Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

There can be only One.

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • There can be only One.

    I have been working in the restaurant industry for 22 years now. In all that time, I don't think I have ever seen one person get an entire staff against them almost immediately. Perhaps not even a new manager trying to prove themselves, but definitely not a regular staff member. Until now.

    Meet The One.

    The One started at The Bar a few weeks ago, and almost immediately, pissed everyone off. And by everyone, I mean EVERYONE. Even the nice people who normally don't get pissed off. Hell, his nickname of "The One" was given to him by one of the nicest people I work with, Nice Guy Eddie. Eddie gets ticked off by just about no one, but early on, he realized what an utter ass The One was, and considering how much everyone else hated him, came out with the classic nickname. As in, "Who are you working with tonight?" "The One." "Oh, gee, sorry about that."

    So what made The One so horrible? Let's see, first of all, he is arrogant. And yeah, I know, there are a lot of arrogant people out there. I have worked with many. But at least usually, the arrogant people can back it up by being competent.

    The One is incompetent. My niece could probably wait tables around him. He is not that quick, not that efficient, and not always good with guests. Sure, a lot of people are incompetent. But at least a lot of them make an effort to do better.

    Not The One. He is lazy, and really makes little effort to do any work. I often will help out coworkers, and clean up their section if I am not busy, to help them out, but The One so irritated me on so many levels, that I stopped doing that, other than to make The Bar look decent. Hell, one time when I was bartending on the roof deck with him and another server, while we were cleaning up our various stations from the night, he was flirting with his last table. And flirting for a long time. Fine, whatever. But then he came over to us and asked if either of us had cleaned his tables, none of which he had wiped yet. No, we hadn't.

    How about punctual? Well, The One often claimed he was "never late." This phrase first came out when he was almost an hour late on one of his first days because he had locked his keys in his car. Despite the fact that, by his own admission, with his car that was virtually impossible. So, did this guy, who was "never late," call when he realized he would, in fact, be late to one of his first shifts at his new job? No, of course not. We didn't even know he was live until the manager called him and he explained what was happening.

    But that was the only time, right? After all, he was "never late." Well, let's see. I guess he was never late, if you define being on time as being in the building, eating, reading the paper, and not even being dressed in uniform and on the floor until 10-15 minutes into his shift.

    Certainly he must have kissed the managers' asses but good, right? Well, no. Actually, he kind of flaunted the rules to a ridiculous extent at times. For instance, oftentimes staff will come in earlier than their scheduled time, order food at the bar, eat it, clock in, and have the bartender transfer their food order to them. That is pretty much standard, no big deal. One day, he came in early, clocked in, ordered his own food, and sat down at the bar and started eating it. While on the clock. And I am not talking about working his shift and eating in the back while he was working. I am talking about sitting at the bar, out of uniform, reading the paper, and eating his dinner, all while on the clock. Needless to say, when this was pointed out to the manager, his actions were "corrected."

    You would think this would be it. Sadly, you would be mistaken. After all, this is The One. He is also a racist sexist asshole. More than once, he said to me about a table something to the effect of "fucking beaners" or "fucking spics." I don't take that shit lightly, and was somewhat offended. Another time, referring to one of my friends, he asked me "is she that fat bitch?" I gave him the Icey Glare of Death and told him to watch his fucking mouth when he was talking about my friends. He could not understand what my problem was.

    He is a liar. His story is that he is down here in Key West, working at a restaurant, but he is also a consultant to big businesses up in New York City, and has a ridiculously priced apartment up there that he has to keep to keep his consulting business going. I wouldn't consult this guy on how to wipe my ass....I have serious trouble believing business honchos would seek his "expertise" in any way. The entire staff was actually in complete agreement on not believing this story to be a complete load of bullshit.

    He may be a thief, too. On a couple of occasions, management thought he might be drinking on the job, and on at least one occasion, he came to the bartender to ask for drinks that the bartender did not have a ticket for. Figuring he'd ring it in shortly, the bartender gave him said drinks, but knowing what an ass The One is, said bartender (not me) alerted the manager to the situation, and of course, The One didn't have said drinks on any of his tabs. Claimed he had "forgotten" to ring them in. This was interesting to the manager, who believed they smelled alcohol on The One's breath. (NOTE: Yes, we can drink while working at The Bar from time to time, but that is only with the manager's approval, and generally speaking, that is when a customer or the management is buying us said drinks. Stealing drinks is not considered to be quite in line with the above policy.)

    How bad was this guy? Well, on a shift he had during his first week, another bartender came up to me and said, "I swear I'm going to kill that fucker in his sleep." I looked at her, laughed, and said, "Well, for once we agree on something....but I wouldn't wait until he was asleep!" On more than one occasion, staff would, while checking their schedule, look at not only the times but also to see if they were working with The One. I myself would note it in my phone where I enter my work schedule. This was the only guy we would do this with. At one point one of the staff asked a manager, "How did this guy slip through the interview process?!?!?!" The manager couldn't answer, but chances are he gave a good interview. Hell, the very FIRST shift I worked with him, he seemed fine enough.

    And it's not like the guy's stupid. I think we could have all given him some leeway if he was just a blithering idiot. He's reasonably intelligent. He is just a lazy, incompetent, arrogant, boorish asshole.

    So, why hasn't management fired The One? Well, The One fired himself. A few days ago, while bartending, I answered the phone, and it was The One.

    THE ONE: "Hey Jester, can you tell Rockin' Manager that I am going to be eight minutes late, but I am on my way?"
    JESTER: "Wait, aren't you the guy that said you are never late?" (I couldn't resist!)
    THE ONE: "Oh, you're gonna be like that, huh?"
    JESTER: "Like what? Just repeating your own words. So, did you want me to tell Rockin Manager this, or would you like to hold while I find her?"
    THE ONE: "Oh, you want to play games with me?"
    JESTER: "Um, not playing games. It was a simple question."
    THE ONE: "I'll be there in a few minutes. Just calling to let her know I'm on my way."

    I had no idea that it was already time for him to be there. I really didn't know what time it was at all, so for once, I wasn't being a smartass. Well, other than the part about throwing his own words back in his face. Interestingly, The One sounded somewhat inebriated to me over the phone. So of course I passed along the message to Rockin' Manager, and also told her my impression of The One as possibly being drunk.

    Well, when The One finally arrived (about 20 minutes late, not 8), he seemed a bit out of it, either drunk or on drugs, and it was not just my opinion. He asked me for some drinks he had "rung in," but knowing his reputation, I told him I hadn't gotten a ticket yet. (I hadn't.) He stormed off, apparently to see why his tickets weren't coming through.

    Well, it seems the genius had clocked in under training mode, so of course everything he had rung in had gone nowhere, as training tickets don't "exist," they are just within the system for training purposes, so new staff can practice ringing stuff in, closing out tickets, etc. This despite the fact that he had been there a month or so and such a thing should have been relatively obvious.

    Anyway, apparently he starts freaking out. Rockin' Manager tries to help him and fix the problem (it's not like we were monstrously busy), but he was having issues. According to her, he seemed fucked up on something, either drunk or on drugs. Apparently it all finally got to him, as he threw up his hands and started heading for the door. Rockin' Manager was having none of this. "Don't you dare! Get back here! If you want to walk out, that's one thing, but you are NOT walking out of here without telling me what each table ordered!" He gave her said specifics, and then walked out of our lives, essentially firing himself.

    All agreed that the next few days seemed more peaceful, tranquil, quiet, and stress-free with The One no longer a part of our lives. None of the staff have seen or heard from The One since, and frankly, we are all much happier that way. In all of our collective times in the industry, not one of us can ever remember a single person that so completely turned an entire staff against them so completely. That, my friends, takes talent.

    That takes The One.

    "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
    Still A Customer."


  • #2
    Just one word..............DAMN


    Off Topic. I just recently found a training mode section on our program at work. No one else knew about it.
    Under The Moon Paranormal Research
    San Joaquin Valley Paranormal Research

    Comment


    • #3
      Wow... Just... Wow.....
      Ridiculous 2009 Predictions: Evil Queen will beat Martha Stewart to death with a muffin pan. All hail Evil Queen! (Some things don't need elaboration.....) -- Jester

      Ridiculous 2010 Predictions: Evil Queen, after escaping prison for last years prediction, goes out and waffle irons Rachel Ray to death. -- SG15Z

      Ridiculous 2011 Prediction: Evil Queen will beat Gordon Ramsay over the head with a cast-iron skillet. -- FireHeart

      Comment


      • #4
        Please tell me The One wasn't blonde and built like a linebacker. Otherwise I might have to ask his name on the principal of him possibly being a former co-worker of mine.

        Seriously, at 1 of my fast food job, there was this guy who just thought he was God. No clue why but he annoyed the piss out of everyone there, management tolerated him because technically he didn't do anything he could be fired over. I pretty much ignored him since he had never actually done anything to me but also found his bragging of bullshit annoying.

        Finally he went to far. With me of all people...big mistake.

        Now this guy seriously would hit on any female around him. In all honesty most of us thought that he just was using us for practice since his own admission was he had been single for 2 years.

        I was included in this but I always would reply to his come on's with cutting barbs. Like one time he was saying how he's never had a girl not leave him happy and I made the comment that 1. It doesn't count if you pay the girl and 2. That wasn't why they were happy. These went over his head, which surprised me since it was so big.

        Anyways, I'm married. Everyone knows this. A few of the guys even lamented it since I was a gamer nut and a bit of an anime nut at the time (moved since then and this town has jack for anime T_T.) Moron here was no different and was constantly making comments about my ring being removable. I told him everytime that the ring might come off but promises don't.

        So this idiot comes up to me as I'm getting ready to leave one day.

        M: Moron who is lucky I didn't remove sensitive parts.
        Me:

        M: Man I got this wedding to go to soon and I don't want to go by myself.
        Me: *sarcastically* Poor baby. I'm sure you'll find someone to go with.
        M: Why don't you come with me? I'm sure your husband won't mind you going out with a friend.
        Me: *He thinks I'm a friend?* Uh I don't think so, that's not something you take a co-worker to.
        M: Ah you can just tell him that your going drinking with the girlfriends and staying at their place.

        Yes this moron is trying to get me to agree to go to a wedding with him and lie to my husband about it. Even though he has heard me tell people I DESPISE people who sneak around the significant other's back, be it for cheating or spending money or whatever. Cheaters are especially lower then slime in my opinion.

        Me: *Surely he cannot be this stupid* Let me get this straight. You want me to go to a wedding with you. All night. And tell my husband I'm off at a friend's?
        M: Sure! It'll be fun! You know you want to baby. 10 minutes with me and you'll forget your married.

        This guy not only is showing no respect to my married status he's being downright insulting!

        Now I have my fists clenched, teeth grinding, and I'm dangerously close to saying screw it and teaching him a lesson Laurena Bobbit Style. I know I'm scary when angry and right that minute I'm livid. I know he notices because he looks uneasy but is still smiling like it's all a joke.

        Me: *bluffing but not caring* We're not on the clock so you can't go running to MOD over this any more then I can. You have 10 seconds to get out before I introduce the more sensitive parts of your male anatomy to the burger grill, with the top down, and then feed it to you.

        He laughed like I was joking but left faster then I had ever seen him.

        After that I went to MOD and told him to never put me on shift with the moron or he would have the cops visiting due to me murdering him. He asked why and I related everything that just happened. They were dead then so I'm telling him this in front of other workers, some female. More then 1 girl piped up saying they didn't want to work with him either and a good number of the guys were pissed that he had done such a thing to their "little sister" as I was commonly called.

        He got fired shortly after though I don't know what they said for. I personally am willing to bet sexual harassment myself.
        "It's not what your doing so much as the idiotic way your doing it." Vincent Valentine from Final Fantasy 7.

        Comment


        • #5
          So does The One stand on his head when going to the bathroom?
          Happiness is the exercise of vital powers along lines of excellence in a life affording you scope.

          Comment


          • #6
            in my experience men who act like that to one woman will indeed treat others the same way.

            and the side of me wants to tell him "Ten minutes with you and i'll forget my vow to give up manslaughter" :rolleye:

            no wonder he couldn't get a date.
            i would have suggested he get a call girl but... that's not a nice thing to do to those gals.

            Comment


            • #7
              I've often wondered about people like The One, DipShit, Daddy DipShit, and many other people past and present.

              What makes them think they are so smart and such good workers when they are flat out incompetent and insubordinate? Why do they always think they are so great and doing so well, when all they really do is get in the way?
              You really need to see a neurologist. - Wagegoth

              Comment


              • #8
                Quoth Talon View Post
                So does The One stand on his head when going to the bathroom?
                I say he craps out his mouth like in that one episode of South Park.

                "Mullleeeehhhhhhhhhhhhh......."*plop*
                Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil.

                "I never said I wasn't a horrible person."--Me, almost daily

                Comment


                • #9
                  I gotta say, the way The One turned the entire workforce against him so quickly sounds a lot like my former co-worker Ol' Scarface. She still works for the company, but she got switched to overnights, and EVERYONE'S been happier since she was. Morale is improving, people are a lot less stressed, it's great.

                  Only difference between Ol' Scarface and The One I can see (apart from being different genders) is that Ol' Scarface was competent at what she did, she was just an annoying bitch asshole.
                  PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

                  There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Quoth Mamadrae View Post
                    Please tell me The One wasn't blonde and built like a linebacker.
                    He isn't. He doesn't.

                    Quoth Talon View Post
                    So does The One stand on his head when going to the bathroom?
                    No. I doubt he can get it up enough to have to do that, actually.

                    Quoth Jay 2K Winger View Post
                    I gotta say, the way The One turned the entire workforce against him so quickly sounds a lot like my former co-worker Ol' Scarface.
                    And he did it QUICKLY. I mean people were plotting his death within his first week. Seriously. NO ONE was sad to see him go. Even people that would normally be somewhat sympathetic to just about anyone couldn't muster any for him or for what happened to him.

                    "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                    Still A Customer."

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Too bad The One departed for parts unknown. I'm sure you could've found someone for him to hang out with.

                      But seriously (well, as seriously as I feel like being at the moment...) every time he was late--after his famous "I'm never late"--I'd ask what time zone his personal "reality" was in.
                      Unseen but seeing
                      oh dear, now they're masquerading as sane-KiaKat
                      There isn't enough interpretive dance in the workplace these days-Irv
                      3rd shift needs love, too
                      RIP, mo bhrionglóid

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Quoth BeckySunshine View Post
                        ...every time he was late--after his famous "I'm never late"--I'd ask what time zone his personal "reality" was in.
                        Yeah, that might have worked, except by the end of The One's tenure at my bar, our dislike for each other was obvious. I didn't even try to hide my disdain or contempt for him, and he returned the favor. But at least I tried to stay professional. Him? Of course not. Perfect example: one Saturday night when we were working together, near the end of the night, he came over to the service station and (literally) flung a credit card on the station, saying "Your table wants to pay their tab." I picked up the credit card, looked at him, and asked, "Okay....which one?" "I dunno." Why I expected anything helpful like a table number I don't know. But here I was, with a random credit card from a mysterious table, of several I had, and this assclown hadn't even bothered to note which table it was? I just looked at him in disgust and said, "Gee, thanks for the help." The animosity became so obvious between us that coworkers were getting ready to form a pool on which one of us would beat the other one's ass first.

                        Recent Sighting:

                        One of my coworkers said she saw The One just the other day downtown. According to her, he was at an intersection with two "strange-looking girls" (gee, why am I not surprised?) and he was acting weird (again, why am I not surprised?). Anyway, apparently they stood there waiting to cross while the light was green, but once it turned red, they crossed, against the light!

                        Fucking idiot.

                        "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is
                        Still A Customer."

                        Comment

                        Working...