My coworkers were awesome. It’s a family owned Italian restaurant, I was hired as a server. I have just under two years of experience in this role.
I have only ever served breakfast and this was my first time serving dinner.
The owner was a rude, condescending asshole.
First shift; owners brother tells me to shadow server. About an hour into the shift the owner shows up and calls me over.
“What are you doing?”
I’m shadowing Johny.
“Why? You’re supposed to be a server. Don’t just stand there and watch. Jump in and serve.”
Instantly contradicting orders from the two of them.
So I jump in. I start clearing tables and running food. I run a couple of plates of fish. Owner calls me back over;
“That was completely wrong. You didn’t put any garnish on the fish. You put the food down and just walk away? Why not offer and salt or pepper or cheeses?”
I’m sorry… I didn’t know that I was supposed to offer these things, I’ve never worked in an Italian restaurant before and you gave me 0 training..
Little things like this continue over the next two shifts. I’m provided absolutely 0 training yet constantly ridiculed for not knowing procedures.
My favourite was my second shift. Just opened for dinner service, I’ve been there for about 10 minutes, only two tables sitting. I decide to start going through the menu to familiarize myself.
Owner calls me over.
“What are you doing? Why are you just standing there doing nothing? Jump in and ask the servers if they need help with anything”
Meanwhile the other serves are standing around chatting on their phones.
And then tonight was the finish line.
She asks me to bring a tray with 21 champagne glasses to a table. And I fucked up. I dropped two glasses as I was serving the table and felt so embarrassed, on the verge of tears. I suck it up and keep going.
Resturant closes at 10:00. It’s now 12:00 and we still have tables sitting. Servers and busses begin setting up for a party the next day. I had no idea we even did parties let alone have I been trained to set them up.
I ask one of my coworkers what I can do. She tells me to put tables mats on the table.
I place around 70 table mats on all tables, followed by placing plates on top of them. Keep in mind we have about 3 servers and 3 bussers helping to set up.
After doing this I then go over to the tables still sitting (2 hours after close) and take away some glasses and empty bottles to bring them to the bar. As I’m leaving the bar the owner calls me over.
“Can you help your coworkers set up instead of standing around doing nothing?”
Shut the fuck up! I leave my god damn phone in my car while I work because that’s how serious I’m taking this. I don’t get any breaks nor do I take bathroom breaks. I just spent 10 minutes plating these tables, I have 5 coworkers helping me, I come over to clear this table and you have the audacity to say I’m doing nothing? Fuck you.
I didn’t say a word and walked away to help but in that moment I knew Im done working here.
I get that I have a lot to learn, the job itself was pretty overwhelming. I get that this is your business and this is how you make your living. I get that I’m representing your brand.
But does that give you an excuse to treat your employees like imbeciles? Especially when I’m working my ass off non stop and giving it my 110%. I’m always open to criticism, but you can say it in a way that’s constructive instead of being rude and talking to me like I’m a fucking moron, not to mention the fact you gave me no training whatsoever. Woman is a narcissistic POS. That place has already caused me so much stress and anxiety and it’s only been 3 shifts! Fuck that shit I’m out!
I saw it coming. On my first shift the two bussers both warned me that the environment here is very toxic and cut throat.
Second shift I got the same warning from more bussers. In total 5/6 bussers told me the exact same thing voluntarily. Well I see what they mean now. I already have an amazing job serving breakfast with amazing bosses. I’ll stick with it for now and focus on school and pursuing my interests such as tattooing and other mediums of design, clothing, art, graphics and more. Fuck that place.