Positive Rep for an email address!!!

[Hootie]

I want the email address for the CEO of an accounting firm named BDO...

http://www.bdo.com/

Or an email address where I can be heard...not just that shitty contact form.

I need my voice to be heard.

POSITIVE REP for good detective work.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I'm not in the pizza business, and here's an answer to your question: Yes, an automatic gratuity would have prevented Hootie from proving that he deserves to be fired.

I've already conceded that Hootie shouldn't have taken it upon himself to handle the situation himself. My point is that measures could've been taken to prevent this from happening in the first place, and that's on ownership/management. You don't need to be a restaurant owner to realize that.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I've already conceded that Hootie shouldn't have taken it upon himself to handle the situation himself. My point is that measures could've been taken to prevent this from happening in the first place, and that's on ownership/management. You don't need to be a restaurant owner to realize that.

In this situation, here's how I'd act: I'd call a meeting of everyone who was working and I'd offer to make up the shortfall between the 3% they received and the 18% they may have wanted. I'd hand Hootie a check for his share of that amount and anything else I owed him and fire him on the spot in front of everyone else. Then I'd have a brief discussion with the remaining employees about the kind of conduct I expect when they are dealing with my customers.

But it ain't my pizza joint.

[teedubya]

I guess BDO shouldn't have released their fantasy baseball players in Hooties league.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by Donger

You wrote: "Some of us didn't finish our meals because it tasted like shit."

What is the waitress knew that it tasted like shit, and told you that it was good?

I have no way of knowing that. Zen Zero is a pretty popular place in Lawrence. It wasn't deserted and the folks seemed to enjoy what they were eating. To me it tasted like shit. The waitress, like some other patrons, might have thought it to be quite delightful, I don't know. She did her job, she got the tip. The nasty ass shit was left for her to clean up.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by chiefsnorth

Not the restaurant business, but not something totally dissimilar.

I would fire the guy who caused the trouble, offer the company a free meal or a big discount if it were local and workable.

For the employees that night, I'd probably offer them an extra shift the next week or make some other consideration that will help them replace the income. But it's still their job to live with this occasionally in this line of work.

Well, I meant how would you have handled it had Hootie brought the situation to you first. Nevertheless, you answered my question.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by chiefsnorth

Not the restaurant business, but not something totally dissimilar.

I would fire the guy who caused the trouble, offer the company a free meal or a big discount if it were local and workable.

For the employees that night, I'd probably offer them an extra shift the next week or make some other consideration that will help them replace the income. But it's still their job to live with this occasionally in this line of work.

That's a much better and more complete answer than mine.

[chiefsnorth]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Isn't the fail rate on restaruants somewhere in the mid-80s?

As you noted - they're volume businesses with very small profit margins. You take the $500 and subtract actual costs and you're looking at probably $475. Then you consider payroll taxes, etc... and you're looking at what? $400 left over as revenue? That gets you 150 hours of waiter hourly and that waiter hourly gives the server an opportunity to earn an income that far exceeds what he'd be making elsewhere with a similar education.

Or it pays the electric bill that month. Or maybe the renters insurance. Or 1/4 of the mortgage payment.

And I'm supposed to just go 'eh' when some dumbass that doesn't see my monthlys decides to throw a temper tantrum because he excercised poor judgment and screwed his co-workers?

There's just way too much on the line for small business owners, especially restauranteurs, to allow that kind of thing. This isn't firing him for chirping back at a snarky customer (anyone that's worked at a restaurant for long enough has done that); this is taking him to task for using my brand as his badge when dealing with a billion dollar corporation on a vendetta drive that will likely cost me money.

This just doesn't seem close.

Good post.

The failure rate of restaurants is probably high because they are started by people with the same attitudes we have seen on display in this thread.

[Param]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The employees suffered through a sad learning experience, and never again should they not include gratuity on large groups. This is an essential practice and suggests nothing about "tackiness," as Hootie alluded to earlier.

I agree. What is "tacky" about charging mandatory 18% on large groups?

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

In this situation, here's how I'd act: I'd call a meeting of everyone who was working and I'd offer to make up the shortfall between the 3% they received and the 18% they may have wanted. I'd hand Hootie a check for his share of that amount and anything else I owed him and fire him on the spot in front of everyone else. Then I'd have a brief discussion with the remaining employees about the kind of conduct I expect when they are dealing with my customers.

But it ain't my pizza joint.

Fair enough, I was just starting to get the impression that some of you thought the employees should simply accept getting screwed over and be happy they have a job at all.

[Pants]

Originally Posted by chiefsnorth

Good post.

The failure rate of restaurants is probably high because they are started by people with the same attitudes we have seen on display in this thread.

Yeah, seems like you have to be quite a dick and not see your employees as other human beings to be a successful restaurant owner. I couldn't do that. People are people, you should treat them the way you want to be treated.

[2112]

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Fair enough, I was just starting to get the impression that some of you thought the employees should simply accept getting screwed over and be happy they have a job at all.

If theresd a thread about Rep, you can rest assured Bugeater will be posting in it. he knows how important Rep is. lol

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Metrolike

Yeah, seems like you have to be quite a dick and not see your employees as other human beings to be a successful restaurant owner. I couldn't do that. People are people, you should treat them the way you want to be treated.

I'll treat them exactly as I want to be treated: As someone who voluntarily accepted a situation that offers both rewards and consequences. In other words, I'd treat them like adults.

[Param]

Off topic: Hootie, aren't you tired of working at the same pizza & beer joint for 6 years? Man, that seems like a long time at the same restaurant for a young person.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by chiefsnorth

Good post.

The failure rate of restaurants is probably high because they are started by people with the same attitudes we have seen on display in this thread.

Indeed, I'll admit I could never work in or own a restaurant for this very reason. I'm very picky about who I do work for and if I have the slightest indication a customer is going to be a pain in the ass I'll bid the job so high that they won't hire me. I am fortunate to have that luxury in my line of work.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

In this situation, here's how I'd act: I'd call a meeting of everyone who was working and I'd offer to make up the shortfall between the 3% they received and the 18% they may have wanted. I'd hand Hootie a check for his share of that amount and anything else I owed him and fire him on the spot in front of everyone else. Then I'd have a brief discussion with the remaining employees about the kind of conduct I expect when they are dealing with my customers.

But it ain't my pizza joint.

We should totally set up shop somewhere.

Well, maybe - I can't remember if I hate you outside of this thread (though as a Broncos fan, there's a chance I do).

This is exactly what I would do. If you lose a waiter at a pizza joint over it - shit happens. They're fungible.

Oh yeah, and Chiefsnorth is welcome to join us. Deeznuts can come along for comic relief, Frazod for security and Rainman to class up the joint.