3/31/10

Addition

So, meeting. There was lots of fake smiling and forced happiness. There was a list of rules that no-one is going to be happy to follow since Boss won't follow them. Cursing, disrespect and standing around doing nothing are all against the rules. All of these are things Boss are guilty of. The issue of music acceptable for playing in the store was raised. Yeah, the idea that foul language is not customer friendly should be a simple concept but there are a bunch that don't get that. It was obvious that Boss was NOT happy about the fact that the store failed an inspection by the big boss #2. The store is in danger of being shut down due to sorry sales and horrid loss of food. The biggest problem the store has is that almost no one working there gives a crap about the store. Why should we when the management is not actually managing. There is too much trying to fix things without understanding how they got broken. Can't expect things to stay fixed if the problems aren't addressed. Yeah, too much confusion and stupidity to be comprehensive about right now. I will try for more tomorrow.
Comments and questions welcome if positive thoughts direct you.

Hipocracy and harpies

There was a meeting tonight. The meeting was full of humor and idiocy. I will make a more detailed and amusing post as soon as the filtration process has been aided by coffee. Big note, Boss said a couple of things that made me nearly walk out due to frustration with incompetence and dis-honesty.
More upon reflection.

3/30/10

Disrespect and disinfectant

Subject one is what constitutes dis-respect. Does an environment where innuendo and connotation of sexual activity count as disrespect when everyone involved accepts it? Does receiving a dressing down in front of not only another co-worker but a potential customer count? My opinion is that the second is a definite yes where as the first is more fuzzy. Smiley and Luck were in a position to both be addressed in front of a customer in front of a friend who is not an employee. This would make that friend a potential customer right? Boss was upset and took this out in an inappropriate fashion. Profanity was used. My issue comes in when there is posted in the store a message to the staff that disrespect is cause for loss of hours. If Boss can be disrespectful and not have consequences then why should the rest of the staff follow the rules as they are posted? There are rules for dress and rules for behavior. There are rules that say if you do not show up or call in you will be disciplined. These rules need to apply to all or they are not enforceable for any. Arbitrary and contradictory application will lead to dissension and lack of efficiency.
There are many things to be cleaned and there are no written guidelines for how to do so. I have tried to follow the flow of employee information and do what is said to be correct but in every other food service place I have worked for there are different cleaners for different jobs. My pet peeve of the moment in this area is Stainless Steel cleaner. While a serious heavy duty cleaner may be used on almost any surface there are reasons why stainless has its own type. I have never seen a specific stainless cleaner used on any of the surfaces in the store and it bugs me. I have asked for it on several occasions and have been brushed off. When I first started working there I tried to find that all important book, the MSDS, and it took 2 weeks before it surfaced. There is supposed to be a set of cleaners applicable to all types of cleaning yet...
There was an inspection by one of the top people involved in this chain. This store got a zero. I wonder why...
Now I get to worry if the job I work so hard to keep will even be there since the store might have to close due to bad inspections and poor sales and labor ratings.

Ranting at the top of my lungs.
More in my head but it is still too unformed as of yet.
Comments are welcome if positive thoughts guide you.

3/26/10

The idea of shift management

When you are trying to manage a group of people the live mainly from tips it is not a good idea in my opinion to have 5 people on a 3 person shift. The deliveries are not going to pile up that much and when you only get sent out 6 times in 3 hours the odds of tips adding up are much lower. The average person in this area has no idea that the delivery charge that has been added to their bill is going to pay the company's insurance on the driver and not to the tip. When you have 5 people taking deliveries on a slow night none of them is going to do well.

I get about 50 cents per delivery to pay for gas and maintenance on the vehicle I drive. As a delivery driver I hope for 15 percent but usually get 10 or less. When someone tells me to keep the change and it is 25 cents or less I get a little grumpy. When I take three deliveries in a row and get stiffed on all three, this too adds to the grumpiness. When your next delivery of food comes to your door and the person handing it to you does so with a smile and says "enjoy your meal" please consider that many people do NOT tip at all.

I try to make sure that I smile and am pleasant to everyone, even those that do not tip. I am interested in repeat business. I also do not want to ask a person the silly question "did you forget something?" or "can I have my tip now please?" though I may feel like doing so. I also do not want to be stuck inside the store doing nothing while waiting for the next order to come on screen.

As a driver I do other things as well. Learning how to make the pizzas so I can help when the large orders come in. Catching the pizza as it comes out of the oven. Cutting them and putting them in their boxes. Dishes, mopping, trash duty and cleaning everything that comes in contact with the food or people. Some of the many things that have to be done. I would rather be driving.

On top of all this I have developed a habit of talking to people that I have delivered to in the car on the way back to the store. All the things I would love to have said come out then. It isn't road rage, just verbal venting.

More when I have the time and brain power.

3/25/10

Direction change.

A new idea for the use of this blogging space.
I have had a few things change since last I posted. Firstly I am now employed at a place that makes and delivers round flat food-like objects that some call "Pizza" as a delivery person. I both love and hate this job which I hope to get into in more detail later.
Secondly, there were some mysterious objects found in my lower lady parts. They were removed and found to not be life threatening but... Due to other issues I will soon be having a large portion of those parts removed for future sanity.
My thought is to try to use this space for the amusement of others. Specifically those that appreciate my sense of humor in times or great annoyance and frustration.

To begin at the beginning... not the middle or the end.
I deliver pizza for one of 2 pizza places in my tiny town. I got the job through curiosity and coincidence. Curiosity at whether I could hold down a job in food service after 9 years of being an almost completely stay at home mom. Coincidence comes into play when an old friend of mine happens to be friends with the new manager of this store.
I applied for the position before the first surgery and had to postpone starting work until I had recovered. Once I started I was informed by Boss that Shorty was going to be "training" me. This training was basically to go on one delivery with her and then get sent out among the sharks. Since that time I have done fairly well in finding out what I need to know by observation and asking lots of questions. Pinkie and Ghost were instrumental in giving me information and demonstration of things I needed to be able to do. All this time passes and I become an official driver and not a probationary employee. Now I get to see all the DRAMA that comes with this type of job. I have been offered drugs, alcohol and other things not only as tips for delivering but as favors from other employees. So far I just find it amusing. I feel kind of like I went back to High-school. I love the fact that I am back in a job where service is the key. I hate the fact that I seem to have developed a dislike for the people in the food service industry.

More when I have the time
Comments and questions welcome if positive thoughts motivate.

 
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