I decided to start posting random stories of what has occurred instead of going day by day. Here's a fairly fun one...
So after weeks of having issues with a particular waitress I thought I would extend the olive branch. For the sake of anonymity we will call everyone by a fake name and hers is Karen. Karens husband works at the restaurant as well. On Christmas day Karens husband, Pat, loses his grandfather. It is brought up in the group text for all the employees to find someone to cover the shift. I personally hate the group text because its a cop out to being responsible and a platform to cause havoc for no reason.
We find someone to cover Pat's shift and I take it upon myself to privately text Karen and ask if she would like to be with her husband since she was scheduled to work as well. She said that she would be grateful so I make a second group text with the other bartenders to try and cover her shift. Mind you she has already shot herself in the foot because she caused problems with another employee over who works what shifts for the holidays. Karen has always been responsible for scheduling the staff's shifts. Her and Lexi (another bartender) have a huge power trip issue. She tried to get Lexi to work one of the holidays but then just made it seem like to took one for the team and took both shifts. Then proceeded to send me the screenshots of the convo and lets just say they both think a little too highly of themselves. Anyway I could write a whole post just based on Karens attempted screen shot sabotage with a few other employees.
So I have the third bartender, Christy, willing to come in but it wont be until later because she is about an hour away with family. She doesn't know if they are staying in town or not so she can't commit just yet. Lexi still hasn't responded to the texts. I decide that I will go in on my day off and cover Karen's shift until someone else can come in. At this point its about 2:45pm and someone needs to be there at 3:00 to open the restaurant. I call the owner to explain whats going on and to see if he's there. He is still about 30 mins away. I don't have a key to the place and I live closest to there. I know, these people ooze with logic. So I call Karen to see if I can borrow her key as she is the next clostest person to the restaurant. This is where it begins to get annoying. She starts off by asking what Christy said about covering her and when I tell her that she isn't in the area she calls her a liar. Are you kidding? Christy has literally been the only person going to bat for you and you call her a liar? Noted... Then I ask if she has a key she says she's not sure if she has the right one. She wants to call the owners son, Andy, to see if its the right key. That's all bullshit. Every bartender has a key to lock up at night. Then when I push her a little more she says well I can't come give you the key even if I had it because Pat took the car to go to his moms and she is stuck at the house. This must be another joke! Why am I wasting my time to find someone to cover when you can't go be with your husband? Either way it turns out she miraculously is the only person to not have a key. I get dressed and head over to the restaurant to figure out what to do,
I walk in and the owner, Captain Morgan, is pissed. I will explain at a later time why I call him Captain Morgan. He is pissed because he seems to think I gave Karen the day off and left him without a bartender on Christmas. I immediately can see something stupid is happening. I explain to him that I was trying to cover her shift and that I did just that. Not caring to understand the situation he says that he doesn't want my solution and that he wants Karen here. He explains that he has already called her and told her she must come in. Not a minute later I get a text from Karen
Karen - I'm coming in for my shift. I don't want Captain Morgan to think I'm a flake. It's ok I'll be there. Thank u anyway. I really appreciate it <3
Ha! That's a bold faced lie... Captain Morgan at this point is trying to get me to do some work off the clock and I explain that the only reason I came in was to cover Karen. Since she is coming in for her shift that I am leaving.
I get in my car and immediately text Christy to let her know she doesn't need to rush out of Christmas with her familybecause of Karen and that her shift does not need to be covered. She says fine and better for her. As we are texting back and fourth Karen gets in the group chat and asks, well more like attempts to guilt, Lexi into covering her shift... Are you kidding??? After everything we went through? Here is exactly the way the text thread went down
Lexi - Ommgggg, how awful! I'm so sorry Karen. I COULD come in after I finish making everyone dinner but same as Christy, it wouldn't be until much later.
Karen - If you could work 9:30 - 10 to close Lexi that would be awesome??
Lexi - I bought like a 200$ dinner that I'm making for my family( and we've had a tough month.) I planned on eating at 7:30. I can't give a confirmed response yet, but I'll do my best and let you know soon.
Karen - I'm fine obviously.. I teared up today a few times but I'm worried about Pat he is mourning a big loss and I don't want him to be alone. He's so sad. If it was someone you loved that mourned such a big loss I'm sure you would want to be with them too :/
Lexi - Either way all my live to you both <3 <3 <3 <3
Karen - Thank you
Lexi - *Love
Lexi - I've already been drinking but if I feel I'm ok to drive I'll come in at 10:30
Karen - Ok thank u Lexi
Me - Whatever you ladies decide to do please let Captain Morgan know asap. I'm off today and I won't be in to tell him. You can just shoot him a text :)
That felt even more mind numbing having to type it all out. What's the point of guilting each other so much? So after seeing the shit Karen pulled I decided to not keep quiet and explain to her how not to stir the pot.
Me- So a little info for later. When I try and help with something like getting you covered and Captain Morgan says something about it don't say Andy or I said so. That just pisses CM off and then he won't let you change anything. I just got here to cover and help out and he screamed at me for giving you the day off and I left. You just have to be careful with your words. He thinks I just left him with out a bartender. If you said I had gotten your shift covered he wouldn't have reacted the same way. Just keep in mind that he likes to be the boss and that English isn't his first language.
Karen - I'm sorry I don't know how I got you in trouble. I'm a little confused. I just told CM that if I can't cover the shift then I'll be there. I text him about pat grandfather and that we were very sad. That's all. I am Sorry that :(
Me - I walked in and he didn't even say hi. He just screamed at me that you said I told you you could have the day off. I'm not upset at you. I'm just letting you know where things get lost in translation with him. He needs to feel like he's in control and doesn't like change.
Karen - But the shift was not covered so I was not going to not worry and relax until someone could cover it. So I was putting him at ease.
Me - It's all good. I'm not going to argue over what was said. I'm just letting you know some info that will help in the future so that's it's not chaotic. There's a reason I ask everyone to be in the loop and know all the happenings. If one person says something different he freaks out. I had you covered. Whether it was me, Andy or one of the other girls. I was just trying to get you the time off. Whatever ends up happening you'll have to communicate it with CM directly. Hope you get some time with Pat and the family.
And before you start feeling bad for Karen don't. I kind of felt bad that she went to work that night. Logical thought right? WRONG!
Later that night I get a call from one of the cooks asking if he can switch his shift because he's in vegas and wants to stay an extra night. I confirm that the other cook can work and decide to let Captain Morgan know before I forget. It's probably about 9pm at this point. As soon as I am done telling him that the cooks are switching shifts he starts to go off on me
CM - Don't go do things behind by back. I know everything that's happening.
Me - I am confused what are you talking about.
CM - You tried to have Lexi come in to work tonight and she is drunk. Don't you change anybody around ever again.
Me - I didn't tell Lexi to come in to cover anyone's shift
CM - I don't care from now on I am the only person who can say who comes and who goes that's it. I have to go. Bye
I am livid at this point. I don't even know how after all of this I am the one that gets thrown under the bus. Oh wait! I DO know. Karen is the biggest liar and is a master manipulator. She busted down the door and probably laid it on thick to Captain Morgan and he freaked out. She is your grade "A" alarmist.
But there's more!!!! I decide that I want to set things straight with Christy. I have always been cool with her and I didn't like how things were left. She questioned why I told her not to come in when Karen was asking for her shift to be covered. It makes me looks like I am trying to confuse people when I was just trying to help. I give her a call and talk to her about that night. Are you ready for this? Andy and Karen both go to Christy and ask her to come in that night. Christy cuts her day short, goes home to take a nap and wakes up around 9pm. She gives Karen a call to tell her she is getting ready and going to be on her way, but there's no answer. She calls Andy, no answer. Call's the restaurant NO ANSWER! She shoots Karen a text and starts to get ready. Christy is getting into her car when she gets a text from Karen to the effect of "Oh you can stay home. I am already here you might as well enjoy your night" Christy has a lot more control that I do because I would have lost it at that point. She gets another text from Andy saying about the same thing. She calls them and says that she cut her Christmas short for all of this and that she is coming into work regardless.
Has your brain turned to mush yet? This is how this restaurant is run, Exactly like this every single day...
