Welcome to the Louisville Restaurants Forum, a civil place for the intelligent discussion of the local restaurant scene and just about any other topic related to food and drink in and around Louisville.
User avatar
User

Shawn Vest

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

966

Joined

Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:10 pm

Location

850 main street, charlestown, indiana

most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Shawn Vest » Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:17 pm

just curious and i thought this would be reasonably entertaining
(as far as hearing the stories, not that the loss of one's job is entertaining; although you've all probably read my story of "being let go" which is/was pretty entertaining)

as far as employers
What is the most common reason for which you have had to fire an employee?
What are the most ridiculous things that an employee has done that resulted in their firing?

no names please (anonymity of the employees)

now employees

What is the most common (or most entertaining) reason you've quit or been fired from a position?

again, no names please (anonymity of the business)


we've only had to "fire" a couple people, based on performance issues, nothing really funny happens at the pizza company


in my experience, i've seen more employees let go for not showing up on time or not showing up at all than anything else

anyway
lets see where this goes

shawn


my funniest story
i quit a local newspaper service after they sent me into an area that was under lockdown during a hostage crisis to retrieve some newspapers, because the paper boy wasn't able to leave his house,
so i somehow make it to the house just before the entire neighborhood is surrounded by police and swat teams and thus i was also stuck in the house until the situation was resolved, then my boss wanted me to deliver the papers - not a chance (i had worked there for a couple years too)
Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza. D Barry
www.ctownpizzaco.com
850 MAIN 812-256-2699
no avatar
User

Chris Howerton

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

112

Joined

Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:44 pm

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Chris Howerton » Tue Aug 26, 2008 11:53 pm

well, you dont have to let them go when they ask where the bathroom is and disappear!, thinking the bathroom is by the dumpster, hurling hams over the fence and denying it, getting caught forging hours as an intern, placing steaks on the highest shelf possible near the grill where pots and pans are stored :lol: i think we have seen it all but im waiting to see what this thread brings!
User avatar
User

Todd Pharris

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

255

Joined

Fri Mar 02, 2007 6:59 pm

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Todd Pharris » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:42 am

We had a guy who, without saying a word, went outside, talked to one of our departing customers for a minute, got in the customer's car, and drove away with him. He called about an hour later and asked for his job back.
User avatar
User

Mark Head

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

1729

Joined

Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:44 pm

Location

Prospect

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Mark Head » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:25 am

Not showing up or chronic tardiness are the most common.

We let a young female go a few years ago when one of the partners went by the office after hours to pick up something. To his surprise he found a new young employee giving her boyfriend a personal "tour" of the office after-hours.
User avatar
User

David Clancy

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

730

Joined

Thu Mar 01, 2007 12:09 pm

Location

A couch in Andy's house.

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by David Clancy » Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:30 am

I once termed an employee for calling off on a Saturday night......."because her hair was a mess"......(she was a dishwasher and I could sorta buy it except that at that job...we all wore hats!))
David Clancy
Fabulous Old Louisville
(Is this your homework Larry?)
User avatar
User

John Hagan

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

1416

Joined

Wed Aug 29, 2007 6:38 pm

Location

SPENCER CO. Lake Wazzapamani

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by John Hagan » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:31 am

I took a summer job in high school spraying a mosquito killing liquid for the city I lived in. One day I asked my boss for a new pair of gloves. He told me that I didnt need them as the chemical was totally safe. I went out to fill my truck with this stuff and spilled a little on the pavement. He leaned out of the office window and yelled at me "Dont be so clumsy,that stuff will burn a hole in the pavement!". Needless to say I left on the spot.
The tall one wants white toast, dry, with nothin' on it.
And the short one wants four whole fried chickens, and a Coke.
no avatar
User

Matt F

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

235

Joined

Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:51 pm

Location

Louisville

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Matt F » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:46 am

Ive seen/heard so many things. Eventually they will make it to my book.

-one server telling a beligerent guest on Derby Eve, "It's not my fault you had a bad day at the track."

-more than several relatives who passed away... more rhan once.

-one sleazy server used pictures of other people's kids to solicit sympathy tips.

-highly organized tip-fraud schemes that ALWAYS crumble like pyramid markets.

-calling in hung over on Derby Night because 'I just wanted to be honest.'

-crippling, obvious-at-the-table drug/alcohol issues.

-I've seen a few dishwashers take out the trash and never come back.


On the flipside, I've heard/seen some of the most irrational, megalomaniacal anti-reasons for terminating employees.

-telling someone THAT they were seen stealing from the walk-in, then telling the next person to go that THEY were seen taking the SAME stuff.

-i know someone that got fired for NOT getting drugs for their boss.

I even told one boss that I had disagreements with to fire me if he wanted, and he said 'I'm not going to fire you, I'm going to schedule you one shift a week so you can't get unemployment.' needless to say, my schedule wasn't affected, and my 2 weeks notice was submitted a few months later.
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy

~Tom Waits
User avatar
User

Bret Donaldson

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

122

Joined

Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:14 am

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Bret Donaldson » Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:20 pm

Seems most of mine have been no call/no shows - a real rash of them in the last few months. One lucky cook came to work, took a bunch of morphine, and wandered away in the midst of dinner rush. His car remained in the parking lot for a day or two, and he was seen later that night stumbling down Brownsboro Road.

The most entertaining, though, came last winter, when an employee came (uninvited) to my home after what must have been a hell of an evening in the bars He proceeded to walk into my landlord's apartment, and graphically explain all the ways he wanted to, ahem, give her pleasure. She called me, and I got him outside, where he proceeded to cuss me in every possible way. When he got very physically threatening, I went back inside, and called the police. Enough was enough.

They led him away, and the next day, I get a phone call from him..."Dude, I don't know what happened last night, but I woke up in jail!" The poor guy had no memory of his actions the night before, and I was happy to let him know what he had done. Needless to say, he is no longer working for said organization. Not very fun at the time, but it does make a good story now.
Bret Donaldson
Owner

Stellar Craft Catering &
Stellar Event Managament
no avatar
User

Mike Hardin

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

331

Joined

Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:24 am

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Mike Hardin » Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:49 pm

Matt F wrote:On the flipside, I've heard/seen some of the most irrational, megalomaniacal anti-reasons for terminating employees.


I worked at an upscale seafood restaurant in the late 80s (that is now just a fish sandwich shop) and one night I was bored and went to talk to my co-workers. When I got there, no one had bothered to show up so I jumped in and got them through the dinner rush (I was prepping all the fish for the kitchen). When the rush was over, I took off my apron and started to leave. The owner was furious and told me, "You're not finished. There's still an hour to go and then cleaning!"
I guess helping him out wasn't enough. I handed him my apron and told him he could do it.

I wasn't fired but quit when he decided to try to pay people monthly instead of bi-weekly.
User avatar
User

RonnieD

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

1931

Joined

Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:09 pm

Location

The rolling acres of Henry County

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by RonnieD » Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:48 pm

most common reasons: no-show and/or poor attitude.

Odd reason: I had one kid fashion a crack pipe out of a red bull can and use it in the bathroom on break, then hid it under the sink. The kid finished his shift obviously messed up, and we found the make-shift crack pipe that night when FOH cleaned the restrooms. The next day he was asked if it was his or if he knew anything about it. (Best part -->) Dude said, "No, its not mine, but what did you do with it? You didn't throw it away did you!" He was relieved of duty that afternoon.
Ronnie Dingman
Chef Consultant
The Farm
La Center, KY
User avatar
User

Suzi Bernert

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

1002

Joined

Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:08 pm

Location

Louisville, KY

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Suzi Bernert » Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:47 pm

When I first moved here, I took a job as a cook in an un-named nursing home in Indiana. I had cooked at a large hospital and was assured this would be similar on a smaller scale. The first day, it was made clear to me that the food was all set up for XX residents and no more was available, no waste is tolerated. No problem, been there, done that. It quickly became evident they had not taken the dietary requirements of some patients into account and we ran out of the meat course for the last few dining room patrons. They had me put bologna on their plates. The next day it happened again and the third day I quit and called the nursing home ombudsman for Indiana.

Lesson learned: If you end up in a nursing home while you can still walk, RUN to dinner.
Retired from LMEMS
Co-Founder and House Mother
Berndows Enterprise
"Time to eat?"
User avatar
User

Jessica H

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

297

Joined

Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:25 pm

Location

Crescent Hill

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Jessica H » Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:10 pm

I had an employee walk out when she was politely asked to clean up a pile of coffee grinds that she had spilled all over the floor. I guess she was having a rough day.
no avatar
User

Matthew D

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

1347

Joined

Sun Jun 22, 2008 11:22 am

Location

No Longer Old Louisville

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Matthew D » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:14 am

This story, which disparages a chain (without specifically naming it) should please those people who don't like chains...

I've mentioned once before one this forum that I worked out a locally owned(at least I think it still is) regional chain when I graduated college (that's what two liberal arts degrees gets you!*). I was working just about every shift of the week, as I needed the cash, was in a long distance relationship, didn't have much else to do at the time, and I needed the cash. When I was hired, the manager said, "You are overqualified and won't make it here, but I don't really have much to lose by hiring you." That was about 6 months before this incident.

So, local chain (casual dining) was implementing a food server system that involved hand-held POSIs (however you spell that). I was a server on the floor the night this happened. Had a rather unruly section that was not behaving itself in general, mostly due to poor service relating to the roll-out of this poorly-planed, (but long-term financially beneficial) new handheld system. I was about done with this job and most people new it. One table was literally pushing me over the edge that very night. Not the most cultured family (being friendly here), and they were none-to-happy that the "free" munchies were not being refilled on a regular basis. At one point one of the sons (there were three unruly ones total), started jumping up and down on the bench, yelling: "Get me more chips!" Over, and over, and over...

I walked over to the table and had the following conversation(paraphrased):

Me: Sir, could you please calm your son down, as he is disturbing the other guests.
Father: It seems like you could calm him down if you did your job and went and got more chips.
Me : (instead of explaining the new "system," as that was not going to get me anywhere): It seems to me that you could tell him to calm down regardless of whether or not I got him chips.

At this point, the kid is in my face yelling at me.

Me: Sir, either you calm your son down or I will do it for you.
Him: Are you telling me how to parent me child?
Me: That's one way to see it.
Him: Son, I think we need to take this to the parking lot.
Me: I'd love to. You've caught me on completely the wrong day. Let's do this.

At this point, I'm tackled/drug away by the corporate regional manager, who had come across this little disagreement. In talking out our differences in the take-out room, we almost come to blows ourselves. Amazingly, I'm not fired on the spot. Reasons give includes "I would have accepted his offer too" and the "we should fire you, but we need you since everyone else is leaving." I was given a three-day "cooling off" period, i.e. suspension.

When I came back three days later, I was in street clothes. Told them I was quitting and told them where to send my paycheck. Before I could leave, two managers, the GM, and the RM all tried to convince me to stay. Seems if you have half a brain and are willing to work 80 hours a week (kind of explains the half a brain idea, I guess. Man was I a sucker), you can get away with anything in corporate dining.

* Not meant as a cheap shot at the serving business, which I greatly respect due to my non-success at it. Just a shot at a certain unnamed chain.
Thinks the frosty mug is the low point in American history.
User avatar
User

Dan Thomas

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

2466

Joined

Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:19 am

Location

Sunny Forest Hills

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by Dan Thomas » Fri Aug 29, 2008 6:07 am

That tale reminds me of someone I know that tried to wait tables for a very short spell...

His demise came about the first day when a mother asked for some crackers for their child and he replied...

"Would you like for me to hand them to your kid or should I just go ahead and grind them into the carpet?"....
Dan Thomas
Operator Specialist
Waypoint

dthomas@awpwaypoint.com

"People who aren't interested in food seem rather dry, unloving and don't have a real gusto for life."
Julia Child
no avatar
User

S Cruz

{ RANK }

Foodie

Posts

72

Joined

Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:42 pm

Location

401 East Main St. @ Slugger Field

Re: most common reason for letting an employee go?

by S Cruz » Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:35 am

When I managed a local pizza delivery chain in Bloomington, IN...

I could'nt fire the guy, but I told the customer we would discipline him (I did nothing but laugh, this is rich).

So I was swing manager for this local chain while I was in college. We had five stores at the time. 4 in Bloomington and 1 in Elletsville (RURAL!!). I was scheduled to run the the Elletsville store with little help and 2 drivers. Well as it always goes we got slammed and times stretched from 30 mins to 45. This was not the norm as we were a '30 min or less' place. We were doing pretty well, the pizzas were rolling out and getting delivered within the 45 min time frame as the customer complaints were to a minimum.
Now if any of you have worked in pizza delivery or any food delivery for that matter you will know that there are a certain type of customer out there with absolutely no social sense whatsoever. You will rarely see these people in public as they have no reason to venture out of their cave. They often look angry and confused when you do come across them and you will shield your kids from them in public. They are the ones that will call if the delivery has not arrived within 22 mins and they were quoted 30. They will often call and say the pizza they recieved is cold and request a warm one (only when the driver arrives they have consumed all but 2 pieces of that terrible cold pizza). They will fish for a free 'anything' coupon when harboring a complaint. They are not gracious in any manner when you go out of your way to please them even beyond the realm of rational compensation for a bad experience (can't I get a couple more of those free 'anything' coupons...this happens every time we order!!) They will dash your dreams by telling you that they are taking their business elsewhere, only to return the in the next couple of days for an order and more complaints. They will tell you they know the CEO and are gonna call him and let him know what his business has become. Finally, to the driver, they always tip less than paper money (for a 5 mile drive into the wooded darkness and abuse to follow- this is pretty weak). So you get the idea what we are dealing with.
So things are rolling...when HE orders!!! I knew what we were in for so I bumped him up on the make line (long drive and endless complaints). The pizza was made by myself personally. I did a helluva job on that one, I didnt want to hear it that night. The pizza comes out of the oven and the driver makes the call to the customer that its on its way (informing the customer that he will be there in 15 mins). Well, about 20 mins after the driver has left I get forwarded a phone call by an irrate (aforementioned) customer claiming that one of our delivery drivers is crazy and on drugs and threw a pizza on his roof. You can imagine as a manager knowing his coworkers this is hard to believe or even figure out with the whole story. So I told the gentleman that we would mail him some free 'anything' coupons and I was deeply sorry for the experience and that I would personally rectify the situation with the driver.

So here's the real story... from the driver

Driver: 'knock, knock' "Pizza Express..."
Customer: "Its about damn time! Express my ass! You said 15 mins, that was 20 mins ago!! This better be free!! You guys are pathetic, I hope you lose your job!"
Driver: "Im sorry sir, by my watch its only been 17 mins. I apoligize, I got caught up at a light."
Driver: "Its gonna come to $11.90"

(While verbally abusing the driver, the customer hands the driver $12.00 and waits hand out for change)

Driver: "10 cents change, Thank you"
Customer: "Wait here's a tip" (flips dime at Drivers face) "Work harder next time and youll get more"
Driver: (Yanks pizza from customers hands) "You know what asshole, This ones on the house!" (steps back and throws pizza on to Customers roof and flings $11.90 back at Customer)
Customer: (Threatens to kill driver, runs inside...maybe to retrieve weapon?)

The driver told me after he flung the pizza on the roof and money at the customer he ran, he said he didnt want to get shot.

I took the drivers story as the truth as he had worked for us for years and was a pretty stand up guy. I did nothing in the way of discipline, as I kinda felt this was one of times when I just needed to turn the other way. The driver finished out his shift happier than I had ever seen him. Not only that he delivered more product that night than usual. And he never called in when I managed. I still laugh thinking about what that guys face must have looked like when the table turned.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry.
Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 42 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign