I’ve been bouncing around with some really nifty and cool posts for this site. Unfortunately work drama has superseded all intention for cool thoughts and wittiness. My job is in jeopardy because I’ve eaten bread and drank coffee.
Last week the very French and very upright Master Sommelier (wine guy), caught me at 10pm; in a very empty dining room, munching on bread. This sin was then reported to my manager, the travesty was passed on to the General Manager. I was sat down, drawn, quartered and accused of being truly unprofessional. I was informed that no matter how good my actual report with the guest; how good my tableside service was – none of that mattered. Eating bread was a truly high crime. The meeting ended with a threat from the General Manager “If I hear of unprofessional behavior one more time, you will be fired.”
Last night, I was caught in a compromising position. I was faced with a conundrum, after pouring myself a hot cup of coffee and taking a sip. I needed to make a crucial decision, to leave my cup unattended so it could cool off and attend to guests, or stay with it until it cooled down. Mind you the managers are always upset that we leave cups unattended, for just such purpose, we’re informed that we should drink and dump. I always feel guilt at how many paper and plastic cups we waste on any given shift. The managers tell us that it’s a major health code violation; they hint that the restaurant could be shut down if a coffee cup is found. Being the informed managers that they are, they’ve never heard of the two minute rule, where the restaurant staff busily readies the restaurant for inspection. I.e. The health inspector arrives, announces themselves, and the establishment has two minutes to make sure milk containers are facing in the right direction. To tidy up as it were.
So yes, I choose to tend to guests instead of waiting for my coffee to cool. This was a very poor choice because once I left my cup, the manager comes flying, he tells me I’ll be written up. I start pleading on his unsympathetic ears. The General Manager will be informed. I tell him I’ll probably be fired. He states “It’s up to her, not up to me.” Simply washing his hands of this fact and passing on responsibility to someone else.
At the end of the shift I talked to my Managing Director, the lady that controls the whole complex. And by default controls everyone’s jobs. She was very reassuring, yet ended the conversation with “we are trying to enforce more discipline, raise the level of service and that discipline might just start with you.”
So I stand before the world accused of eating bread and leaving my coffee cup unattended. I wait in limbo for the executioner to drop the axe.
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