underwater2010 Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 So our restaurant has 21 available tables not including 8 tables on a patio. When we have two servers we do rotation otherwise known as every other table. I start at 5 pm and had 3 tables prior to second servers start time. Second server is more than a half an hour late. Which gets me an additional 2 tables including to 10 party tables. So that automatically puts me 5 tables before the other server even clocks in to start work. We now start rotation. We get going as it was a very busy night. He is dealing with an 8 top, 6 top on patio, another 6 top. I am watching the floor and telling him every time another table sits, in other words telling him when he needs to take another table. This is when things go haywire. I tell him about a booth that sits after telling that booth so and so will be right with you. I tell him at least three times. I walk by five times and the booth has not received plates, menus or drinks. The sixth time I go by the wife has shown up and still no drinks. So I make the call of taking care of them rather than letting the sit there without help. Next booth walks in and I tell him. He gets an attitude saying I am skipping rotation and to just take it. Being that it is busy I refuse to argue or make my point so I go on about my business. Another booth comes in and I let him know. Since everyone is settled I make my point and let them sit waiting for his help. The end up going up to the bar for their first drink and complain to the bus boy about not being helped. He finally takes the booth. He gets another 5 top. So to tally it up I ended up taking 14 tables (5 of which I had prior to him coming on) he ended taking 6 all night. He lost out on 1 because of them sitting and gave up another with attitude. Which if all played out right he would have had 8 tables and I would have had 12 tables. Doing the math the rotation would have worked out perfect if you deduct my prior 5 tables. So to my question....did I do wrong? After talking with one manager the mentioned his morale was down because he felt that he was only getting 2-4 person tables during rotation and I had so many tables. Lets keep in mind I only had two big parties out of all those tables. While I understand how he would feel, I have little sympathy for people being upset when they show up late and screw themselves out of some tables. The only way I see to even the tables out would have been to take myself out of rotation effectively letting him "catch up" and then going on rotation again. But I feel that I should not have to give more tables because he started later and showed up late. And this past Sunday during rotations all my tables were 2-4 tables and we were just as busy. Please give my your take or experience on this....
Author underwater2010 Posted October 11, 2013 Author Posted October 11, 2013 Can some one respond? This has been eating at me all night.
GorillaTheater Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 I guess I don't see the problem. You're taking care of business, giving him ample opportunity to do the same, and he's not holding up his end of things. Screw 'im. 1
Arabella Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 What I think is that you should continue to do an stellar work, and stop worrying about him. It's his problem, not yours, for not doing what he's supposed to do. Just cover your ass and make sure your manager is aware of what really happened, and why you acted the way you did.
Author underwater2010 Posted October 11, 2013 Author Posted October 11, 2013 That's how I tend to see it too, I guess it just bothers me that management seems to be taking the poor him approach. I made great money all around, but I am a people pleaser and now I feel bad.
GorillaTheater Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 but I am a people pleaser and now I feel bad. NOW I see the problem. But you recognize it, so you're 90% of the way towards getting it fixed. The solution is to do your best and to let go of the outcome. You have no control over how anybody feels about it. And honestly, you have no idea how they feel about it anyways.
Author underwater2010 Posted October 11, 2013 Author Posted October 11, 2013 We have about 6 servers. I am the only one with open availability and often work the crap shifts because no one else can. Things have been slow up till now and now that there is money to be made people are getting antsy. Two of the servers always want to leave early when things are slow...even giving up tables. One has refused two major game days because she was ticked about not making money on other days. It back fired big time. They all complain about sections, then don't pay attention when we are on rotation. Right now I am head server and have seniority. My new suggestion has been sections determined by chance ie drawing straws and then changing sections by clockwise rotation. That way everyone has a chance at the good sections and nobody can be called out on favorites. I plan to relax a little more when on rotation and see if that helps them pay attention more. I guess it just sucks when you are decent at your job and rely on serving as your only income.
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