The RUMOR mill

[isaac]

Well.... seems like the rumor mill is really cranking at our place. We have an opperation that has around 25 employees and often times the PM and AM team overlap.

Pairs of cooks are in the walk in, dry storage, in the back.. and tons of rumors are flying in this kitchen.

As an Executive Chef, how do you stop this? Of cours,e I plan to have a team meeting with everyone concering stopping the spreading or rumors but how do you do follow up? If so and so is in the walk in with someonoe else, what do you say? What do you do?

[castironchef]

Unless you replace your staff with robots, you'll have a rumor mill.

The question is how big it gets and whether it disrupts operations. THAT'S a huge question.

[Brianthecook]

You cant stop it and should not try to. Its really none of your business what your employees say to each other unless they are talking about you. Dont be a **** or they will get fed up with you and quit in droves.

Only solution would to put duct tape over everyones mouths.

waiters are the worse. Ive mentioned something to someone and the next thing I knew the people 4 restaurants over knew about it.

The realistic solution is to use your political skills and use spin in your favor.

As exec you have to always keep your cool. People say things about you if you do not.

[GhettoRacingKid]

its human nature to like drama or something to talk about.

this ehappens in every business.

but liek it was said does it effect how they work?

What are the rumors about? jsut curious

At the meeting you can put the rumors to rest.

I know here at my job ive started a few rumors and we here some. Ive said that we are moving to tampa or to iowa and a fw other places. its not far from the truth and knowing this company it would happen.

[DC Sunshine]

People are people and as has been said above, they love a bit of innuendo and drama - seems to make the day go faster. Unfortunately its human nature, you'll never stop it. Just don't give them anything to spread rumours about

Maybe they're not working hard enough - a bit of cleaning out the grease traps may work - muahaha - that always worked where I worked when someone caused trouble. Ok so its sounds naive but heck - it worked.

[isaac]

The rumors.... a cook has a crush on me. She has been talking to everyone about it. I am good friends with the pastry chef and one of the lead cooks and they both came up to me many times and told me what this cook has said. Those two cooks have never lied to me. HR sat down with her yesterday and HR told me that she was suprosed to hear that and that she said she never said anything like that.

I really do not care if it is true or not. However, I am tired of hearing this crap. It is effectng productivity in the kitchen.

Maybe I should just not give a crap about it and play it off.

[baddabing]

Isaac,
You might just have to take one for the team SORRY!!!!NO,NO
I will say that I would bet it's somethings else if it's disrupting the kitchen.
baddaboom

[AtlTournant]

Originally Posted by isaac

The rumors.... a cook has a crush on me. She has been talking to everyone about it. I am good friends with the pastry chef and one of the lead cooks and they both came up to me many times and told me what this cook has said. Those two cooks have never lied to me. HR sat down with her yesterday and HR told me that she was suprosed to hear that and that she said she never said anything like that.

I really do not care if it is true or not. However, I am tired of hearing this crap. It is effectng productivity in the kitchen.

Maybe I should just not give a crap about it and play it off.

Sad how some people never get out of high school,huh?

[isaac]

I think it is the classic "I cant find a guy so I will latch on to anyone that corrses my path" sorta thing.

[even stephen]

Don't dignify any of it with an answer......If it concerns you..
or is about you...be honest....let them know that smoke has
been blown up there caboose....and that you genuinely care
about all your cooks and applaud thier efforts and abilities...
Above all, don't waste your time even worrying about it.

[kuan]

Install some cameras and see if it's true.

[shipscook]

It can get bitter, but hopefully it won't come to that. I would say if nobody is really getting hurt, let it pass??
I have seen that happen and it can hurt.
But otherwise, we say, if you haven't heard a rumor by nine, start one!
Take care,
Nan

[isaac]

It has gottan pretty nasty. I was off yesterday and my sous called me and said she put in her two week notice. To be frank, I am ok with that... yes, it will be a pain in the @ss to cover shifts for a little while but it will help the kitchen in the long run.

Now she is spreading rumors all over the kitchen until she leaves. She told me "I am not going to leave without a fight". So more rumors fly. I am in the process of talking with my other cooks and telling them not to pay attention to anything she says.

What I find funny is when my sous talked wit hher yesterday, she told me she was crying. When she talked with HR, she was reported to be crying. She denied ever saying anything but my core cooks... my pastry chef, the lead PM cook and the AM lead cook has never lied to me. What I find funny is if it wasent true, I do not think you would be crying about it.

Any thoughts?

So my sous and I are going to be all up in her business for the next two weeks to ensure less face to face contact she has with other cooks.

[isaac]

It has gottan pretty nasty. I was off yesterday and my sous called me and said she put in her two week notice. To be frank, I am ok with that... yes, it will be a pain in the @ss to cover shifts for a little while but it will help the kitchen in the long run.

Now she is spreading rumors all over the kitchen until she leaves. She told me "I am not going to leave without a fight". So more rumors fly. I am in the process of talking with my other cooks and telling them not to pay attention to anything she says.

What I find funny is when my sous talked wit hher yesterday, she told me she was crying. When she talked with HR, she was reported to be crying. She denied ever saying anything but my core cooks... my pastry chef, the lead PM cook and the AM lead cook has never lied to me. What I find funny is if it wasent true, I do not think you would be crying about it.

Any thoughts?

So my sous and I are going to be all up in her business for the next two weeks to ensure less face to face contact she has with other cooks.

[nowIamone]

I had one gal on staff, that would stir things up constantly, then as it was starting to get out of her control she would get tears in her eyes and say "I just want us to all get along." Huge relief when she was gone.

I have a line that totally unsettles them, and puts an end to someone running up to me saying "She doesn't think you like her, your are always correcting the way she's doing things." (duh??? If I like them I'll let them do it wrong?????) I tell them that I don't have to like someone to work with them, I just want every to perform their job. I'm not here to socialize, I'm here to run a business and I never concern my self with whether or not I like someone, I just watch their performance.

You have a drama queen on your hands, shut it down. Every time someone comes to you with any comment what she has to say, tell them you don't care to hear it, you don't want to particiapate.