I don’t Ask for much
I don’t know about most of you, but I came into this
business fully expecting to be treated like crap with an adequate
dose of corruption. Let me just say first of all- In our youth, I
think few of us fantasized about being a server or a restaurant
manager. Maybe being a chef, or even an owner was mentioned
between you and your guidance counselor, but the former two I
highly doubt. If I am mistaken, I apologize. Anyhoo- for whatever
reason, be it a temporary means-to-an-end or an actual career
move, we ended up here. So, in turn, we may end up surrounded by
a lot of unhappy people. That is, I believe, the nature of the
beast. I accept that. I accept we are seen and treated as if we
were a dime a dozen. I also accept that an owner would place more
priority on my acquiescence than my excellent service. Heck, it’s
probably a lot easier to improve a bad server than quell a
grumbling, angry staff led by a proverbial "Norma Rae". I can’t
change that. And I admit it- I’m in it for the money. No fakey
allegiance here. I have other aspirations though I have been
waiter here for the past 7 years. Yeah, if there’s a great staff,
mgmt. etc., it makes a difference and when there’s not those
comforting elements it sucks- but if the money’s there it’s
durable. Let’s just say I don’t expect-only hope. They’re
in it for the money; so am I. I don’t expect them to care for me-
but I do expect them to follow the law. Sorry. Owners may feel
betrayed by what they perceive as a grumbling, negative staff or
by a call to the labor dept. They may not understand why a staff
who makes consistently good money in a busy restaurant provided
by their hard work and good graces could dare to not be satisfied
and actually ask that their employers abide by THE LAW. Don’t we
have enough? How ungrateful we are. Shame on us! So if the money
and the business died down,-would it be ok then? Well, it doesn’t
matter…know why?.. I-T-’S T-H-E L-A-W. Other
restaurants in this city seem to abide by it, I would love to
hear why these resaturant owners think they’re exempt. You say to
us, if we don’t like it then just leave? Sorry, my friend, there
aren’t two separate categories in Help Wanted differentiating
between those hiring who follow the law and those that don’t. I
already put in the time not knowing any better. I’m not leaving
because I had the misfortune of being hired by a place who
refuses to follow the rules; it is you who have the misfortune of
hiring someone who demands that the rules be enforced. So
to those who have a problem and respond calling us
"whining…complaining…full of self-pity", whether or not you
are in the industry -know this: It’s a long path to action. The
first step is acknowledging the problem and to do that it takes
some of these so-called "whiners" getting feedback and insight
from those who know more to even realize that what is happening
to them is not ok. That is part of what goes on on this website.
Then, with everyone at their own pace, they grapple with it for a
while and hopefully they come to a point where they leave or take
action. I believe this website provides that for us as one of our
only sources of actual support. And who couldn’t use a little
support? I’m guessing you’re pretty well-adjusted and have all
the answers so if you don’t like the music- don’t come to the
party. I know, why don’t you reinforce your own hypocritical
belly-aching and start your own website that provides a forum to
complain about this one?
I think it’s time we all got up and did something about these
crazy restaurant owners and managers. I am thinking that I can
even sue my last employer. Check it…I got “hurt” on-the-job one
day last summer. There I was at work minding my own business
reading the Post. (So what if there were tables waiting to be
served, it’s not like they tip well anyway.) It was then that my
boss walked in, and you’re not going to believe this, but Oh My
GOD, he actually got angry with me and yelled at me. My former
boss said some very, very mean things to me and “hurt” my
feelings. Can I sue? Technically I was “hurt.” It’s all the fault
of those stupid customers if they hadn’t come in I would have had
a sweet day. The nerve of some people interrupting my workday
like that why couldn’t they have gone to some other restaurant?
Anyway, as of today, I still feel a little hurt by that incident
and I feel it’s my right to sue. After all, he said some very,
very mean things to me and “hurt” my feelings.