Ethics: A complicated sauce. - Page 2

Seems like you're bordering on malcontent...to save your sanity, I would abandon ship and salvage what's left of you.

Rivitman,

I'm sorry but I'm laughing my you-know-what off. Your disappointed in the fact that you only get four or five days off after Christmas. I only wish I could get that many days off - anytime! After reading your many posts it seems clear that you aren't happy where your are at. Tough out the holidays then move on to something better. If you are that stressed at you present position no amount of money is going to make it better.

Bill

Wow! This situation just seems horrible. All those hours and all
the donated special events. I don't know if you should work for
people like that. It sounds like slavery. Perhaps you can find a chefs
position without all those demands. I hope you don't have to work on
Valentines day, Mothers day, or New Years Eve. I am sure there are
plenty of opportunities that fall in the 30 to 35 hours a week range.

Seriously now. I have worked in this field for a long time. I have been married for 11 years and never been home for new years eve or for Thanksgiving. Valentines day or Mothers day for that matter. At times
in my life, I've had to pick up second jobs in addition to a salaried position
at a restaruant, club or hotel. The practical or more physical chefs position
is a young mans job. It will take a toll on your body and mind after a few years. Add in Smoking, Drinking, Lack of Sleep, and Newborn infants at home
and its a cocktail for disaster. Many of us seem to make it through though.
Whether you are a doctor, Lawyer, Chef, Farmer, or anything else, you will
notice that the people that are the best at what they do are especially devoted to their trade, not always stopping at 30 or 40 hours every week.
You just have to decide what your priorities are. I am not saying you shouldn't have a life, just that, other things take precedent at times.
Never squabble about laws, hours, money, etc with you boss. If he is taking
advantage now and knows it, then thats the way it is. Look for another type
of work or another job somewhere else. Some say its conditioning, I say its
just ignoring the pain for that instant gratification you get when you walk out
into that dining room and you are at a point where you are confident that everyone is having the best meal and experience that could possibly come out of the particular facility you are working. It cant always be perfect, but it can be the best you can do on that particular evening. And more times than not it will have taken a little more than 8 hours and it may be on your birthday, anniversary, or on the day of a funeral. One thing I have drawn the line at is the birth of my children or if my children are hurt in anyway. Raise one word about that and all bets are off. No job is that important.
Just my 2,3,or 4 cents.

S

Rivitman,

First, I really love the folks I work for. We are a small business, getting bigger, that does on site catering, we prepare and sell prepared take home foods and in the past year we added a small 45 seat café. Our sales have tripled since we moved to our new location a year ago. Our kitchen work force of 2 full-time cooks and 2 part-time is the same. The full-time cooks (me and Gina) work 10-12 hours a day six days a week (closed on Sunday) all year long and a lot more than that from a week before Thanksgiving though New Years.

Since you asked about vacations and you lost this bet and now owe me a beer, I don't take them as we don't get paid vacations or any other paid benefits other than a really nice Christmas bonus and a husband-and-wife boss that would give you the shirt off their backs. I've had one vacation in almost 10 years and that was six years ago. As for two days in a row off, only when a holiday is on a Monday, maybe three or four times a year, or if I'm sick which is rare, maybe once a year.

To be honest I never think about the bottom line any more, I work hard, do my job and then some, try to get along with everyone, get paid (by the hour), and keep the boss real happy (most of the time). I figure if the bosses are happy then the bottom line is happy!

I would guess my non-cooking duties are a lot different than most, but that is the nature of the beast when you work for a small mom-and-pop type of business. I don't want to work anywhere else.

I used to be somewhat like you, stressed out, worrying about the bottom line and all that other stuff when I realized, hey, it ain't worth it if I have no control over it. So now I come to work, do my job and then some, and if the boss ask me to do something extra, like bartend for on site after hours private parties or put together a telescope for her husband or stuff for her grandkids Christmas presents, I just do it.

For me/us it's more like family than having a boss/owner or GM, because to their kids, their mom and dad, their brothers and sisters, and their 9 grandkids I'm Uncle Bill the grumpy old man :lol: . And that's the main reason I work here, because I'm part of a family!

Take a little friendly advice from Uncle Bill -- Don't go blowing a gasket over a job you aren't happy with, it ain't worth it.

Happy Holidays all! :beer:

Bill

You may very well be disruptive, on a subconscious level...you're only human...you may not even realize you're doing it. I ended a job in this manner, so i feel your pain.

I've been there. 80 hours per week, making a salary. Some days I'd come in at 8 a.m., and wouldn't leave until 2 a.m., without a break all day. Owners who don't care. There is no solution, all you can do is quit, because no amount of persuasion will change people. Many restaurants I quit ended up having to hire 2 or more people to do the work I did myself... I refuse to allow people to take advantage of me, I refuse to make people money and not benefit from it myself. I'm not ever going to complain, I'll just leave.

Rivetman,

I just could not picture myself working for someone like your boss. Now I can see why you are so down at present. What makes my job worth going to ever day is not only do we chat at work, we argue, disagree, we pick on each other, share our good news and bad news, talk LSU, Saints and Cowboys football, we get mad at each other, and at times down right tick each other off for days. Because my bosses work as much as the rest of us, if not more, I have a lot of respect for them. I don't always agree with some of the things they do but its their business. I guess in a way we are a big happy sometimes dysfunctional family. Won't have any other way.

I hope one day you find a place were your passion becomes a joy again!

Bill

Word. Quote for truth!

Rivit,

Start looking for a job Today. Sounds like you can't find any joy in the
work you are doing. Its not quitting, its growing. "Woe is me" only works
for a little while. Buck up and make your life what you want it to be. Set
your course and go! It is only quitting if you do it in an unresponsible way.
Give your months notice and who knows what will happen. They will undoubtably ask "why?" after you do it. Tell them the truth. Tell them that
you have had a wonderful experience with them, but, its time for you to move
on to a more adult position with more responsibility, better compensation, and
more mutual respect in regard to personal time and your schedule. Do it in
an honest gracious way, almost apologetic, almost. Perhaps they will be
flexible, perhaps not, but, either way you will get what you want. Work takes up the majority of your waking adult life, why not make it enjoyable.
Good luck and don't let the door hit you, where the good Lord split you!