I worked three years as a dishwasher in assisted living, which was a slower, more predictable environment, but a severely toxic environment, especially poor treatment from the servers, which led me to resign. I recently tried Topgolf for extra cash alongside my UPS job. As my attempt to return to the dishpit after nine years. It turned out to be a completely different pace—constant rush, high volume, and basically no downtime. I gave it a real effort but couldn’t keep up, and what surprised me most was the back strain. Even with partnering with another dishwasher to do the shift at Top Golf. At UPS, I unload heavy packages all day with no issue because it’s movement-based. Packages weighing as little as a pound, sometimes heavy over 100 pounds (with help), in a fast-paced environment. However, at Topgolf, I was standing in one spot, slightly bent over, doing repetitive motions nonstop, and my back felt worse after that shift than any UPS shift I’ve had. That’s when it clicked that it’s not that I “wasn’t enough,” dishwashing just wasn’t the right fit for me. I also want to say the overall staff, servers, and management were actually great. The kitchen vibe at Top Golf was way better than assisted living, so no issues there at all. But between the constant back stress, the fast pace, and the job paying only the state's minimum wage, it didn’t make sense to push through a job that could affect me long-term when I already have a solid job at UPS with benefits and the pension locked in and waiting list to be a driver. I am making good money now as a package handler and having a guaranteed raise this August. I can make the same amount with fewer hours of package handling compared to Top Golf's eight hours. So I made the call early and left on good terms. Glad I tried it, and I have respect for anyone who can handle that pace, but sometimes it’s not about pushing harder—it’s about recognizing when the job isn’t the right fit.