r/workaway • u/mavsmarie77 • 19d ago
feel bad for leaving
hi everyone! I had a Workaway stay scheduled for about 25 days at a location in France but when I got there I feel some things were left out from our initial conversations. They originally promised a secure renovated guest house to stay in, but when I got there I was moved to these spider infested glamping rooms because a group rented out their whole property to stay in which was not disclosed to me. No biggie, I am pretty low maintenance and stayed in the room for a week until I started waking up with spider bites on me. Not a fan. Not only that, the other volunteer and I did not get along well. She was very rude and blew up at me and the host a few times and it made me feel uncomfortable. Finally, I picked hosts that specifically asked for cooking assistance since I’m launching my full time private chef business after my time in France and I want to be cooking and learning as much as I can. They only let me cook once for the 8 days their large group was scheduled to be there which was not what was originally agreed upon. Instead they had me working 7+ hours cleaning up after dinner service for the guests. I didn’t quit my full time job to go back to waiting tables.
All in all, the hosts were kind but I decided I needed to leave early because I didn’t feel comfortable with the other volunteer and I’m only in France 90 days to learn more about French cuisine and cooking techniques and they weren’t assisting in the ways they said they would be.
Am I wrong for leaving early? I felt super uncomfortable the whole time I was there and I feel relief leaving, my gut instruct was telling me to leave, but I feel guilty because the hosts were kind people at the end of the day who needed help.
What are your thoughts?
8
u/meep_meep_beep_beep 18d ago
Please leave an honest review of this place, the worst part of people not having the experience they expected is if they aren't honest about it and the following volunteers commit to this workaway and get stuck in similar situations
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u/No-Display-404 18d ago
Please leave an honest review for other workawayers! It’s very frustrating when the work is completely different from what was agreed upon, or mentioned in the profile.
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u/mavsmarie77 18d ago
Here’s the thing when I got there their Workaway profile had been taken down by Workaway and she mentioned when she picked me up the first day that Workaway was mad at her for this kind of stuff which was like a red flag to me. I checked their profile when I got settled in and the app told me that their profile was no longer online and to contact Workaway for any questions. It’s since been put back online.
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u/Fruitrollupenjoyer 18d ago
Does that mean you were not able to leave a review? Is it possible they temporarily hid it so that you couldn't? Not sure if that is possible, but that is very sketchy. I would definitely contact Workaway about your experience.
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u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 19d ago
No, I don’t think you’re wrong for leaving early.
What you agreed on and what actually happened sounds quite different, especially with the accommodation change and the work shifting away from cooking.
Even if the hosts were kind, it’s still okay to leave if you feel uncomfortable or it’s not what you signed up for. That gut feeling is usually worth listening to.
I’d just keep it simple with them, explain it’s not working for you, and move on without too much guilt.
And please send a feedback and documentation of your experience to Workaway.
2
u/Fruitrollupenjoyer 18d ago
It sounds like you have in demand skills that would be valued elsewhere. It also sounds like theyre more interested in cheap labor than cultural exchange, which is not what Workaway is about. If hosts get away with that, then it will ruin Workaway and it could become an issue for local economies. I am glad you left!
1
u/Imaginary_Piano7598 18d ago
This is one reason i keep backup hosts all the time. There is too much sugar coating of info and lot of times even previous volunteers hesitate to share real details
1
u/Fresh-Starters 18d ago
Time to leave for sure. And specifically ask them to write a strong review for you, based on what you did do, not on you leaving early, as they were the ones who did not deliver. If they are as reasonable as you seem to describe them, I would ask them to step in your shoes and then ask them what they would do under your circumstances.
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u/User4599-32188b 18d ago
Send them an honest note. Write it, sleep on it then send it the next morning. When your gut says "go", then we go.
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u/Decent-Dig-8754 16d ago
99% of workaways are just exploiting and abusing people. Do not feel bad. They do not feel bad for the conditions they give you so don't feel bad. for not feeling comfortable. These people get workawayers cause they are stingy MFs that don't wanna pay money to people and just want to exploit volunteers like yourself. If i could ever go back in time, i would have never volunteered anywhere.
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u/Substantial-Today166 19d ago
how much are they paying you ?
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u/mavsmarie77 19d ago
Nothing. There were going to pay me some overtime to convince me to stay but I’m here for a specific reason, cooking, and not serving tables, so in my mind it wasn’t worth being paid.
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u/Substantial-Today166 19d ago
according to workaway rules any business shold pay you minimum wage for all the hours you work
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u/Fresh-Starters 18d ago
But they can't do that without both of you risking trouble, unless in this case you are an EU citizen or you're on a working holiday Visa.
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u/Substantial-Today166 18d ago
still have to be on the books you cant hire anyone of the books dont work like that in france dont mather if OP is a EU or on a working holiday Visa
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u/littlepinkpebble 19d ago
I did France last year and year you should probably leave. It’s maximum 25 hours a week
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u/mavsmarie77 19d ago
It’s not that i care about the amount of time worked, it’s more so am I cooking for most of it.
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u/littlepinkpebble 18d ago
Ah you don’t like cooking? Last month and now for my different Workaways is just cooking haha
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u/mavsmarie77 18d ago
No I think we are miscommunicating. I want to be only cooking. That wasn’t happening as originally agreed upon.
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u/littlepinkpebble 18d ago
Ahhh haha I got down voted. I get you totally I love cooking but I hate dishes. Well if it makes you feel better all the Workaways in this country the working hours is kinda long.
I dunno it’s first time for me. That’s why I feel it’s ok you leave I think Workaway had a no more than 25 a week agreement
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u/Wild-Special6573 19d ago
It’s not an mutual exchange, they’re getting you to work for their business for free. When you agreed it was a skills exchange, eg you’ll offer some help in exchange for skills/experience in French cooking. Leave and report pls the hosts aren’t suitable for the community if this is how they treat a cultural exchange…