r/KitchenConfidential • u/Beeaybri 10+ Years • Jul 01 '25

Discussion I got let go today.

First time in my 15 year career of being a chef.

I was working at a college running their dining hall, with a ton of creative freedom. In nearly 3 years I trained the entire staff from bare basics knowledge, to being able to execute things like pork roulades and etoufee's for 1500 kids, 3 times a day. I revamped the menu for each shift from the bottom up, and created an entire vegan focused menu for one station in the dining hall (im non vegan so it was a challenge). I did so many things, and with one decision the rug was pulled from my feet.

It was due ti budget cuts within the school for low enrollment trends. They had to make up for over 300k of the budget somewhere and I got axed. They made it very clear several times that this decision had nothing to do with performance or a lack of want for me to be there, but it was what was being asked of them financially. I was the chef manager, directly under my chef director. And I ran the floor. 20 employees. Those guys became my family. My dining general manager that let me go was crying while even trying to give me my papers.

I'm distraught. I worked so damn hard. Im sad for myself, but I'm so sad for my team. Its hard being let go, but its even harder having to watch my staff cry after they got the news and I was cleaning out my office.

Its a really hard day. Im trying not to take it personally, or feel less than, or that I didn't do enough. Its just hard.

This is just really really hard. :(

anyone been in this boat?

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u/hubbyofhoarder Jul 01 '25

So sorry! Getting laid off is never fun.

FWIW, this is going to start happening in colleges and universities across the country, and there's not much to be done about it. The academic community has known for decades that starting a few years ago and going forward there's a demographic cliff of smaller cohorts of college aged kids due to our declining birth rate.

For anyone considering getting out of the restaurant game and going corporate like college dining halls or retirement communities, retirement communities are the way to go, as that's definitely going to grow.

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u/Beeaybri 10+ Years Jul 01 '25

This is actually a really good point. I hadn't thought of the retirement sector growing from the boomers. Academia is definitely on a downward spiral. But god am I glad to have gotten that experience.

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u/hubbyofhoarder Jul 01 '25

Sounds like you made it yours and that the place and its people are better for the work that you did.

I didn't mean to minimize your situation by mentioning the college demographic problem. My intention was to nudge you in a possibly more stable direction. Keep pluggin'!

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u/Beeaybri 10+ Years Jul 01 '25

Nah you didnt minimize it at all! You just got me thinking. And at times like this, thats super important! Now if I could make an impact in other sectors the way that I did here, I would be thrilled!