The career of a kitchen porter is often overlooked, but it offers the advantage of being a transient job with plenty of opportunities. Transitioning between employers is easy and guilt-free. During Scotland’s tourist season, I work as a dishwasher and then embark on my own adventures. Each year, I find myself in a new location, facing the familiar sight of a washing machine in an unremarkable room.
I have tried various roles within the industry over the past thirty years – working in cellars, as a barista, and providing silver service. However, I find that kitchen portering suits me best due to its meditative and self-contained nature. The wages may be low, but so is the stress level. Regardless of how the shift unfolds, it always ends with washing dishes and taking out trash bags into a dimly lit alley.
But recently, WhatsApp has disrupted this agreeable profession. The incessant glow of late-night work messages threatens to ruin everything. It seems that someone has decided that constant communication among employers, managers, and colleagues is necessary at all times. No one can escape this expectation regardless of their position or rank within the company. It’s easy to get lost in endless work group chats discussing trivial matters like misplaced gloves.
Late at night when I’m settled at home reading before bed with my phone switched off beside me – suddenly it lights up with a message: “Does anyone have any requests for days off next week?” In this first-come-first-served world requests trickle in followed by friendly banter from two barmen still on shift.
Unfortunately, simply opting out or silencing notifications outside of work hours isn’t practical anymore. Recently I missed an important message about upcoming deliveries because it got buried under 150 new communications during my weekend off – including wedding photos and even someone quitting their job!
While I don’t completely oppose WhatsApp’s informality which can foster team building and familiarity among colleagues (even getting to know someone’s cat), spending unpaid time sifting through countless messages is unjustifiable for a kitchen porter - whether it’s the 21st century or not.
I dream of a future where I can leave work for my weekend without worrying about being involved in workplace drama during my free time – where I can enjoy uninterrupted reading or leisurely walks without constantly checking my pocket for updates from work-related chats demanding attention.
