Comments on: I Am a Total Bitch

By: Alex

Alex — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:46:48 +0000

Heh. My dad had a saying for employees like that- “Everytime they go on lunch break, you have to retrain them.”

I feel for you. Restaurant work is a perfect example of the kind of job where one doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist, but they do have to be clever. If you’re not good with people, or not self-directed, or not good at multi-tasking, you can always get a job in an accounting firm or in the government. But a restaurant? You’d crash like the Hindenberg.

As for the Just-don’t-get-its, I have a differing view than most people who’ve posted comments. And that is that it’s not your job to play Mommy to people like this, especially if they’d been on staff LONGER than you have! In fact, restaurants are the LAST place for the perpetually clueless to try and find a place to coast, because they depend too much on employee performance to succeed. If the staff practices social Darwinism to weed out the losers, then they’re just doing a favor for themselves, the restaurant, and ultimately the clueless workers.

By: IAServer

IAServer — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:48:18 +0000

The gal sounds like she has A.D.D.

By: wineward

wineward — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:20:15 +0000

Brilliant, Mtbmike

By: Mtbmike

Mtbmike — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 22:37:27 +0000

Like we always say, ” Ignorance we can train, you can’t fix stupid”

By: restaurant Gal

restaurant Gal — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:53:28 +0000

Thank you, everyone, for great advice. I hardly had a moment today to contemplate implementing some of the ideas, when the gentleman gave notice. I haven’t seen the younger woman since last week. I think she still works at the restaurant–who knows? Anyway, two great trainees today. Whew!

–The Gal

By: wineward

wineward — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:17:33 +0000

I love the post by Aurora about “learned helplessness”. I have always referred to this as “dumb blonde syndrome”, because it seems to disproportionately afflict beautiful females (although I’ve known a few men who tried to get away with it, too). Perhaps for the older gentleman we could call it “charming grandpa syndrome”.

In my experience the symptoms are just as Aurora describes: acting helpless or dumber than you are in order to skate on your share of the work. This is most effective when coupled with feigned sincerity, flirtation, or the loyal puppydog look, depending upon the situation.

Anyone who didn’t ride the shortbus to school should be able to master the basic hostessing functions within days, if not hours. These two are unlikely to change.
Hopefully you will get permission to set specific boundaries/ expectations for them, and after a pre-determined time let them go if they haven’t improved.

Anyway, kudos on the new job. Happy holidays, Gal.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:57:26 +0000

You say that like being a bitch is a BAD thing. No. Being driven by your co-workers to become a murderer is a bad thing. Being driven by your co-workers to be a bitch is a necessary thing.

By: LB

LB — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:59:33 +0000

This was like reading a version of my life right now – I have been training a similar type of person for nearly three months now, and she still routinely asks me questions about things that she should have mastered before she even came on the job. I wish I had some advice, but I’ve failed at figuring out how to deal with it myself. Like you, I have been grinning and bearing it, and slowly getting bitchier and bitchier. But I think your other readers have some very good points – Brilliantdonkey’s seems like a worthy suggestion – maybe if one of them has to teach the skill they need to learn, it’ll help it all sink in.

But otherwise, I’m with the majority, see if you can get backing to get rid of them if they just continue like this. It’s not going to do anything but hurt you, them and the company to have them stick around.

By: Cisco

Cisco — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 16:15:05 +0000

You can’t help it. There are some people that are just wired in a certain way that no amount of instruction or patience will do. I have more than two working for me.. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

By: j

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 15:36:18 +0000

And again, darwin does somersaults in his grave. I hate people who can’t do things for themselves. I’m lazy as hell but I pick up on things quickly and I believe in doing my fair share of work. Lame, get rid of ‘em, if they can’t do their fair share, than they don’t belong there.