Job Woes...
 

Okay, so here's the rundown on the situation I'm in at work and the options that I'm considering.

I'm an apprentice chef, currently working in the kitchen of a homeless shelter. It's not five star cuisine, but it's better than what most people eat at home, and I do get opportunites to cook fancy stuff once in a while. It's a phenomenal place to learn the ins and outs of the food service industry, and the rest of the kitchen staff is great to work with. Unfortunately, with the upper management being comprised mostly of a single family (nicknamed the "Powers That Be", and the shelter being a christian-based charity, there are certian biases, and preferential treatment abounds.
That being said, when I was hired a little more than 7 months ago, I was told that after a 6 month probaionary period, I would be hired on as a full time employee with full benefits and a 30-40% pay raise. About a month ago, the kitchen was in turmoil with staff changes and a huge thanksgiving dinner to plan (Canadian thanksgiving is in October). I was told by the chef, who was told by the "Powers That Be" that we would discuss the terms of my hiring after thanksgiving, and signed a paper saying so, which the Chef may have (I haven't had the chance to ask him yet). I mentioned this to the director today, because I have a small hernia that needs stitching up, and sure could use the sick time that comes with being a full timer. She didn't know what I was talking about, and acted as though the offer was never made in the first place.

So, my problem is, I could easily find a job in another kitchen that pays as much or better than this one, but would be a much stricter place to work (you can get away with a mistake a lot easier if your clients aren't paying anything), and I wouldn't have nearly as much of an opportunity to learn the kinds of I'm learning at the shelter. I'm sure there'd be politics at any other place I could find, but I've worked in very few places where the nepotism was so prevalent than where I am now.

I haven't decided if I would take a new job yet, but I've been looking around, and I have the qualifications for more than a few $13-$17/hour positions without benefits (I'm making $10/hour right now), but if I do manage get the benefits and the raise where I am now, I'd be happy, until The Powers That Be start messing around with me again.

So, you've got to let me know, should I stay or should I go?

(Edit : I should probably mention (without bragging) that I'm very good at my job, never late, take great pride in my work, always picks up the shift when someone's sick, and so on, I've given no reason that I know of to show them that I'm anything less than 100% serious about my job, so I hope it's not an issue of incompetence)

Stay and wait until you talk to the chef and see what is happening on his end. Maybe the director doesn't remember the offer made by the chef to yourself. If the chef does recall such an offer and has written down, ask the chef to speak with the director with you present as well.

As for looking out for yourself, keep looking for new opportunities while you are still working at the shelter. See if these new positions offer more challenges and the ability to learn new things. I know personally, I get bored within a week of working at a new job, and am constantly applying for better paying and more challenging positions.

Sidenote - Go Leafs Go!

I maybe wrong, but if you want to have better materialistic things, you gotta work in harder conditions and give up some of your comfort blankets.

I Hope it made sense.

It seems like by staying you could learn a thing or two and feel "safe". But by leaving, you could have much better opportunities to advance. It is a difficult decision. I wish you the best of luck. :)

While I do appreciate the opportunities for expressing yourself that you have at this job.

I also know in the long run, these will come again.
First & foremost is what is best for you, and your life, and your health.
I personally would recommend finding a better job that gives you more stability,
and also a better idea of where you stand.

You don't know how much this affects your life.
The sense of being stable, would allow you to experiment on your own,
while at the same time grow outside of your work.
The higher wage would give your next employer even after that something more substantial to build on.
(everything goes in steps, you build on everything else...even bosses do this)

Look out for yourself...I know that the opportunity to express yourself will come again.
But once you fall behind...it takes forever to catch up.
Take the better job...the art will come to you.
Or at least this will give you the stability & freedom in your personal life.

My advice is to look for other jobs. If you get any offers, let your chef know that you've gotten the offers but would like to stay with your company/homeless food kitchen. If they really want you, they will try to keep you there. If not, move on and seize on opportunities for advancement.