Hey guys! New poster here. Sorry if I'm not in exactly the right place, it seemed most appropriate.
So anyway, I'm a cook. I will be my entire life, in some shape or fashion. I'm in a pretty a pretty slow part of my state as far as the food community goes, so I'm used to showing up at the jobs I've had being one of the only individuals that knows what I know and can do what I do (which I've always thought wasn't much to begin with). I'm on my third cooking job now--and I'm 26--and I've had somewhat the same situation that I mentioned above. I'm at the point with this job that I think of myself as a chef and am recognized as a chef by my peers, but as an actual 'title' or 'job description' goes, I'm just a cook.
This is a bit of a problem, for number of reasons. Not only are my actual skills and techniques much more developed than anyone other than my supervisor's, but I also do a better job maintaining and keeping cleaning standards high as well. I'm servsafe certified. I write the menus for the particular crowd I cook for (I work at a country club/retirement home, and cook for 30ish people). I help budget it and cost it out, and try my best to help instruct and teach my other peers certain skills an techniques that might make their jobs easier or at least help them do it better. I also have my associate's degree in Literature with a minor in business computer software, which I understand probably isn't a direct benefit to the Dietary department--but it certainly helps, considering my job responsibilities.
Now, I've recently been noticed by a bunch of higher-ups--mostly other administration, like my supervisor (who is a CDM). Earlier this year, I was given somewhat of a promotion--a 10% bump and a murky addition to my job responsibilities, mainly the menu-writing. Nothing was REALLY added as I was already doing it, but it was a formal way of recognizing my initiative to take that task from my boss. I was also given another 10% increase a few weeks ago, for the same thing. There are things I happen to find in the kitchen that aren't done to what I think are proper standards, and I do them. Again, I guess the second raise was a way of recognizing that. Now, both of these raises and promotions were done without my CDMs approval. He wasn't really part of the discussions, for reasons I haven't quite discerned yet.
Now though, I'm being offered another, third raise--10%. We all sat down and got a better idea of what I do currently and what I would like to do with my current responsibilities. We also talked about adding more, like more of a supervisor role instead of actively cooking 5 days a week. A co-manager with my boss, if you will. They also offered to pay for me to transfer my associates to finish taking a culinary degree and pay for my CDM.
But here's the issue: my CDM doesn't like it. I've spoken with him and he insists that our professional relationship is fine, but that he doesn't feel my performance reflects what the administration department has been offering me. When I ask for reasons why he feels the way he does, he doesn't really give any aside from the fact that I can run 5-8 minutes late pretty consistently. (I'm in the middle of three school zones on the way to work--I'm trying) But if administration felt my tardiness were an issue, I wouldn't be given these promotions.
So I'm left feeling sort of caught in the middle. On one hand, I'm excited. I feel recognized, valued and maybe even excited about what I might be able to do with my job at this place. Not to mention, I'm getting more money and may get back to school for free. But on the other, I feel guilty. Am I going over my bosses head with these things? Is my performance really sub-par, or or does my boss feel threatened? He's by no means a bad supervisor, and I've already stated I didn't want his job. If anything, I feel like these promotions and visions for what the kitchen team can accomplish can make him look pretty good. Advice? Suggestions? I just can't help but wonder if I'm doing the right thing, or if maybe I should find a job elsewhere to escape the drama...
So anyway, I'm a cook. I will be my entire life, in some shape or fashion. I'm in a pretty a pretty slow part of my state as far as the food community goes, so I'm used to showing up at the jobs I've had being one of the only individuals that knows what I know and can do what I do (which I've always thought wasn't much to begin with). I'm on my third cooking job now--and I'm 26--and I've had somewhat the same situation that I mentioned above. I'm at the point with this job that I think of myself as a chef and am recognized as a chef by my peers, but as an actual 'title' or 'job description' goes, I'm just a cook.
This is a bit of a problem, for number of reasons. Not only are my actual skills and techniques much more developed than anyone other than my supervisor's, but I also do a better job maintaining and keeping cleaning standards high as well. I'm servsafe certified. I write the menus for the particular crowd I cook for (I work at a country club/retirement home, and cook for 30ish people). I help budget it and cost it out, and try my best to help instruct and teach my other peers certain skills an techniques that might make their jobs easier or at least help them do it better. I also have my associate's degree in Literature with a minor in business computer software, which I understand probably isn't a direct benefit to the Dietary department--but it certainly helps, considering my job responsibilities.
Now, I've recently been noticed by a bunch of higher-ups--mostly other administration, like my supervisor (who is a CDM). Earlier this year, I was given somewhat of a promotion--a 10% bump and a murky addition to my job responsibilities, mainly the menu-writing. Nothing was REALLY added as I was already doing it, but it was a formal way of recognizing my initiative to take that task from my boss. I was also given another 10% increase a few weeks ago, for the same thing. There are things I happen to find in the kitchen that aren't done to what I think are proper standards, and I do them. Again, I guess the second raise was a way of recognizing that. Now, both of these raises and promotions were done without my CDMs approval. He wasn't really part of the discussions, for reasons I haven't quite discerned yet.
Now though, I'm being offered another, third raise--10%. We all sat down and got a better idea of what I do currently and what I would like to do with my current responsibilities. We also talked about adding more, like more of a supervisor role instead of actively cooking 5 days a week. A co-manager with my boss, if you will. They also offered to pay for me to transfer my associates to finish taking a culinary degree and pay for my CDM.
But here's the issue: my CDM doesn't like it. I've spoken with him and he insists that our professional relationship is fine, but that he doesn't feel my performance reflects what the administration department has been offering me. When I ask for reasons why he feels the way he does, he doesn't really give any aside from the fact that I can run 5-8 minutes late pretty consistently. (I'm in the middle of three school zones on the way to work--I'm trying) But if administration felt my tardiness were an issue, I wouldn't be given these promotions.
So I'm left feeling sort of caught in the middle. On one hand, I'm excited. I feel recognized, valued and maybe even excited about what I might be able to do with my job at this place. Not to mention, I'm getting more money and may get back to school for free. But on the other, I feel guilty. Am I going over my bosses head with these things? Is my performance really sub-par, or or does my boss feel threatened? He's by no means a bad supervisor, and I've already stated I didn't want his job. If anything, I feel like these promotions and visions for what the kitchen team can accomplish can make him look pretty good. Advice? Suggestions? I just can't help but wonder if I'm doing the right thing, or if maybe I should find a job elsewhere to escape the drama...