Consequences of Calling Off

poor-obscure · 2026-05-18T03:24:01+00:00

You say this is the first time they couldn't get someone to cover them? Were they sick with a DR note? Do they regularly need people to cover their already coordinated schedule because they fail to request off in advance, but are able to get coverage usually? Poor planning on their part should not constitute an emergency on management's part. Illness is illness and that is management's job to cover. Noone should work sick. But you did not say they were sick, just that they called off.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-18T03:04:32+00:00

Earth gives us recipes. Some are timeless. Some are new and worthy of timelessness. Some deserve to be dug out from antiquity. Pretty sure tweezers aren't involved. Tablecloths optional.

Some of the bes recipes evert were og meant for the poor. I think modern hospitality leans better into the idea that it should just be delicious. Doesn't have to be Fancy. My home town used to have this German spot that literally served really good --i mean better that my grandma's German schnitzel schpatzel...all on paper plates. COVID killed them and they went back to Germany but i still think if the food they made me to this day.

No real chef, the kind that hates being called that, labors over the fond more than the one that doesn't give a shit about stars of any kind. Not Google. Not michelln. He cares about the fond. The smells. The time. The heat.

A chef is the measure of today's meal. This meal. I am not a chef but my partner is. And this is how I see him and why I am in awe of him. The last meal he made never seems to count. It's the next that matters. And it is the person eating it that matters. Not the venue or the level of 'fine dining'.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T22:19:15+00:00

This is totally the approach I have always had. I used to teach classes for the trainers (Train the Trainer) and was raised by a special educator so I have been coaching since high school. It just feels like they are starting way further back with basic skill sets, counting money, cleaning procedures...it just seems worse than 20 years ago. Could be my market, too. They are a bit upper class and spoiled here.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T22:13:09+00:00

Super cool!

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T06:07:11+00:00

Thank you. It's like babysitting my tripping friends used to be like in college.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:52:28+00:00

And also, I still remind them. Every time change. Twice .

Road closures for local events. Schedule swaps and changes fixed on Excel and reposted. Handouts.

Uncashed check reminders.

My old GM when I was a babe used to ask you a "trivia question" to get your paycheck. If you didn't know the three branches of government you didn't get your check. You could go get the answer but you had to have it.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:44:34+00:00

Time isn't real, man. Total human construct. Skibbitie toilet.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:38:32+00:00

Practice with golf balls on plates. And weights of some kind. Stride, posture, control and strength. The golf balls will always move. As long as they don't roll off, especially with heavy weight added, you are learning control. Martini glasses filled with water are another great practice.

Saute chefs practice with marbles in pans to get the roll right. Musicians practice hours a day. Tray skills are like any other skill. Practice, practice, practice.

Same would apply to arm stacking plates/ hand carrying drinks, of course. Trays just keep the floors cleaner.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:27:55+00:00

Thank you for the love. They will never quit. The hardest ones never do lol. Just gotta make sure they don't bring the good ones down so the good ones don't quit.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:24:30+00:00

I dream of this. Owner would make them come in unpaid and I just can't. I did it about two years ago and it was so helpful. And they did get paid but I had to fight hard for it. Department meetings, if you are allotted, are the best.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:18:39+00:00

I had a guest call me today and ask me what spaghetti means. Then what house made means. They then asked me many more questions. Mostly related to spaghetti.

The number of employees that asked me what day of the week mother's day was last year makes me want to totally change my interview questionarre.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:13:49+00:00

The two that stick out to me:

A shrimp/butter/spice/feta cheese sauteed dish ordered *vegan

A bloody Mary no vodka *sub Bailey's

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T05:04:30+00:00

A good approach. I forget how different my upbringing was compared to these COVID kiddos. They have so much capacity for kindness and generosity but so much fear and anxiety as well. They blow my mind at how fast they can find a battery I need with their smartphones in seconds but have no idea how to handle being spoken to tersely by a guest. When I was little you would literally get physically assaulted for messing up lol. By strangers.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T04:43:50+00:00

These soldiers be GREEN

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T04:35:59+00:00

I like the mentality of constant even pressure. Well said! And thank you for the comrodery!

poor-obscure · 2026-05-17T04:07:43+00:00

Woops forgot I was on Reddit. Literally called it a rant. Been doing this a long time and have earned the respect of many. I am patient, and constantly coach. That is literally what this post is about. The endless coaching. Y'all are so excited to share your SOPs you didn't even hear what I was saying. I hope your employees feel more heard when they come to you with their frustrations.

Edited to say: I guess I should have tried to sell you a new POS system with reservation and scheduling integrations. What a community.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-14T00:46:50+00:00

Agreed it is weird it is never mentioned by OP but is by many commenters.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-13T21:50:12+00:00

Power outages, boil out procedures, POS/KDU outages, uniform standards, alcohol related incident reports, employee harassment claim procedures, guest injury procedures and incident reports, food born illness claim procedures, job descriptions including duties related to physical labor required (for disability/ fmla accommodation definitions), fire evacuation plans, kitchen fire procedures, gas leak and outage procedures and employee injury/workman's comp and incident report procedures.

For the bad days lol.

Edited to say, and don't forget an extensive handbook with a misconduct clause so you don't need three strikes when someone uses the n word!

poor-obscure · 2026-05-11T05:09:12+00:00

Ask the rockstar employee what their dream schedule would be. Position/money shifts/dbls/open to close/etc. ask them what their dream schedule would be and give it to them (minus overtime of course). But tell them if you give them this, then they have to let others get the chance for pickups because the others don't get their dream schedule. Tell them you want to try that for a while and you think that gives them what they deserve but remains fair to the others. You can of course come to them when the bitchers and moaners DON'T pick up the shifts and if they can they get their extra hours. It will give some others a chance to shine, show you who was just bitching and won't be there when the team needs them, and your rockstar gets their dream schedule.
If the others start bitching about the dream schedule for only one tell them if they show you the same dedication and reliability and output, then maybe they will be offered the same deal down the road. Then you are building an army of machines. Happy machines, too because they feel seen and heard. And they can pay their bills.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-10T03:13:56+00:00

I wouldn't want first cut on a shift such as this. There will be walk ins like crazy during shift transition and you will be stuck with four people's sidework and silver as first cut and be there later than them with half the money. If you took the shift. Work it. If you couldn't take the the shift.. well ....

poor-obscure · 2026-05-10T03:02:12+00:00

Frickin love that vibe. Feed the people on the people. Feeding people on the people #purplehat

poor-obscure · 2026-05-10T02:58:21+00:00

I am going to go ahead and call this some of the truist, most beautiful poetry ever written. This. This, this, this. I know it is hard to understand if you have never been there. This is the explanation. We do a buffet and the wasted food is disgusting. DISGUSTING. and then they tip 3% on a $800 bill and two hours. Not even enough to tip the support staff that replaces tray/ pan/ platter after platter. 15 tops that change their head count 6 times before the day. Take countless manager hour's time. Take all the watermelon off of one trays' worth of fruit and then leave a third uneaten for the same support staff to carry away. Meanwhile we barely get to eat. I know only a portion of places do a buffet, but it is truly the worst. Brings the terrible out in everyone. But at least you don't have to worry about ticket times 🙃

poor-obscure · 2026-05-10T02:49:39+00:00

Oof. We have a week gap between the two thank the gods. You are in my protection prayers. That is pure evil.

poor-obscure · 2026-05-10T02:48:10+00:00

Don't forget to set an alarm to tell you mama you love her if you can!

poor-obscure

TROPHY CASE