tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post3680168419198651783..comments2023-12-25T18:26:54.150-06:00Comments on <center>Red Lobster Blog</center>: Reader Writes In - Stupid Store PoliciesLobster Boyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12915814696810767679noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-82623667642506461262012-06-19T13:48:04.543-05:002012-06-19T13:48:04.543-05:00I am in my 40's and I have worked in every pos...I am in my 40's and I have worked in every possible type of food service, from festival food booths to 5 star establishments to pancake houses and I have to say, without a doubt, Red Lobster is the most excruciating work environment I have ever experienced!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-70188144154295998152011-11-18T12:06:32.097-06:002011-11-18T12:06:32.097-06:00Thank you for being honest in sharing your experie...Thank you for being honest in sharing your experience in working for Red Lobster. I have a friend who worked at Red Lobster for years. He was a great manager, but grew tired of seeing and witnessing first hand unfairness in the work place, Directors black balling managers that they don't like who are trying to advance their careers. One director in particular, Mark would speak with other restaurants off the record. I can not patronize a business that treats its management like this. <br /><br />Ex-GuestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-34277661238370978632010-03-01T05:22:07.656-06:002010-03-01T05:22:07.656-06:00To the original letter writer: Brilliant! I've...To the original letter writer: Brilliant! I've read this post three times in the last 6 months, and I've now linked to it in my blog. It even inspired me to make my own post.<br /><br />To the blog host: you know I love you. Funny and insightful writing, as usual.<br /><br />waiternotesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-18956870956296576512010-01-03T01:18:22.192-06:002010-01-03T01:18:22.192-06:00I worked at Red lobster for 6 years. I was termina...I worked at Red lobster for 6 years. I was terminated this past November. Without sounding like sour grapes, I would like to add something to this blog. I worked my tail off as a server. My customers liked me. My co-workers liked me. In the weeks before the termination, I had one customer ask for a manager to praise my service and another family who asked to see the manager on the way out for the same reason. GSS comments were posted and two praised me by name. I approached a table, welcomed, introduced, promised and held up the Fresh Fish menu. One customer rolled her eyes. I asked if they would like to hear about the FF menu. They said "No!". I was written up and later escorted to the door for asking not telling, despite the customers obvious body language and response. The reason. the manager wanted to show that he could fire a popular, hard-working employee to tighten his grip on the remaining servers. He is a petty micromanager that resented the fact that the servers and customers liked and respected me more than him. I never missed a shift and was always on time. I pre-bussed my own tables and others. I did my side work, cleaned my tables and walked food for others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-25765287337824144282009-08-13T09:47:36.618-05:002009-08-13T09:47:36.618-05:00"In their infinite wisdom, however, our manag..."In their infinite wisdom, however, our management has promoted a policy of fairness at work. "Fairness" in this context, is similar to another concept you may have heard of before: Communism. Don't shit yourself just yet, I'll explain. While most things in America have traditionally been "merit based", particularly in a corporate environment, our management sees things differently. We reward mediocrity every day. If you happen to be bad at your job, our management is incapable of firing you. They just can't bring themselves to do it. If one person chooses not to do any work, they can safely assume that someone else will come and do it for them, with no fear of actual reprisal from a manager. Fifteen guest complaints? No problem! Don’t show up for your scheduled shifts? No problem! Now, on top of all of this, our management will also ensure that those same lazy servers have just as many hours as you. To keep it fair".<br /><br />And there's also the flip side of this "fairness" problem and that's that sometimes the "best producers" are that way because they've become spoiled and get the best tables as well as letting their running sidework and teamwork stuff go because they solely concentrate on waiting on their tables. This is a spiralling sort of thing because other lesser servers are stuck with picking up their slack as well as not being able to concentrate on THEIR tables in the same intensive way that the "producers" are able to get away with. <br /><br />Many top producers do it while holding up their end of the bargain, but far too many either are so cagey or have so much seniority that they're able to get away with murder, leaving "lesser servers" to drag glasses, fill ice bins or whatever.<br /><br />Just thought I'd throw that into the mix.<br /><br />"So You Want To Be A Waiter" blog<br />http://teleburst.wordpress.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-91925415212622695452009-07-29T11:41:43.594-05:002009-07-29T11:41:43.594-05:00Robert,
I can't quibble with your siding the...Robert,<br /> I can't quibble with your siding the other way. For me it's a narrow margin to the side of corporate, but either way it is a pick-your-poison deal. I probably haven't worked in a store as severe as you illustrate (though I've experienced individual brown nosed managers who make their shifts that annoying).<br /><br />As a trainer, I've always used full tray service and the like, so some of the little things that some managers nag about I don't get much grief on because I do it the right way. Even though it is annoying to use a tray to carry a single glass of water, it is so ingrained into me (my robot waiter side) that I do it out of habit any more. There was a time I chaffed more at those sorts of things, but eventually you realize it is swinging at windmills.<br /><br />Lobster BoyLobster Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12915814696810767679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-45129074675866252292009-07-28T13:43:25.191-05:002009-07-28T13:43:25.191-05:00Y'know, I've also worked at both flavors o...Y'know, I've also worked at both flavors of stores: the don't give a damn if your employees are actually working, reward the slovenly, keep the people that don't work and come down hard on those that do sort of store, and the uber-corporate, "we have to do it exactly this way regardless of the specifics of the situation or anything resembling logic" sort of store, and to be honest, I disagree that the latter is the lesser of two evils. I made more money, and hated my job much less, at the "slacker store". Not because I was a slacker myself, I bust my balls every day I go in, but because since I started working at a corporate love haven I've realized how much all of the rules and regulations get in the way of what I'm actually there to do: serve guests, turn tables, and make money. Forcing guests to sit through the four paragraph approach that Darden wants to be read to every table? Smaller tip. Having to split an 8-top with another server when it's dead and you have an empty section? Smaller tip. Being forced to run through the store to find a tray to put a single glass of water on for a woman sitting 2 feet away from the beverage station is waiting? Smaller tip. And so on. Just another POV.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08391372637279056250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-30158828653000208672009-07-24T18:10:24.033-05:002009-07-24T18:10:24.033-05:00HA HA HA, I love you! "I promise to take, swe...HA HA HA, I love you! "I promise to take, sweet, sexy care..." Best line ever.P. F. Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08791200927296310819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-726295786097737542009-06-27T15:52:23.362-05:002009-06-27T15:52:23.362-05:00it's really just too bad that so many jobs are...it's really just too bad that so many jobs are like this anymore. it seems like people are so afraid to just admit that mediocrity and incompetence is unacceptable. <br /><br />love your blog.Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031077110565069776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20025896.post-85017358897266053172009-06-23T19:22:10.405-05:002009-06-23T19:22:10.405-05:00Lol! You're a goofball! I like your blog. I&#...Lol! You're a goofball! I like your blog. I've worked at my major casual dining chain for three years now and they change procedure so often its not even funny! They think we don't know that they have no idea what they're doing. Whatever, just thanking God I have a job in this economy. Keep up the good work! God bless!M.L.Danielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08573703656461190898noreply@blogger.com