This is it

Today marks the end. My last shift as a restaurant manager. (Hopefully for ever but I've learned that's not always the case.) 

It's fitting that my last shift is a closing shift and my new job starts tomorrow at 8:00 AM. I suppose I could have made last night my final shift but then one of the other managers would have lost a day off right after Thanksgiving. Karma should be on my side moving forward since I decided to work today! =)

I'm thankful to be done with this job. It served it's purpose in my life but I know without a doubt it's time to move on. I'll miss most of the people I work with. I had a great staff and enjoyed the time I spent with them. 

Tomorrow starts another chapter in my life and I'm looking forward to it!

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

It's almost Christmas which is a pretty wonderful time of the year! I've had my Christmas Tree and Decorations up for a week already! I got hit with the Christmas bug early this year.

But today's post is not about Christmas. It's about the soon to be title change of this blog.

In about two weeks there will be a new title:

"The EX-Restaurant Managers Rant"

That's right... I am soon to be an Ex-Restaurant Manager.

Thank you Jesus.

Thankfully there are still plenty of things to rant about in this world and I plan to rant about them all ;)

Why do we settle for incompetence?

It's one of the most frustrating things I have to deal with as a restaurant manager. We have 4 managers. 3 of which can do the job no problem 99.9% of the time. And then there's # 4... The poster boy for incompetence when it comes to running a shift. 

I've lost count of how many times, over the last two years, myself or one of the other managers had to rush back to the restaurant to bail him out. Keep in mind we didn't come back because he called us. We came back because the STAFF called us, in the middle of a shift, begging for help as the ship was sinking fast.

Yet he still works there. 

What's even worse is the GM continues to defend him. When # 4 actually does something right it's: "Hey, # 4's doing good this week!" 

Look, I don't like to see people lose their jobs, especially in today's economic environment. But # 4 just can't do it. # 4 is not cut our for the position. # 4 is a huge liability! 

So at what point do you cut your losses? 

If I'm the GM it's 12 months ago.... But our GM and his boss don't see it that way. What I've been told is they have bigger problems than #4 in other restaurants they need to deal with first.

Scary thought....

Drinkin' and Swearin' like a sailor...

This month makes 4 years since I became a restaurant manager and two things are for certain:

1. A swear a hell of a lot more than I did before I took this job

2. A drink a hell of lot more than I did before I took this job.

I'm not at all surprised by this. I almost expected it. Perhaps it's become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Anyone else have this experience?

A Pet Peeve

One of my biggest pet peeves: Chronic absenteeism. 

"I'm Sick" ... "I'm having a family problem today" ... "I'm stuck in traffic out of town" ... "I just can't make it in"

These are just some of the excuses 1 employee has given me in the last month. 

I can't take it anymore. They work today and so do I. 

We will be having a little heart to heart in which I will give them a final warning:

Miss another shift, unexcused, and there is no need to bother coming back for any more shifts because you will no longer work here.

Harsh? 

Maybe. 

But it's not fair to the rest of the team that shows up for work everyday, even when they don't want to, and has to pick up the extra work because someone else is chronically absent.

Hopefully they get the message.

Are you still open?

I hate this question. Especially five minutes before we close. My typical response is "We close in 5 minutes."

Most normal, caring, compassionate human begins realize we've all been working all night and are ready to go home and leave. But then there are those who think "Oh, then we still have time to order." 

I hate those people.

The last two nights "Those People" found my restaurant. 

What really kills me is how they have the audacity to get angry when you tell them we have no soup left. It's at times like this I lose a little more faith in humanity. What is wrong with people?

We served them. Begrudgingly but served.

Surprise Surprise they left a shitty tip for the waitress even though she was super nice to them. 

Uh. People.

Is it safe to come out?

I guess I'll find out soon enough!

So I've been on a blogging hiatus. Why?

It's simple really: An anonymous reader pulled back the curtain and pretty much figured out where I worked. (I think... I shut down the blog before I could find out 100% for sure) 

Whoops. Guess I gave out a little to much info in a few post. (Which have since been removed just to be on the safe side)

Guess I need to be a more careful with the details in my rants. ;)

Looking forward to getting back to ranting! I think my wife is sick of hearing about it. Ha!