July 22, 2004
Chu, Chu, Chu, Chu, Changes
When you work in a restaurant, during busy, stressful times, the front of the house tends to get a bit snippy. A little bit is understood and later, when all is relaxed and quiet, no one gives it a second thought. However, there are times when it goes overboard and an apology is required. Since I am a pretty controlling person, I am usually the one giving the apologies later.
I try to go out of my way to apologize, if need be, or praise and thank my staff for doing a good job in bad times. As the manager/host/wine buyer I end up being the lynch pin for the restaurant. I watch the tables, and step in where needed. This has led to a certain dependence of the servers. Perhaps they abuse this right a little. Now that I am in my last week at the restaurant, I can see how much I spoiled them. (Side note: Is that possible? Shouldn't you always be willing to help when it is needed? Just because someone isn't running around like a chicken with their head cut off doesn't mean that making an espresso here or there wouldn't be helpful....right???)
One of my servers in the last couple weeks has been particularly snippety. When I try to gauge if she is somehow pissed at me, or overloaded in her life, nothing comes up. Later, during the off hours she is perfectly sweet.
So this server, J, worked last night. It was a fairly slow night, so I called off the busser. Now, it never really got busy. But there was a point where 3 of J's tables were about to leave and she got tense. I helped out where possible as well as the other server who was on. She didn't seem to feel much gratitude for this action and it kinda pissed me off. This is the conversation I wanted to have with her, but just had in my head, instead.
"So, I have noticed you have been very tense with me lately and I want to clear that up. Am I setting too many of your tables? Bringing out bread too much? Helping you serve wine? Running your food? Just say the word, because whatever it is that I am doing too much of, I want to stop."
Posted by kerewin at July 22, 2004 12:08 PMmuhahahahahaa- totally fuckin snarky!
right on!
I imagine myself as the other server, and the rest of the conversation goes like this....
"No, I am not pissed at you... you are oh-so-helpful, all the while we know you are bailing out on us, but we understand. I am entitled to be pissed off and stressed out, and not owe you any explanation. The truth is... my man is an asshole and I caught him on cheaters, my mother is a bitch and I hate her... and I have razor burn in my armpits. So, its not your fault. I am just a rag-bag."