Suspended from work- really upset

[EeyoresButterfly]

I'm really upset right now and just need to vent. I recently started a job as a waitress at a local italian-type restaurant. I've been kind of frustrated with them. Three weeks in a row I was scheduled as "support" (bussing tables, filling drinks, making salads, etc.). We have been really slow now that the unviersity is out of session and the past three Saturdays I was sent home literally within minutes of arriving, instead of them calling me in advance like they are supposed to do. One time, the supervisor (won't call them managers, they're basically glorified servers) saw me come in, watched me clock in, was with me back in the server station as I was checking on salads and filling dressings, and then walked to the bar and sent another server to tell me to go home.

We have an e-mail system on our computers and they pop up whenever you log in, and every week there are e-mails from supervisors that say things like "hey idiot servers" or "xyz looks like s***." Talk about unprofessional!

So here is what happened to tday: I got a call asking if I could come in and talk about schedules. I asked off to have knee surgery and I'm assuming that is what it is about. I went in and the server manager told me I am suspended for a week because my sidework (chores) aren't being done properly or fast enough. She accused me of not doing it last night when I did every single thing on that list. Nobody has ever told me that I am too slow or that it was not being done properly- and nobody trained me to do it! We are supposed to have three days of training. I did not. My first day was training, the second day my trainer gave me half his tables and left me on my own. The third day I worked as server support and that was it. No training on the sidework, so I've had to figure it out as I go. It has taken me awhile to get things done because I haven't done all the different things yet and am still trying to figure out where things are located and what I have to do. I know it takes me longer than others and have been trying to get faster.

What kills me about this whole thing is how unprofessional it is. Nobody said a word to me before now, if I wasn't doing it properly, a supervisor should have told me. They are supposed to check it before we go but most do not. In fact, the last evaluation I received was from the owners telling me that they appreciate my work ethic and how I always try to find something to do even when we aren't busy and try to help out. They said there are a lot of lazy people in the restaurant and they appreciate that I don't stand around like others. I don't understand how I can go from such a positive review to such a negative.

I was talking to my father and he thinks they are doing this because of my knee problem. The only way it has affect my work is that I have asked not to be on the stage so I don't have to step up and down. Otherwise, I do not let it affect me at all. He thinks they are afraid I'm going to claim it is a work injury and try to sue them. I just can't see the owners doing that, I'm not that way.

I'm just frustrated by the whole thing because there are so many people they do not do their sidework, and in the end it is the supervisor's responsibility to make sure it is done properly and communicate it if it is not. Some of the supervisors are the worst offenders (last night our supervisor sat at the bar for 2 hours talking). I don't know what to hink, but am so frustrated. This is the first time I have ever had a negative review from a job, and it's a bitter pill to swallow. Especially since I did not see this coming.

[EeyoresButterfly]

On another board somebody brought up the whole sending me home when I show up issue. I know that in Florida if you are scheduled and come in, they have to pay you for four hours of work if you leave voluntarily. I do not know the law in MO and am having a hard time finding it. Even if we do have a clause like that, I would not pursue it legally as I am not a vindictive person. On July 9 I have knee surgery, so I might see how those few days beforehand go. I might just tell them that after the surgery I will not be returning.

[Freak]

WTF!? I can't stand crooked s**t like this. You do all your work and then some, but for some reason you get blamed for it. So stupid. And I'm pretty sure they would put 2 and 2 together for why you're getting knee surgery and your current speed while at work....

If this happened to me, I'd be at HR talking about this stuff that was thrown at you for no reason, that's total BS.

[Big Wallaby]

Can you go to anyone above this manager and complain? I would say that e-mails starting with "Hey, Idiot Servers!" creates a hostile work environment. Along with what people said on that other board, I would say I am betting some of your supervisors and managers might be a bit scared of your work ethic, because the owners have noticed you now. Is there any way to contact them?

[EeyoresButterfly]

There's no HR- this is a locally owned restaurant. The owners just opened another store a few hours away, so they've been spending a lot of time there. I can see their point on the speed, I know I'm slow and have really been trying to pick it up now that I have finally figured out where things are located and what I am supposed to do. If it was that alone I wouldn't be so upset. What upsets me is that they said I chronically do it wrong but did not tell me at any time before this, so I kept doing the same thing I had been doing thinking I was doing it right.

I've thought about talking to the owners, but I do not know yet the dynamics of this restaurant and how they feel about the manager. She was very nice when she told me, but she is one of the ones who writes things like "such and such looks like s***". I'm afraid of rocking the boat. If I stay with the job, I need to be able to be comfortable working there.

ETA: I looked up some laws, and there is no law making a "hostile work environment" illegal. It basically has to become harassment or discrimination based on a protected status, and being a server is sadly not a protected status. The different labor department web sites specifically states that the law is not a civility code so I don't think that would count as a hostile work environment.

[DisneyMom]

Aaaaargh! How frustrating!
Document everything, if you need to get unemployment it will help-but I would be proactive and try to discuss any issues create an plan with manager that shows you are always trying to improve-and get documentation on that too.
You have devoted so much to your career in teaching, I'm hoping that you can put this all into perspective if things don't work out....It will obviously be their loss if they lose someone who is willing and with a good attitude.

[Princess Susi]

I am sorry that you have to experience that. At some point in everyone's work life, they will experience that. And it sucks!

Are there any other restaurants in the area you could work? Sometimes there are some places that are just not conducive to good work. Believe me, in my 54 yrs on this planet, I have worked at many differenst types of jobs and places and there were a couple of jobs I simply walked away from. There was no other answer.

The managers were idiots and did not care about the workers (also a restaurant job) and left me in charge on a closing shift when I just had started a few days before. I had no idea what was supposed to be done as a closing manager! I had a basic idea, but was never trained for anything other then cooking and dish washing! The Morons leave the newest worker in charge only because I was the oldest on staff at the time! I guess I was more responsible than the other people who were just a few years younger than me...I did have the maturity, so I guess they felt that was enough.

I told them if it happened again, I would not come back. Well...guess what? It happened again, just a couple weeks later...OF COURSE IT DID! They were numbskulls and I never went back, never called, just never went back. I DID TELL them that would happen. They sent my check and that was the end of it. I actually used the assistant manager as a reference for later jobs and got great reviews from her. She was the only one there who *got it*.

When the inmates run the asylum, it is time to find a new job. There are so many out there.

Restaurant jobs are always available. You know why? NO ONE really wants to work at a restaurant because of the hierarchy there. You get treated like crap by customers and managers and the staff that has been there forever. I HATE restaurant jobs. The only way I would ever go back is if I worked as a dishwasher. They usually get left alone and you can just work and then go home. I like that. No front of the house for me! UH-UH!


In this case, I would document everything and if you can somehow forward those nasty emails to the owner and let them know it is a hostile workplace, that would be good. By the owner just knowing that YOU know it is hostile, the owner MUST do something to change the atmosphere...or not. And if the owner does not care, you know it is a sucky place to work. And who wants to work at a sucky place?

I feel for ya! I hate workplaces like that! I have trouble now taking orders from anyone. It makes it difficult to work under a manager. I am glad I am retired. If I do go back to work, I am going to have to prepare for the inevitable *know-less-than-I-do* managers that I have to take orders from. It is just the way it is.

Read "The Peter Principle" It will give you a good idea of why managers are so sucky! The local library should have it. You will enjoy reading it and knowing you are smarter than your manager. :)

susi

[Ms. Matterhorn]

You need to cut your losses and flat out quit.

Since you want to become a teacher, why not get a job at a preschool or daycare facility, work in parks and rec, or be a day camp counselor? It would look good on your resume, you would enjoy the children and would get some real life experience for your career.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

It looks like to me that they are "manufacturing" (and documenting) problems with you so that they can fire you. I have the feeling that your upcoming knee surgery has them worried that you might try and get disabality or some such from them, because you are required to be on your feet during work.

I would be look for another job, possibly some sort of teaching or instructing.

Posssibly a day care type of operation, where they need some teaching ability?

Good luck!

[Princess Susi]

On another board somebody brought up the whole sending me home when I show up issue. I know that in Florida if you are scheduled and come in, they have to pay you for four hours of work if you leave voluntarily. I do not know the law in MO and am having a hard time finding it. Even if we do have a clause like that, I would not pursue it legally as I am not a vindictive person. On July 9 I have knee surgery, so I might see how those few days beforehand go. I might just tell them that after the surgery I will not be returning.

Actually if they do have a clause like that, you SHOULD pursue it. It is ridiculous that you go in and the manager watches you clock in and then sends someone else to tell you to go home.

If that were happening to me, I would be asking them for gas allowance and by the third time, the manager would end up with my apron tied around his/her head and the last thing they would see is my ass going out the door with a head full of ways to get that $$$ from them when they sent me home 2 minutes later.
Call your local labor board. Every state has one to protect workers. They even have legal counsel for workers usually. Check out every avenue if this restaurant is following the letter of the labor law or not. If they play fast and easy with the labor laws, they are getting away with mistreating you and others. It is not okay!

Oh and it is NOT vindictive. If it is the law that they must pay you 4 hours or 2 hours when you clock in (if your state has that law), then it IS a legal labor law and they are breaking it. They need their feet held to the fire for these things. But find out if you get compensated and how much when they make you clock in and then send you home. If they owe it to you, they owe it to you, and that is not vindictive to sek out legal compensation. Theyt sure as hell won't be doing it again very soon if you call them on it. Just make sure you have your ducks in a row.

Geeze, this must cliche morning...I am full of them today. But they are true in this case!

I wish you good luck with this. Restaurants have their own set of rules as well from other types of work. But usually clocking in laws hold for every type of job. You must find out if your state has this law.

Susi

Here is your website and a phone number to call!

Missouri Division of Labor Standards

Contact Information
Phone Number: (573) 751-3403

http://www.dolir.mo.gov/ls/

You may want to check out these statutes as well:

http://www.moga.state.mo.us/STATUTES/C290.HTM

Let us know what you find out!