Why am I being treated unfairly at my new job?
I’m so upset! I started a new job and wasn’t told any rules or policies they had so I went in today to do my training on the floor, it’s a restaurant. The manager told me I couldn’t have my pants rolled up because it’s a safety or health code violation but she wears a skirt most days, my shoes were not acceptable, I need to learn the schedule but she never gave me one, I’ve never waitressed before and she was putting me right on the floor after watching one table be done, no training on the register, taking phone calls, nothing, and she also told me, in front of everyone, I was a skank for having my phone in my back pocket. I feel so overwhelmed and have no clue what to even say. I was so excited and now I’m devastated. 😭
JenX·
That's absolutely horrible and really unprofessional for a manager. :(
Shauna Johnson··
I thought so too! I walked out but I feel like a failure because of it. I just can’t imagine working in that kind of environment
Mamabirdddd·
I would quit and just find another restaurant job. Everywhere is hiring. That’s horrible for someone to say and just shows how toxic the work environment will be for you.
Shauna Johnson··
I walked out but I feel like I failed :(
I have an application for a delivery driver but I didn’t fill it out because I got the call for a server there. I was shocked to say the least!
Mamabirdddd··
you did not fail. You don’t want to be involved in any of that. I understand places are short staffed but you didn’t even get training and calling you a skank is against every single company policy and highly illegal depending on what state you’re in. Like I said, try again if you want to be a server! Most places would give you an orientation and let you know dress code including proper shoes (usually close toed and non slip) before you even start. I’m sorry this happened but it sounds like they suck. Don’t feel bad!
Shauna Johnson··
thank you! I’m just so confused because she seemed so nice the day I did my computer training. I’m just very embarrassed now
Linden·
I'm so sorry girl, that's really AWFUL of her. TRUST and BELIEVE that her first day, 100 years ago, went about the same girl. PROMISE! 💯
I dumped an entire pitcher of freakin ICE WATER on an at LEAST 80 year old woman on my first day as a server. Their WHOLE damn family was there for a Mother's Day celebration after church and dressed to the NINES. 😬It's nervewracking girl!
Please do NOT be discouraged or give up on yourself. NEVER quit on a bad day! Wait til the next day to sleep on it and if ya go to your next shift still wantin out then quit, but you GOTTA give yourself a chance first!!
Take one of the menus from work home with you and study it every night for like 30 minutes when you get home! Just read it front to back over and over again. This will help you know what questions to ask when takin orders. Like if they order enchiladas, you'll have to know to ask them what meat they want, if they want shredded or the fajita meat, what kinda sauce on top and which 2 sides. I have no idea what type of restaurant you're workin at, the enchiladas are just an example.
Pay attention when the other staff answers the phone and in when you can, flip to the back of your order book and start writing the script so you can read that and get it down along with your menu. "Thanks for calling (name of restaurant) this is (your name), how can I help you", will USUALLY do the trick though!
I've NEVER heard of jeans being rolled up as an issue, I think she's just bein a bitch. *I'm thinkin like skinny jeans, cuffed not bein an issue. If they're like JNCO's, and you're only 4 foot tall so you gotta roll em up....yeah, that's a hazard.*
You should leave your phone in your purse, under the counter, in your locker or wherever they allow you to store your personal belongings while on shift. You can check it on breaks and things like that. This is REALLY pretty standard practice at any job. Give your kids, husband or whoever you feel necessary, the number to the restaurant so they can call, ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY, when you're not answering your cell.
You'll need non-slip, comfortable shoes that conform to dress code. The non-slip part is non-negotiable, but color/style will vary by restaurant/uniform. In my experience, it usually an all black, non-slip shoe that's required. You can get a cheapie pair at Walmart, Target or even Amazon to get you by for now. Once you get that first check or two though, I HIGHLY recommend investing in a really good, supportive, comfortable pair though. This is really a MUST.
The last thing I can think of is, request an employee handbook! If they have one, you should've been given one when hired. If they don't, then it's not on you at ALL that you didn't knew their rules and that lady needs to go fuck herself. 🤷♀️
I have waited tables off and on since I was 16. It's one of those jobs you can ALWAYS pick back up at any time and make really decent money doin! 🙌 I've always LOVED bein a server, SO much! I'm a people-person though and can literally talk to anyone.
If you have any questions or I can help at all, just hit me up Mamas! @jennatess will also be an EXCELLENT source of info. She will have up to date info on any current rules, standards or expectations. I haven't waited tables or bartender since brie Kai was born. I just did a LOT, at a LOT of different types of places before that.
Shauna Johnson··
Its a pizza place, the only sit down one in my town. I knew the basics of the menu already because I’ve been there quite a few times lol
I wasn’t given a single thing but my shirt and apron. I thought that I would get an order book but I never heard a thing about it. The manager is too busy to train anyone new and her employees do not want to put in the effort to train so unless someone goes there with experience idk how they’ll do it. She knew I had no experience and said she would show me how to do a table then I was on my own. I can handle stressful situations pretty well but having no experience and no training was just too much. I expected at least a little bit of training in all honesty. The phone being in my back pocket was unacceptable but how she approached it and with everyone around was wrong in my opinion. I never got an employee handbook! I was going in completely blinded, all I knew was I had a shirt and apron from them, I could wear jeans, and that was it. Oh and my hair had to be put up but hers was never. I have went back and forth between wanted to be a server and I finally decided to take the plunge and figured why not start there as there is under 15 tables in the restaurant! I am definitely a people person and super “bubbly” I’ve been told. I am trying not to get discouraged but girl, it’s so rough. I feel like a fool.
Linden··
I TOTALLY get it girl! I wanted to burst into tears and go RUNNING from that restaurant when I dumped that water pitcher. THANK GOODNESS for the kindness of strangers! The lady that I dumped it on and her daughter were SO sweet to me. I think they could tell by my face that I was about to lose it and start bawling right there. They were nicer to me than my manager was about it! The daughter said "Oh honey, it's just water, and Mom ain't had a cool thrill like that in QUITE some time! I bet that got the heart jumpstarted, huh Mom". They both just laughed and told me about the disasters that happened to them when they had been in previous jobs. It ended up turning into a sweet bonding moment, three random women huddled under the tiny nozzle of the wall mounted hand dryer in the ladies room. 🥰
There is DEF a learning curve when it comes to becoming a more than just adequate server. ESPECIALLY if you were given no handbook, no specific rules that MUST be adhered to or ANYTHING more specific than "wear this apron and some jeans", I REALLY don't see HOW TF they're blaming ANYONE but themselves! 🤯
I TOTALLY agree she went about the phone thing ALL wrong! Hell, it's such a habit for me to slide mine into my back pocket, that I bet I'd do it and not even realize it's still there when I get out in the floor to pick up tables. Ya know? It could have JUST as easily been an honest mistake that *could've* been EASILY taken care of quietly!
This is just very interesting insight into just WHY they may be so short staffed, or why her turnover rate is so damn high. NO ONE is going to want to stay in a job where they feel like they're doing nothin but fuckin stuff up, bein in the way or bein talked about non-stop by the other staff and have no support. If she doesn't realize that, she's going to be understaffed and running around like a crazy person, waiting tables herself forever. If she could keep her business adequately staffed, it could free her up to actually MANAGE the place. 🤷♀️
Idk, this honestly kinda sounds like a shit show girl. 😬 I'd TRY waitin it out for at least a paycheck, but would start applying elsewhere like yesterday!
Shauna Johnson··
that’s what I told my husband about the high turnover rate and being so short staffed, I see why now! I’m just appalled at a manager treating an employee that way. I walked out because it was either that or burst into tears around everyone. I was just so embarrassed and upset. I still have door dash and Amazon flex I can do, and I’ve applied lots of places, going to try doing a delivery job at a marijuana shop not too far from where I live. Gotta keep going I guess! 🤷🏼♀️