Situation at work....AIBU?

[se7enthings]

Hello!
I work in a pub 10 hours a week whilst at university, the pay is crap but the hours fit in.

I am the youngest behind the bar age 23 and I feel as though I’m getting mugged off. I work with a 60 year old lady who knows everyone and constantly looks for conspiracy in the workplace, aka, someone’s stealing etc.

I am the only person out of both of us to clear up the glasses and lifting a heavy crate 70+ times a night has started taking its toll and I am suffering with what feels like an injury to my spine. I have asked several times for my colleague to help me and she does it once or twice then stops. She’ll stand next to me talking about how someone pissed her off and watch me clean up everyone’s glasses. She tells me to “hurry up as she wants to leave at 12:30” but stands talking to customers whilst I clean the bar, she moans she has a bad back and is under impression she does everything. Landlady not much use as only cares about profit not staff wellbeing.

Anyway, I don’t get sick pay, at all, and I’ve checked the rota and I won’t be able to take one of my holidays as others are off. I can’t cope with the pain, I’ve missed a day of uni and I’ve been up all night with it, AIBU to get a sick note for 2 weeks?

How is it whiny? I’m not in anyway lazy and worked 2 jobs through college and first year of university, I don’t moan about work, I moan about being treated unfairly

It's not unfair though. If you don't like it, get a different job. Are you even on the books?

Obviously I’m on the books, how rude are you?

Cabtucci are you the colleague?!

Ignore cunty posters and listen to those of us who are advising you to look for another job - we speak from experience when we say that back injuries are often insidious and manifest years later and can be debilitating. I know someone who got an injury from work as a young 'un who now cannot work and is in constant pain. It's not worth it.

If I was entitled I wouldn’t put up with it, I don’t whine. I’m not lazy, I’ve worked hard. I’m asking a question, with a genuine injury, you really need to alter your attitude before even commenting on mine

I’ll be trawling the Internet looking. I used to clean offices, might look into that again as it was weirdly therapeutic

If it's busy enough to need you to move 70+ crates of dirty glasses a night, there should be more people behind the bar.

How about using a bit of common sense, and not filling the crates quite so full? I also worked in a bar during uni holidays, used to do 12 hour shifts and glass collecting was just part of the job. If you're being asked to move product (ie crates of bottles) and they're too heavy, then you need to talk to the boss.

It occurs to me that you have 2 separate issues here - one is lifting the crates - which you might be able to solve with a bit of common sense and googling "how to lift heavy weights without straining your back" and the other is that your colleague is chatting, rather than working and your boss isn't supportive.

If it's only 10 hours a week, I'm sure now you have experience, you'd be able to get similar hours elsewhere. You clearly don't like the set up, which is absolutely fine, but it's a casual bar job, just look for something else.

Anyway, I don’t get sick pay, at all, and I’ve checked the rota and I won’t be able to take one of my holidays as others are off. I can’t cope with the pain, I’ve missed a day of uni and I’ve been up all night with it, AIBU to get a sick note for 2 weeks

Regarding this - see a GP and go to any suggested scans. Document your pain and possible injury. Get the sick note, but use the time to recover (properly) and look for another job.

People expect two people doing the same job with the same pay, to do the same job regardless of age. Not for one person to do all the lifting potentially causing long term damage.

There must be a better way to do the glasses. I used to work in a pub and the only heavy lifting was changing barrels in the cellar and when we got deliveries. Glasses we used to just carry over to bar as people left and put in washer. Could you get a trolley if pub is size it necessitates you to carry around a crate? I would expect everyone employed to do same job to do same work regardless of age (unless was something that was very occasional). Maybe with some adaptation she could help out and you wouldn't wreck your back.

Well, that was my initial idea, halving the amount of glasses, then I was told to “fill the fuckers up”

If she is getting paid the same as you of course she should be doing the same amount of work. She is a new employee so it is not like she has worked there for years and now can't do certain things, she started the job and must have agreed to do the same work as you.

What are you lifting?

I have done loads of bar work. The only thing I can think of that are heavy is barrels that you might have to move across the floor if one doesn't reach to change it. And crates of full bottles when filling the bottle fridge. Which are heavy but wouldnt require doing all shift. Usually at the start and end of a shift. And even then they aren't much heavier than a full bag of shopping. And if they are too heavy split them.

It's bar work. You pull pints, keep the pub free of empty glasses and the fridges stocked. And if you can't manage a crate of full bottles a couple of times a shift at 23 years old then you probably either have an injury/illness in your back or you are hopelessly unfit.

What the fuck am I reading. OP ignore the posters who clearly have never worked.

Of course a 60 year old woman should match a 23 yo in physical work. If that’s the role and she is getting paid for it she should be expected to do her job.

If she is unable to do her role then it’s not the position for her. Why should the OP suffer because someone is not up to the role.
This has nothing to do with her age,she’s just a cheeky fucker.

You’ve got good bar experience now, why not look elsewhere, a bigger bar with more staff and less lifting?

Unfortunately a "bar maid" position isn't just pulling pints and chatting to customers. It will involve collecting glasses, clearing down in the evening, lifting trays of glasses, crates of bottles and all manor of bar maintenance. I was often sat on the floor rotating stock, clearing shelves, etc.
Her older have may make her slightly less capable but you're doing those hours because they fit you, so is she likely so no you can't just have a different buddy.
Realistically they are obliged to show you safe lifting but there is equally nothing stopping you looking for it your self. If something is too heavy, just refuse. It doesn't have to be a drama. I'd be asked can you get that? And if say no, I'm too short/It's too heavy and they go ok and either send someone to do it or get someone to help.
Bar work carries a degree of manual handling, so if it's really taking it's toll of look for alternative work

I’m not unfit actually, why is my age even being brought into it. Are young people not allowed to feel any physical pain?

I do not mind the heavy lifting, my issue purely is I have no help doing it

I can't believe the people telling you to stop being whiny. At 32 years of age my back is fucked and it's from years of kping as a teen and being the one made to do the heavy work because I was the youngest.

Now I do lifting in my current job but nothing like that was and my 54 year old colleague covers me when I'm on holiday with no grumbling.

Get your sick line op and find a new job.

I've worked behind a bar for 6+ years, and encountered people like this.
You need to phrase things better, be smarter than her laziness.
aka "I'm just going to do this, if you can do this then we should be up to speed!"
"Do you want to clear this table or that one? I don't mind which one I do"
"I've really hurt my back, I've been advised to take time off but I'd like to continue here but I will need your help"

OP you can't complain about "your aged being brought into it" when you've made this whole OP about your colleagues age!

As someone else asked,what is it you're lifting? Crates of empties?

She should do the same work as you but that work should be done safely.
You are not "being mugged off". You are choosing to put up with crap. Stand up for yourself or get another job.

I lift crates of glasses, bottles, everything that needs moving I do it. I don’t mind that, but she does nothing and I don’t feel it’s fair. My boss isn’t arsed about staff welfare