Chef-Janitor, Chef-HouseKeeper, Chef-Whatever..etc..

[Pastachef]

Thank you again Shroomgirl. We will be closing for the season in two months and I am definitely going to make sure that I am going back into a new situation when we open again. My written job description was three house directors ago. I sure do hope they can find a copy. I'd never thought of that idea By the way, her mops are still in my sinks in spite of my having explained that it was against the law. Every day I take them out and disinfect the sinks, and every day she puts them back! Yuck!

[Pastachef]

By the way...my salary is the LEAST of my problems. I am making more than the people who have come out of cooking school over there.

[Pete]

Shugie, I am sorry. Those comments were not aimed at you. You have a very legitimate gripe about this woman you work with. I just got really peeved at the number of people who responded to your dilemma by relating some of the own problems (many of which I found to be very petty). Shugie, this woman is not a team player and by the sounds of it never will be and on top of that she seems to have it out for you personally. I am sorry to hear that. She has no place working in the kind of environment that you two work in.

[holydiver]

Being respected is not petty. If you had not noticed their is a huge shortage of good workers in this industry why do you think that is?. Why would anyone want to spend 35k on school this industry has a lot to learn.I have washed dishes more nights than I ever wanna know what I'm trying to get the point across is that it is expected. And I do make good money but on salary if your doing everybody elses job it"s not worth it.People in this industry think it is the 1800"s that is why so many go out of bussiness.

[Nick.Shu]

i do apologise W.Debord - there was a slight pute problem and i didnt think that i could alter my profile.

With regards to training, vocation trade training can be provided by any registered provider, somewhat like the british trade system.

Given that, further instruction in a trade above the apprenticeship system is only optional, but if you have 2 ppl applying for a job who commenced their apprenticeship at the same time and had the same experience, but one had gone out to do further studies in order to further their career, who would you employ?

[Pastachef]

Thank you, Pete. I was beginning to worry that I was being petty, while my breaking down body will attest to the fact that I'm the first one to jump into what needs doing with both feet

[W.DeBord]

"Who would I employ?" I would always chose the person who showed the most enthusism and sincere interest in cooking. I've not ever been impressed by anyone based on their culinary education. Actually in my experience those are the kids least likely to remain in this field over time.


I would ask them to tell me what books and magazines they read regularly and quiz them it etc....and a list of questions about their personal thoughts on cooking and baking techinques and styles.


Experience doesn't mean alot either. You can have alot of experience being a bad cook who's set in some really bad work patterns.

I try to judge cooks based on the person behind the uniform.

My best advice, is to down play your education with seasoned professionals, prove who YOU are daily, not where you came from. I think in reality your least likely to get a hand up if you show any kind of attitute based on where you went to school. If it wasen't the school of hard knocks your not a member of the club.

[shroomgirl]

It's hard to recoup when a pattern has been set, but you need support from the administration and job descriptions in writing. It is always best to get that clear from the beginning.....not too late now just harder. Go girl!!! There are other places that would love to have you, take care of yourself so you can take care of them....if that means having an asst. then ask for it, at your age and health you do not need to disable yourself, it does NOBODY ANY GOOD>
I'd want you cooking for me, Do what you do best and ask for accomidations you need to do that...you deserve it, and it's ok to ask for it....all they can say is no.

[Pastachef]

I've got an interesting situation going on here now. I emailed my boss a month ago and asked for Easter Monday off. In ten years I've never had a Monday off because of the formal dinners on Monday nights. Well, on Easter Monday I have noticed that not a lot of the girls attend the dinner because they haven't come back from home yet, so it shouldn't be any big deal for me to arrange something. My boss answered all of my other emails but totally ignored that one. I assume this means I can't have it off. Yesterday the housekeeper informed me that she is going to ask for Easter Monday off. She's had several Mondays off a year, even though when we come in on Monday mornings the house is a wreck from the weekend. It is next to impossible for me to do her housework on a Monday with my big thing going on. But I do it, flying around at an inhuman pace. If she gets the day off I think I will quit then and there.

[shroomgirl]

I'd be looking for other employment then....Call and connect with your supervisor, e-mails are not always recieved.
At that time address job descriptions and what is required of you.

[Pastachef]

She keeps the answering machine on at home and at work, so I sent another email. No response. The only one she responded to was the one where I told her I walked her dog for her because she never gets home to do it. It's a puppy and the girls and I take turns walking it. See what I mean about the house directors evading work issues? There is no one to go to! The last three sets have been like this. We're pretty much on our own.

[Nick.Shu]

shugie, given that im not well versed in the structure of these houses im not sure that this will help, i will however offer this suggestion:

If there is no communication occuring with the house director, then perhaps it would be prudent to take the matter to the next level.

Who is the lext link the management chain. It may be in your interest to take your concerns to the next level.

[Pastachef]

Thank you Nick, but we have never know or been allowed to know who is higher up. If that were the case I would have gone to them long ago. It's a strange situation. Our house director may or may not stay for one more semester. Then I will get to meet whoever is taking over her job. This time I will get EVERYTHING in writing. I had one that was so forgetful several years ago, that I had to buy a pocket sized tape player to prove things that she said. I don't know where they get these people

[Pastachef]

I'd like to mention that I made it known that when this house director leaves her position I would love to be the new house director. Everyone LOVED the idea. If that happens, SOMEBODY IS IN BIG TROUBLE Things DO have a way of righting themselves eventually. If this should happen I could fill in for the absent cook OR housekeeper, and would love doing it. That house would never be a mess, even on weekends because I like to keep busy and I love a challenge. No house director has ever been willing to go this far. But to me, it's always been more than a job and a paycheck. It's a calling. I love taking care of these kids. It would work miracles for the budget for me to be able to cook on weekends. They order out on weekends.

my god i cant belive what im reading i am new to the fourm but have worked my way up in this business from to go person (baging to go orders) to being a owner i have ben in kitchens for over 18 yr but as a owner i do the trash daily i do bathrooms daily THAT IS THE BUSINESS WE ARE IN IT FORE THE LOVE OF THE BUSINESS IF NOT OR IF IT TO HOT IN THE KITCHEN GO DO A 9-5 if it needs to be done do it for the guests