Bad day's at work.

[Jenisi]

I've had some bad ones... but I think yesterday takes the cake. If you don't already know I'm a Safari Guide (Server) at the Rainforest Cafe. First time ever I had a table walk out without paying (which is really hard to catch on a Saturday night) Basically what happens is either you pay it out of your pocket or you have the company pay for it and you get written up, but the next time it happens you either pay for it or you get fired. This really sucks having to pay for other's crime, but it's the risk you take with serving. At applebees it was the exact same way, but never happend (but then again it was a much smaller resturant and a lot easier to watch over your tables). Ontop of this happening we were having dinner rush, food was taking over an hour and my guests were yelling at me and the managers because the food was taking so long and I couldn't say more then we're doing the best we can and it's really busy. Made horrible tips and spilled a drink on myself.

Anyone else have horror stories?

[Kuyuk]

Nope.

I work in the kitchens and usually it's all the servers fault.


K.

[Skirmisher]

Omg fibber, I saw The Restaraunt, I saw the kitchen mess up !

[TheEschaton]

Ummm, it's always the servers fault.


-TheE-
dishwasher for many years in high school, and damn proud.

P.S. I don't wanna hear any of your bitching about how tough a server's job is. Once, my boss came to me, told me to unplug the toilet cause someone took a massive shit that clogged the whole thing up. That's not even the gross part, that was a fairly normal occurence. But I couldn't unclog it, it just wouldn't, so he's like "Well, put on some gloves, reach in there, and UNCLOG THE THING. It's our only toilet." I refused, he said he'd fire me if I didn't, and being 16 I believed he actually would. So I did it. You know what was clogging the fucking toilet? Someone's shit-stained ripped underwear. Which meant, THERE WAS A CUSTOMER IN THE RESTAURANT NOT WEARING UNDERWEAR who had just had a violent, underwear-ripping episode.

It was one of those experiences where you look back on it to give you strength for some supposedly tough shit in your present situation.

[AestheticDeath]

I would have quit. No way I would be unclogging someones mess.

[Kuyuk]

AHAHAHAA


K.

[Mighty Nikkisaurus]

While working at the Build-a-Bear workshop, I was helping a little girl who was probably 4 years old get her bear put together. She picked out a teddy bear body and asked me what his name was.. I told him she got to pick and she was like No, he has to have a name, what is it? So I just gave her a random name and she seemed happy with that. So we went to the fluff machine, and I told her to pick out a heart so that we can get it ready to put into her bear. She stared at me and said, "The bear doesn't need a heart." I was like Yeah it does, it doesn't have one yet silly!

So.. instead of just being like, Oh, ok! Or having a cute childish explanation, the little girl starts crying and runs to her mother yelling, "MOMMY THE BEAR IS DEAD! IT'S DEAD MOMMY!"

I was mortified. Everyone was staring at me. O_o Ugh. Children. Never, ever work at Build-a-bear.

[crazymage]

i saw those bears on Argent Dawn.

[Shari]

Server jobs DO suck. Working with the public utterly blows. But, server jobs are a dime a dozen, so if you don't like that one, walk out and get one across the street. :D....speaking from experience

My worst...was probably working at the Arizona franchise office for The UPS Stores and the owner was the biggest fucking douchebag I've ever encountered. He would literally scream and yell at the 6 other people in the office, including myself. At one point he came flying into our filing cabinet area on his cellphone, looking for something. It turns out I had filed it in what he considered the "wrong" filing cabinet (though that is where the guy who trained me told me to put it). His response went something like this at the top of his lungs,

"What the fuck is the matter with you, are you stupid? How hard is it to file something in the correct place?"

The other people there heard it and went to bat for me saying it wasn't my fault. He proceeded to tell the receptionist in the other room...not to me, mind you that, "Send a memo out to everyone here and explain to them how stuff is filed, I just yelled at Shari for no reason."

No apology, nothing. I walked in two days later and dropped the keys to the office right in his lap. I told him it was bullshit having to with his temper tantrums and I found it disgusting how everyone else who worked there also had to walk on eggshells around him." I turned and walked out as his jaw hit the floor. It was great.

[Mistomeer]

Yeah, this week I put in about 70 hours or so because some dumbass misconfigured every possible thing he could have.

[Ignot]

Worse thing I had happen to me on a job was when I worked for the NMFS. We were doing a Jewfish study in Everglades city. My simple job was to set the traps to catch the fish and pull the traps back up so we could tag them. Awesome job, unfortunatly everytime I had to handle a trap I ended up being thrown into a swarm of mosquitos. So many that I could not even see.

I never thought I was going to contract some sort of disease more then that weekend in that city.

[firegirl]

I have never made my servers pay for Swindlers that once and awhile pop up.. eat a huge meal and then disappear or if a table leaves because of delays in food or such.

I do charge them if they screw up on the credit card, they are short on their cash-outs, they comp something (like a round of shots- at a lower price)

Rarely I would make them pay for a bill if they left because of bad service. My staff is pretty good though and usually bring unhappy tables to my attention before it can get to that level.

The bussers and Dishwashers get the grunt of the job.. I am one those that will call one of them to clean a washroom mess, etc instead of anyone else. They get the shit end of the stick in their jobs but that is why I pay them a lil higher than the servers.

here is another scam that actually just happened tonight...

Someone took one my business cards.. called the restaurant across the street and said "I am the manager here at ____. The owner is not around, I got a fish delivery and cannot get into the office for the petty cash, you have 183.00 until the owner arrives".. the manager there says 'Sure".. guy goes in.. takes 183.00 and two hours later.. this guy comes in saying.. umm can I speak to the owner or manager.. I introduced myself and he passes me my business card signed by someone pretending to be my manager. The guy got ripped off. I looked at him in shock and said... how did you actually think that was serious! Anyway, thought it was kinda funny, brilliant and if that was my manager, I would have whacked him so hard upside the head.

[Ignot]

Wow, what a dumbass

[HarmNone]

I admire firegirl for her approach to the problem of those who walk out on a bill. It's certainly not the server's fault that these people are dishonest. There are ways to indicate that you're not pleased with service. Not paying isn't, to my mind, one of the acceptable ones. To charge the server for these peoples' dishonesty isn't much better. In a very busy restaurant, I'd think it would be pretty close to impossible to watch every single table to be sure they're not leaving without paying. Hell, you're working! :(

[Snapp]

Thank goodness I don't have to pay for dishonest customers. I'd be broke by now.

[Daniel]

Okay right,

I was in Fallujah, like 3-4 days before the invasion and we were securing the parimetere and making sure our backs were gonna be safe when we went into the city. So, we got called out to a cemetary where apparently some people have taken to living in and while we're talking to the people we take some small mortar rounds. Nothing serious, basicly the kind that has to literally hit you to do anything. So we shrug it off and move on...


BUT... we were also taking out the XO of the infantry company we got assigned to and it was his (and his units) first time out. He FREAKS THE FUCK OUT and calls it up as a significant mortar attack.

There were two problems A) instead of calling it up as us taking mortars at position X, he calls up a significant mortar site on at our position and B) No one knew we were hooked into 1st ID's fire net.

So..about 5 minutes later 1st ID starts shelling our position with a dedicated howitzer battery.

Yea. that day sucked pretty bad. Luckily we didn't take any casultires. If we were with the infantry company we definately would have, as they undoubtedly woulda had people lying around in the prone, digging fox holes and all kinds of dumb shit. So, it would taken us longer than the 20 seconds it did to get the fuck out of dodge.

[Kuyuk]

Hope you guys beat him with bars of soap in towels.



K.

[Daniel]

No, but we had to hold back our Platoon sergeant because he was about to shoot him.

[Doughboy]

This is why officers have no business in the field.

[Doughboy]

Whoops, double post for some reason.....

[Sean of the Thread]

Okay right,

I was in Fallujah, like 3-4 days before the invasion and we were securing the parimetere and making sure our backs were gonna be safe when we went into the city. So, we got called out to a cemetary where apparently some people have taken to living in and while we're talking to the people we take some small mortar rounds. Nothing serious, basicly the kind that has to literally hit you to do anything. So we shrug it off and move on...


BUT... we were also taking out the XO of the infantry company we got assigned to and it was his (and his units) first time out. He FREAKS THE FUCK OUT and calls it up as a significant mortar attack.

There were two problems A) instead of calling it up as us taking mortars at position X, he calls up a significant mortar site on at our position and B) No one knew we were hooked into 1st ID's fire net.

So..about 5 minutes later 1st ID starts shelling our position with a dedicated howitzer battery.

Yea. that day sucked pretty bad. Luckily we didn't take any casultires. If we were with the infantry company we definately would have, as they undoubtedly woulda had people lying around in the prone, digging fox holes and all kinds of dumb shit. So, it would taken us longer than the 20 seconds it did to get the fuck out of dodge.


That's a bad day at work. Though you should have been alright because the friendly barrage would have fallen short of the cemetary.

[Stanley Burrell]

You all need to shut the fuck up until you've been designated bedpan cleaner and had your own personal gore-stained alter from leaky transfusions.

Capice?

Also, :heart: you all.

[Gan]

I can top you Stan.

I had the privledge of wearing a shit cocktail that was kindly donated from one of my ad-seg residents back when I used to work for the state prison system.

[Stanley Burrell]

You sir, have an all encompassing e-peen.

...

[Daniel]

Oh, I'm sure I could beat you on that there Stan ;)

[Jazuela]

I walked out without paying for a meal once. Perfectly justified as far as I'm concerned. It took 20 minutes after we were seated just to get menus. Another 20 minutes to get water. That's when they asked what we wanted - 40 minutes after we were seated. Then they got the order wrong, and it took around 15 minutes to flag down the server to let them know why we were sitting there not eating what we were given. Another half hour went by, no water refills, no one asking how we're doing, no one to even check to see if we were ready to pay.

We tried to flag down the server several times at that point. She noticed us once, nodded and said she'd be right back, and never came back. We'd been there a total of 2.5 hours, were willing to pay for our food, but she just plain never brought the check, after repeated attempts to track her down. So - we left. I shouldn't have to beg just to pay for lousy food, wrong food, and lousy service, even though I was willing to pay for it, until I realized the server had either completely forgotten our existence, or simply didn't care that we never got the check.

[Asha]

I used to work in a video store while I was studying. I was fired for watching Battle Royale on the preview television (not supposed to be anything over perental guidance rated).
I imagine someone wasn't impressed and called head office or whatnot.
Not really a bad day but not good I suppose.

[CrystalTears]

After the first 20 minutes I would have left and not ordered. I would maybe have given the 40 if it was a place I was used to good service at. First 20 minutes and no help? They don't get my business. Once food is served, I deal with it and pay. You still ate.

This is my problem with the food and hotel industry. The mentality of people who feel that AFTER they get the service, good or bad, that they are justified and entitled to not pay. Pay and then complain, but leaving without paying does not help your plea. If anything, you may get your money back or a free meal out of it. If you didn't pay, they probably won't even listen to you.

Only real bad time I had at work was working at McDonald's during the breakfast shift. Worst. Customers. Ever.

"I want ONE pancake, and only want to pay for ONE pancake!"
"I want my free coffee and a plain muffin. Plain! Butter makes it more than 10 cents!"
"I've worked my whole life and don't have to take orders from a punk." That always was fun, when I would say the ketchup is on the island across the way.
I had someone throw water at me for not refilling a large glass with water, when it was against the rules. Only water glasses got water. A large glass was a new purchase.

[TheEschaton]

I apparently was in a line for 50 minutes once in a McDonald's once, but I was too stoned to realize it. Our "safe guy", IE, the guy who makes sure all his stoner friends don't walk into traffic, came looking for me worriedly wondering what the hell had happened.

I thought it was hilarious, but in retrospect, WHY THE FUCK DID ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE STAY?

Unless I had just been standing there blankly for 50 minutes and people were moving around me, I have no fucking idea.

-TheE-

[HarmNone]

I agree, CT. I'd have left when service was that slow. If I had stayed, by some remote chance, and had experienced the continued delays, I'd have sent one of my party to the check-out area to "request" the manager to our table. The manager would then get a piece of my mind, and he/she had better not target the server in a very busy environment!

I'd have probably ended by getting the meal for free anyway, along with a voucher for, at least, one free meal in future. :D

[Jazuela]

How do you pay, when no one comes to take your money or tell you how much you owe? Like I said, we were WILLING to pay. We TRIED to pay. They weren't interested, so we left.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<I was fired for watching Battle Royale on the preview television (not supposed to be anything over perental guidance rated).>>

What a good movie to get fired for.

[Asha]

No kidding. Loved it.

[HarmNone]

How do you pay, when no one comes to take your money or tell you how much you owe? Like I said, we were WILLING to pay. We TRIED to pay. They weren't interested, so we left.

Like I said, send a member of your party (or go yourself) to the check-out area. They're usually on that cash register like flies on pancakes. Demand to see the manager immediately, and get louder only if necessary. You'll probably get your meal comped anyway. :shrug:

[Stunseed]

On the idea of bad days at work.....

Anyone who works retail dreads the first day of school. Every snot-nosed kid and ill-prepared parent runs in expecting you to walk with them and help them with their entire list. With an average transaction of $19.41, my store did just shy of fourty grand. It was hell on earth.

[Some Rogue]

On the idea of bad days at work.....

Anyone who works retail dreads the first day of school. Every snot-nosed kid and ill-prepared parent runs in expecting you to walk with them and help them with their entire list. With an average transaction of $19.41, my store did just shy of fourty grand. It was hell on earth.

I will never in my life work at a retail store again. Ever. I used to work for a large chain and I started out in the inner city of Chicago. I always swore I was going to write a book about the things I saw heh. Like, the man who tried to commit suicide by driving into the side of the building. Or, having to break up a fight between a customer and an employee while having to dodge merchandise being flung my way and trying to keep the employee's computer from falling on the floor. And don't get me started on the holidays. One year on the day before Christmas Eve, we did over 130k sales. Worst day of my life.

[Stunseed]

ROFL. Day after Thanksgiving we do 140-150k plus a day.

[Killer Kitten]

When I worked at North Shore Animal League Clinic it was a very high volume/high pressure atmosphere. There were five wards in Iso. One tech handled wards 1 through 3, which were generally noncritical animals. Another tech handled ward 5, which was generally full of ringworm kittens and puppies with worms. Five was messy and backbreaking, but at least there were no critical cases there.

The killer ward was 4. This was the critical case parvo/distemper/panleuke ward. On days I knew I was getting sent to 4 I would arrive an hour early for work and run my ass off. It didn't matter, even with the hour head start I was invariably two hours behind. The ward held 40 to 50 extremely critical animals, most of them spewing bloody, noxious diarrhea, all of which somehow ended up decorating my scrubs.

One lovely spring day I actually managed to get all the treatments done and everybody fed and bedded down in a clean cage by 3 o'clock. Second meds were supposed to start at 3:30, so I had a blessed half an hour to go ingest something to raise my blood sugar up from the 'my head is spinning' level.

I bought myself an ice cream cone and plunked down on the curb to eat it. As I'm savoring the deliciousness of mint chip I notice a really awful stench in the area. It smelled like somebody had left a full dumpster to bake in 90 degree weather for a few days, then thrown open the lid to share the aroma with the rest of the world. I'm looking around for the dumpster when my nose passes close to my own shoulder and I realize that the stink is coming from me. I was covered in parvo shit, blood and vomit - just innocently sitting there eatin' my ice cream.

That was one of my worst work days. Still, I liked working there, I always went to work feeling as if I made a difference.

[Some Rogue]

ROFL. Day after Thanksgiving we do 140-150k plus a day.

Heh, that was 10 years ago...I can't imagine what that store does in sales now if it's even still open. The theft problem was out of control and getting worse when I transferred to a different store. I don't remember the exact number but I recall it was something like 500k shrink one year after I left heh.

[Stunseed]

I run a store that does about 7.2 million a year or so in sales.