It was a good shift today. Was assigned to the floor by my new boss and I believed I did a good job on the bar. No rowdy, over-the-top or incredibly rude customers, save for a group of 7 middle-aged and some slightly younger women who walked in at around half 1 today (we had a booking of 8 at 2; these are not small numbers that can just walk into pubs willy nilly). I left an assigned coworker to deal with them, but I was told later that they were needy, by the boss man himself. Apparently, one of these lovely individuals was discouraged by my facial expressions (we were very, very busy at the time they decided to come to the bar and pay) and this woman passive aggressively told me to 'smile.' When my back was turned. I had no clue of it and carried on as usual. A coworker informed me of this incident, much to my own amusement and disappointment. How pathetic is the human race? Just observe tipsy, entitled women, paying off a tab, separately, at a busy bar. Anyhow, my (new) boss overheard about this incident via said coworker, and he decided to pull me up about it. Long story short, it was a 'warning.' He was polite about it. Reasonable even. He told wit was casual. But he definitely seems to be unnerved by my behavior (???) and he, inevitably, recommended that I smile more
All in all, this impromptu meeting after I'd clocked out of work boiled down to the fact that I don't 'smile' enough. Or talk enough to the customers. I, for one, would live to chat to the customers, all evening if I could. But time constaints and busy, sweaty environments dictate that barstaff si. simply cannot do this. Look. I'm here to sell booze. For minimum wage. I'm treated like crap and talked to like crap by the general public. We all are, almost every shift. I'm not a robot. However, I suppose I am expected to be. I guess the impromptu meeting was a veiled threat. Behav, or get fired.
I get it. Businesses are brutal. Catering is brutal. We work in a place that is busy, sells food and lots of drink. Standards must be met.
I would normally take the advice, without question. I like to believe that I am good at listening to others and empathising.
Listen. Although I did hear what my boss had to say, the whole 'meeting' certainly left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I'm sure the new boss means we'll. He is friendly and asks for advice about things from his staff. He's definitely not conceited.
But here's the thing.
I need to tell someone this. There was a older guy at the bar, with Parkisonsdisease. Initially, I had no clue. He and his friend ordered 4 double gins and slimline tonics. I'll never forget this. The total was £29.30. This poor gentleman had dropped a £20 note behind the bar. We were exceedingly busy at this point in time. I repeated the total bill to this gentleman, more than 5 times at least. I would be lying if I didn't say it was frustrating. Again, I had no clue about this man's condition (his friend helped him pay the rest for the gins.)
I only realised the dropped note on the floor after the payment. I knew it was his. He was with his wife and friends and he was clearly distressed about the loss. I returned this man's £20 and apologised. His lovely wife came up to me and said 'thank you' for being so patient with her husband with Parkinsons. She told me that he was quite slow, and that she would let her husband do as much as possible on his own, because he needs his independence, despite his affliction. I was floored. I apologised profusely and offered the man a free drink. I'm not ashamed to say that the whole thing make me tear up. The friend of the man with Parkisons bought me a drink and basically told me that I was good person and that he couldn't thank me enough for handing back the £20 ❤️ I cried. I sat and drank the drink. I tried to focus on something, but couldn't. I listened to the music and fought back tears.
I just wish that my boss could have seen it. He would know that I do care. I wish that all the big cooperations could have seen what had transpired between me and this man. They would have seen that being a barmaid and a waitress is so much more than just serving drinks and food.
All in all, this impromptu meeting after I'd clocked out of work boiled down to the fact that I don't 'smile' enough. Or talk enough to the customers. I, for one, would live to chat to the customers, all evening if I could. But time constaints and busy, sweaty environments dictate that barstaff si. simply cannot do this. Look. I'm here to sell booze. For minimum wage. I'm treated like crap and talked to like crap by the general public. We all are, almost every shift. I'm not a robot. However, I suppose I am expected to be. I guess the impromptu meeting was a veiled threat. Behav, or get fired.
I get it. Businesses are brutal. Catering is brutal. We work in a place that is busy, sells food and lots of drink. Standards must be met.
I would normally take the advice, without question. I like to believe that I am good at listening to others and empathising.
Listen. Although I did hear what my boss had to say, the whole 'meeting' certainly left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I'm sure the new boss means we'll. He is friendly and asks for advice about things from his staff. He's definitely not conceited.
But here's the thing.
I need to tell someone this. There was a older guy at the bar, with Parkisonsdisease. Initially, I had no clue. He and his friend ordered 4 double gins and slimline tonics. I'll never forget this. The total was £29.30. This poor gentleman had dropped a £20 note behind the bar. We were exceedingly busy at this point in time. I repeated the total bill to this gentleman, more than 5 times at least. I would be lying if I didn't say it was frustrating. Again, I had no clue about this man's condition (his friend helped him pay the rest for the gins.)
I only realised the dropped note on the floor after the payment. I knew it was his. He was with his wife and friends and he was clearly distressed about the loss. I returned this man's £20 and apologised. His lovely wife came up to me and said 'thank you' for being so patient with her husband with Parkinsons. She told me that he was quite slow, and that she would let her husband do as much as possible on his own, because he needs his independence, despite his affliction. I was floored. I apologised profusely and offered the man a free drink. I'm not ashamed to say that the whole thing make me tear up. The friend of the man with Parkisons bought me a drink and basically told me that I was good person and that he couldn't thank me enough for handing back the £20 ❤️ I cried. I sat and drank the drink. I tried to focus on something, but couldn't. I listened to the music and fought back tears.
I just wish that my boss could have seen it. He would know that I do care. I wish that all the big cooperations could have seen what had transpired between me and this man. They would have seen that being a barmaid and a waitress is so much more than just serving drinks and food.
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