Fired from a chippy because of "not being chatty enough"

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Wasn't even that keen to work there (if it weren't for cashflow problems) but it still quite sucks to be fired for something I know to be connected to my Autism, espiecally after only 3 days. Why do you need to be "chatty" in order to wash dishes etc? It was never a problem when I worked in another chippy when I was 15... Didn't think it would bother me this much lol

The reason for your termination might not be the real reason. Not that this changes your life at this point. It really does suck to lose a job especially if it is unrelated to your duties. Keep looking for another job. You will find one.

What's a chippy?

They probably want a certain type of "vibe" in dish washing area, and even though it has nothing to do with washing dishes, someone was sensitive enough to get you fired for disrupting the chatty dishwashing vibe. In some work places there are odd social expectations, doing the job isn't enough. You are expected to go to all the christmas parties and barbecues and be chatty when working or people get upset and want you replaced with someone who does all of that stuff.

I believe a "chippy" is a fish-and-chips place in the UK.

You're right....why does one have to be "chatty" while washing dishes? That's a stupid reason to get fired.

Just look for another job.

The "social" crap part of any job is usually what overwhelms me.
And usually is WAY more difficult than the actual job itself.
Which I always thought was so stupid and unfair.
I get mad bc you don't even get paid for all that extra work you're doing, socially speaking.

It's like getting dish-washing job, and being expected to be a wall-street analyst on top of that !

So pianfully unfair

Oh, ok. That makes sense. So, it's like a fast food place? Similar to working at McDonald's? Or more like a little family-owned restaurant? I guess if there's a dishwasher position, it must be more of a restaurant place. Sometimes people have odd expectations and/or expect everyone to act just like they do. It's not right. Unfortunately, it's rather common.

Well they vary, jimmy.

I can't really think of anything to compare them too. The ones where I live are run by families, but there are also chains of them I think.

Some have restaurants attached which I assume is where OP is working. But they are fast food but not much like McDonald's. Usually smaller and exist in towns rather than just everywhere. And each one is different, not like McDonald's which are all the same.

The term is most commonly used in the North of England. Most of them just have a counter behind which there is an area where the food is prepared, and in front of which the customer waits to receive it, though some have a couple of tables with seats in this part.

Round here, the majority of them are now Chinese takeaways, though they still tend to retain the word "Chippy" in deference to local tradition.

It's used anywhere with a fish and chip shop I'm pretty sure. I live in the east and we have it here.

Sounds like unfair dismissal to me disgraceful. Still I am sure you could get another job easy and one that pays a lot better.

In New York City, we have similar places. They are not "fast food" places like McDonald's.

It's usually either Chinese takeout, places that sell Middle Eastern/Greek food like Shish kebob or gyros, or pizza places.

In England, people order food to "take away" from these places. In the US, people get food "to go" from these places.

My first reaction is to think this is unfair dismissal, especially in light of your autism, because being sociable in the "normal" NT ways is one of the very things that is a problem on the spectrum -- so it's a bit like firing someone in a wheelchair for not being able to walk up the stairs to the staff room: horrible discrimination against something that is actually a disability for the person.

But then on second thoughts, I'm thinking screw them, they're probably not worth going to Citizen's Advice Bureau about.

It does annoy me though, how workplaces are never, ever just about the actual work. There is always a whole social culture in each workplace that everyone is expected to conform to or "you're out." It happened to me over and over until I became self employed.

Yeah that is quite unfair, do you have another job lined up? I think it depends on the dynamic in the kitchen, if its a small establishment it might have that friendly 'we are one family' approach to teamwork, a broad generalisation but I've noticed many of the traditional Italian chippers are like that. (We mostly refer to them as Chippers.)

Like the comments above, it also sounds to me like unfair dismissal or they used it as an excuse, to sack ppl as they cannot afford extra staff.
Customers at a fish & chip shop generally want to get served and come and go, not stop to chat since they're only popping in for fast food.

I'm sorry to hear of your sacking, I hope you'll be able to find a better job and if they sacked you when you haven't done anything wrong, they should be reported.

All the best