It Is What It Is
Establishment: All of Them
Location: Everywhere
I had been in the restaurant business for 15 years. I started right after the federal governmant made reporting at least 8% of total sales as tips mandatory. Tips were then collected and given to the staff in the form of a check later. All of the fun,fabulous people who used to make "wads" of unreported cash in the old cash and carry system left to do other things.
Behind the scenes the restuarant business has always been a hotbed of passive agression,abuse and illegal activity ( illiegal employees, back room deals, sexual harassment, theft ect).
What I have noticed in the past 10 years is that because of the steady decline in jobs that can pay a living wage, more and more people have been comming into the service sector and in particular the restaurant business. Beacuse we as American’s ingored the fact that most of our good jobs have gone overseas, people who are unqualified and uninterested in providing true service have been clogging the food and beverage, restaurant job market with thier incompetence and curious sense of entitlement.
They are the ones who have made the service business even worse than it was before becasue any restaurant owner and manager knows that he or she can now simply run an ad on Craigslist and get no less than 100 responses to any posting qualaified or not. As a result making restaurant workers quite disposable.
Like most veterans of the food and beverage business, I have worked all aspects of the business including General Manager. I can say that it’s the rare occasion that you have a perfect mix of people.
It can be done and I have been in several situations where it was good.
It never lasts, things change ect.
If we in the business would like to see change, then people need to use the labor laws already on the books.
Most restaurant owners activley lobby state and federal lawmakers or do a Quid Pro Quo ( favors) with elected officials. This includes judges, yes, we elect our judges so instead of talking about how you are not going to be doing \"this job\" much longer pay attention and get like minded people together and get active. Create the change that you would like to see.
Comments
On the other hand, you can quit and walk out at the drop of a hat and many many employees do so it is a two way street. If you don’t like the way a place operates, don’t take the job. Or quit if you find out afterwards. Most businesses are run by people who want to take care of themselves and their families. I wouldn’t recommend opening a restaurant. It is a lot of hard work for very little return. Some have succeeded but they are the exception. Plus laws work against business. People cheat because it is the only way to turn a profit. The government collects a whole lot of money in the form of taxes, penalties, fines, violations. It is never ending for the business owner. As a bartender, if you are good, you can walk away with $100 to $350 per 8 to 10 hour shifts. Drop your apron and go home and forget about it.
Okay there thoughtful, just get a grip. And I’m sorry for any recent financial losses that you may have had, but seriously …
People come to this site (gotta’ wonder why you’re here ???) to sift through a ton of silly bullshit that’s keeping some talented servers, bartenders (and I’m sure at this point even fallen managers who were dropped from payroll in like ten seconds when the crash occurred) from making an honest living.
Now I’m not into making excuse myself, and I’ve seen many others like me commenting throughout this sight. Yet there are some who do make excuses here. Don’t join them. From what I’ve read, there are some bright people who are really pissed off, trying to get it right. Why not create THAT discussion? Instead of going to blogworld war.
Some of the shit that you read about on this sight just needs to stop. Lawyers aint gonna’ get that done — not enough money involved for them. So “thoughtful”, if you once were an owner of a restaurant, don’t come back here to fight — help fix the problem. Put yourself in a position to make that happen, on some scale. Me, as a double crossover bartender/manager, I aint lettin’ the bastards keep me down. AND, whoever the bastards are, I’m gonna’ do the right thing when I get back to where I was before this shit all blew up, so they don’t win. Why don’t you try to do the same.
Peace
re: “thoughtful”
Your comment, “Most businesses are run by people who want to take care of themselves and their families.”
What about the customer and the quality of food and beverage?
No wonder you apparently FAILED miserably and blame everyone else because you are both stupid and greedy.
Like so many cheezy and cheap business owners, it’s only about them and the money they make.
Thankfully, most other people out there want to create quality and make money and guess what they are doing ok.
the problem is that the labor laws work against us the workers. first that we are a ‘work for hire’ and can be fired for any reason at any time (it is not like this in cali). those of us with a ton of great, solid experience are not an asset. we know too much. we know/see all the illegal stuff that owners/managers are doing. so yes, you are correct the LAWS MUST CHANGE !!