What would you do ??....911

Location - C.Q.
Time - 7ish
Scenario :
Four of Harrods Creek finest ( Fire & Rescue ) walk in Friday night, we are on a hour and a half wait.
The hostess seats them in a matter of 10 minutes ( I have always instructed that any police, fire, EMS, military, disabled gets priority ). A guest asks for me and is concerned about why the firemen received preferential treatment ?, I explained to her that I try to accomodate all branches of community service proffesionals and that they are on their break and might get a call for help.
Well unfortunately that did not go over well with her and she proceeded to voice her concerns about being on the wait list and thought that what I did was not in the best interest of others.
So what would you do..?

By the way, I did get her party seated in a matter of minutes ( creating tables from scratch )

If they were on duty, this was a good thing. They were subject to call and were lucky they got to eat. Thank you for thinking of the disabled and public servants.

The reaction of your customer just goes to show how society's perceptions are changing. Contrary to some beliefs, the public sector employees are not getting rich on our dime. There may be some exceptions, but most are making less than someone of their education and responsibility in the private sector. It amazes me that sports figure makes more that someone who will run into a fire to save your family or someone that will educate your children.

Alan-
I'm sure I will be in the minority on this, but I think it would have been far wiser for the safety people to have graciously declined your generous offer of preferential seating by them simply noting that others have been waiting much longer. Eliminates the illusion of preferential treatment and if done properly can earn them just a bit more goodwill from the public.

If it had been me, I would have declined and asked for food to go, but then EMS folks never get to have a sit down meal. FD has a bit more flexibility, but are still subject to call at anytime. When I was on the street, we often ordered food in go boxes, even if we tried to sit down, never knew when you had to jump up and take a run. I learned to never get an ice cream cone, it was a curse that got thrown out as soon as the tone went off.

Alan,
You did the right thing. They did the right thing in taking the table. Stick to your policy. If the that woman gets up-set..so what. Sounds like she may have had other issues going on anyway.

I definitely think you do the right thing I'm also sure that 99% of your customers probably would agree. She just needs to get over it and understand why this was done. I'm sure she'd appreciate it if they had a call at her home.

I also don't think it is very good for the firemen you spoke of to accept going ahead of so many people. Personally I don't think it looks right on their part. I worked in nursing for 25 or more years and you do not get to eat in healthcare (at least real meals) for the most part let alone sit down in a nice place so I admit I may be a bit jaded.

I also agree that you did the right thing. I have seen many public service employees have to leave their meal to answer a call. Some people will compain about anything and I'm sure that customer would complain if her "call" was not responded to in a timely manner. Seating service employees before wating customers should be looked on as a "Thank You" from all. These are the people we are trusting to save and protect us 24 hours a day.

Seat people first come, first served. No customer should be more important than the next.. Your fire and rescue customers could be called away 1 minute after you seat them, skipping the line or not. I have the utmost respect for those who protect and serve, but would probably be upset if they jumped in front of me in a waiting list.

I'm fine with seating the fire/rescue/police folks ahead of everyone else in line. Frankly, I think they earn a few special privileges. Some days I think my job is difficult, but no one shoots a gun at me, nor am I ever called on to run into a burning building or render aid on the side of the road. These folks should be treated special, because, well, they are special.

I'm fine with seating the fire/rescue/police folks ahead of everyone else in line. Frankly, I think they earn a few special privileges. Some days I think my job is difficult, but no one shoots a gun at me, nor am I ever called on to run into a burning building or render aid on the side of the road. These folks should be treated special, because, well, they are special.

What Leah said.

So what would you do..?

Alan,
Your asking for help on this one so I assume you are somewhat torn by this issue. It is truly an issue seen from many perspectives. Your policy of providing priority seating for police, fire, EMS, and the military is I believe your prerogative. I leave the disabled out of this because my comments are not germane to that group. Simply, if you feel it is the right thing then you should do it regardless of how others feel.

However, if you are doing this because you feel you're under some obligation to those performing in those roles or if you are doing it because you feel you should conform to the current trend in American society which deems these groups as “special” then I wish to offer you something else to consider.

I am a military retiree (2003) and I have seen this issue from both sides. I have observed and been on the receiving end of special treatment afforded the military since the 1st gulf war. I have been given upgrades on flights, discounts at stores, and I've often been thanked for my service. I have always felt uncomfortable about this treatment. I chose my profession just as anyone else chooses any profession. I wanted to do it for personal reasons and I assure you those reasons were no more selfless or noble than those of anyone who chooses any other profession. I don't believe that I deserved any special treatment or thanks for my military service.

More and more I've seen members of the uniformed services taking advantage of their position to collect perks. They show up in uniform at sporting events and shopping malls and restaurants and I think that many of them feel entitled to the attention afforded them. I am somewhat disgusted by this attitude and I feel it is ample evidence that these members do not in fact belong on a pedestal. There are “special” people in the uniformed services but being a member of one of these groups does not make them all heros. There are special people engaged in all forms of employment and heros only become apparent by circumstance.

Military members, firefighters, or police officers, showing up at Captains Quarters at 7:00 on a Friday night likely know of your policy and are expecting to take advantage of it. I would say that if your offering it to them then there is nothing wrong with them excepting it. I also think that if they are on call because of their profession then they are no more deserving of special treatment than the therapist, doctor, network administrator, or any of dozens of other professions that are on call or are taking dinner while on duty. I would feel very guilty about by-passing people who had waited for a long time. But again I think that society has nurtured a sense of entitlement in our uniformed services.

If such a group wishes to dine at your restaurant while on duty (especially during peak hours) and you wish to accommodate them then I don't feel that it would be too much to ask for them to have a reservation.

I have always instructed that any police, fire, EMS, military, disabled gets priority

Where I in you position, my instructions to staff would be exactly the same.

More and more I've seen members of the uniformed services taking advantage of their position to collect perks. They show up in uniform at sporting events and shopping malls and restaurants and I think that many of them feel entitled to the attention afforded them. I am somewhat disgusted by this attitude and I feel it is ample evidence that these members do not in fact belong on a pedestal. There are “special” people in the uniformed services but being a member of one of these groups does not make them all heros. There are special people engaged in all forms of employment and heros only become apparent by circumstance.

Shane,

I really appreciate your perspective.

I once saw a professional athlete being interviewed concerning why it is important to pay tribute to the military. His answer was something along the lines of, "You know, because of all the stuff they do for us." I grow a little concerned when respect turns into blind hero worship because of some felt obligation.

Cheers.