Viral TikTok Shows Working Conditions For Restaurant Workers Hiding Behind The Counter To Eat
A six-second video went viral on TikTok for showing the realities of working conditions for restaurant workers. The video has racked up more than 1.7 million views and 1,400 comments since its publication on Friday.
Posted by musician and chef Nestor Consuegra, or @nessconsuegra on TikTok, the video showed several restaurant workers squatting behind the counter to grab a bite of their food. While it’s not clear which restaurant the video depicts, commentators said it appeared employees didn’t have time to eat during the workday.
“The chef deserves better,” said the video caption. “Let’s work together to give the chef the right breaks and time to eat. “
In the video, four restaurant workers are shown in hiding as they grabbed quick bites in the middle of a shift. The footage prompted people to complain about working conditions and how employees deserve proper breaks.
“I was a waiter and came home shaking with exhaustion,†one user commented. “No time to eat. ADVISE your servers.”
Other users in the comments discussed their personal experiences working in the food industry, and many said they shared very similar experiences. One of them recalled the times they had to eat in the walk-in freezer because they hadn’t had a break to eat during their shift. Others said they ate while they worked, even on shifts longer than twelve hours.
“I will never work in a restaurant again,” commented another person. “I loved my coworkers but it just wasn’t worth it.”
Brooks Kraft / Getty Images
Consuegra responded to the comment by saying that working in the restaurant industry is like “modern slavery”.
Many employees in the restaurant industry quit due to low wages and feelings of overwork. Restaurants across the country have struggled to hire staff as individuals seek higher pay and more lenient hours – others have come out in protest.
Earlier this month, another video went viral on TikTok showing a Pizza Hut employee eating at work. In the video, posted by @babyzeusdope, a customer filmed an employee eating behind the counter.
“Imagine picking up your food and seeing a worker EAT on your food,†the text on the screen read. The caption of the video read: “This is disgusting”.
Many in the comments agreed with the TikToker that this was a violation of the health code. But others came to the employee’s defense saying she probably didn’t have time to eat on her shift.
“What if she doesn’t have a break?” And if [they’re] short-staffed and she was there every day. . . I swear people always have to [find] something! â€one person wrote.
In the comments, a user who claimed to have worked in a Pizza Hut said there was no break room for employees to eat.
Newsweek has contacted Consuegra for comment.