Treat 1 of your only 4 bartenders like crap? Now you'll only have 3.

I've (F22) worked in restaurants since I was 17, so I'm used to shitty customers, drama, and all of the other downsides of the service industry. I started a serving/bartending job about 8 months ago at a themed restaurant that I was super excited about. Since I started, people told me it was a drama filled environment, and the managers were awful, but the money was amazing, so I figured I couldn't turn it down. The other day was the last straw for me. For some context, I have many regulars who come in just to see me and leave if I'm not there. I've been told numerous times by guests that I'm the only bartender who actually smiles and engages in conversations with them. The managers have even brought this to my attention and have praised me on my ability to drive business, upsell products, and keep customers old and new coming back. We only have 4 bartenders as of now, so I decided to put one of the few "time off" requests I've ever done 1.5 months in advance for Valentines' day night for an expensive dinner reservation my bf made for us. That's a Tuesday, and I never work Tuesday nights. I'm the newest bartender, so surely the restaurant would want their strongest bartenders on one of the busiest holidays of the year, right? My manager denied the time off, beyond my belief. Before I could even open my mouth, the manager (we'll call them "K") came up to me to explain the situation.

K: One bartender already requested Valentines Day off because it's their birthday, and I need 2 bartenders on the night shift.

Me: Ok, well, I never work Tuesday nights and I'm requesting it off now, so why can't the other 2 bartenders work the night?

K: Well, the other bartenders have set schedules, so I'm not just gonna put them on a shift they don't usually work. You'll have to ask them if they're willing to work that night for you.

Me: I have a set schedule too, and I've never worked a Tuesday night here. Also, they haven't requested the day off yet, so why do I have to check with them?

K: Well, they've been here for years, and it's a holiday so it's different. I'll let you figure it out with them.

The manager walked away after that, not letting me get a word in. Why didn't the bartender who already requested off have to check with me and the other workers to make sure it was ok for them to have the whole day off? Why does my set schedule of 8 months not matter? If the fact that it's a holiday makes it different for me, it should be different for everyone else too. Well, "K", I figured things out, don't worry. I figured out that I'm tired of the favoritism and tired of being treated unfairly in a job where they realistically can't afford to lose me. So I'm putting in my 2 weeks' notice and having it end the day before Valentines Day. I have another job lined up that is super excited to have me on the team. And I can't wait for the boss to beg me to stay once I hand them my hand written notice.