Six days from my 6 year anniversary, I quit my job. (Today)

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

My six year anniversary would have been on the 7th of October. I've trained in nearly thirty employees in my area of the restaurant, and never have I seen as big an asshole as the person I worked with today. Ignoring his insistence of blasting his kind of music in the kitchen, his daily threats against people who get in his way, and his whole "they don't pay me enough for my expert opinion", what's really appalling is that management does not care. I talked to the sous chef on Monday about his lack of work over the weekend, and her response was "There's nothing I can do about it. That's just his way."
I always thought that if someone repeatedly didn't do their job, they'd eventually get fired. I guess not.
Even threatening managers with "If you value your life, you'll shut the f*** up!" while brandishing a knife hasn't convinced the managerial staff that something is wrong in the kitchen.
So, I quit. He was an hour late today, didn't even bother calling in to tell us he'd be an hour late. Didn't even want to help with the dough (for our pizzas...they're the best in town!), instead wanted to fiddle with the radio so he could blast reggae music throughout the kitchen. (I liked reggae music until he started playing it all the time, singing really, really off-key, and patting the counter off-rhythm like he's in a band.) Then said that I had a problem with him and I should "just f*** off!".
I emptied out my lockers and talked to the general manager on my way out. He said the managers would have an emergency meeting today and call me back this afternoon.
The real question is: if they fire him or move him to a shift where I don't have to see him, do I go back to that job?
It's not going to be a permanent position, (although after six years it's starting to feel like one.) as I'm trying to get a design or proofreading job in Minneapolis, MN. (And surrounding communities.) But with the way the economy is going (contrary to this misadministration's saying it's "on the rebound". Yeah, right.) Do I really want to put up with that place anymore? My problems, and my stress, go deeper than that one employee, but somehow I've convinced myself that if he leaves, things will get a little better there. I've got stress-induced acid reflux for the past year, and I know it's from working with that moron four to five days a week.
I really, really need a job to keep up with bills, but I don't want to work in restaurants anymore. I have twelve years of cooking experience, so I can get a job at a restaurant in a heartbeat.
But do I really want to go through that again?

[SOteric]

1. The ugly, untold truth of the restaurant industry is:

You can be the biggest asshole known to mankind, but if you can produce fast, consistently good results on a hotline, you're bulletproof.

If you're health is failing you, or even just temporarily exacerbating your frustrations, maybe you need to take a break from working the back of the house.

[Bossy Monkey]

2. If they can him, go back, but understanding (in your own mind) that you're

getting a different job ASAP. It's much easier to get a new job if you've already got one. Makes no sense really, but there you are.

[forgethell]

7. Yes, it does

If you are unemployed, they figure theremust be a reason. There usually is, too. so it has to be one complimentary to you. I've been lucky, never unemployed for more than 3 months, but unemployed often enough due to down-sizing, back-stabbing, and once, at least, it was my own damn fault.

[Pale Blue Dot]

3. I'm not even sure I would go back this afternoon

It is likely that they will try to sit you down with this guy and hash this out. This guy sounds like a dangerous sociopath at best, and it management did not get rid of him when he threatened them with a knife (?), I think they would be unlikely to do so now. Or, they will terminate him, but make you the bad guy.

Even if they really do "see the light" after you quit, they sound incompetent. I think it's best to move on.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

4. He is dangerous.

We think he's possibly bi-polar. It's like he has two completely seperate moods. Either he's really, really happy. Or really really pissed off.

[Pale Blue Dot]

5. Let us know what happens

And good luck with the job search!

[dfong63]

6. watch your back

if they fire this nutcase, and he decides it was your fault... watch your back.

good luck with it all.