Comments on: Treat Waitstaff Poorly? That’s a Firing.

By: grannybunny

grannybunny — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 12:02:00 +0000

Some companies have a “No A**hole” Rule, requiring all employees to behave civilly and not be jerks. Whether or not the offender should be fired, someone should, at least, let her know the effect of her behavior on her relationship with her coworker. One of the things we’ve learned from the Working From Home phenomenon is the beneficial value of informal, “water cooler” type interactions between employees. By making mealtimes so unpleasant, this rude individual is depriving herself, her coworkers, and the company, of that collateral benefit. It’s hard to imagine that her overly-entitled mindset isn’t have detrimental effects in other aspects of her life, and work, too.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 21:55:32 +0000

What people do in their own time is their own business. And even if the meal is reimbursed by the company, that doesn’t make it the company’s responsibility. If she stayed up all night binge watching Game of Thrones instead of getting a good night’s rest should that be reported to the company too because they paid for the hotel? Are our employers our parents now too? As for the idea that it makes the company look bad, that’s silly. In any large enough company there will be people, some of whom are probably people you work with, get along with and that unbeknownst to you, send food back for “dumb reasons”. They shouldn’t all be unemployable.

By: Bobbo

Bobbo — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:52:13 +0000

Wow, jerk or not, this wouldn’t rise to even discipline with my company. Someone rude to staff on their own time? No one would care. I guess my jurisdiction only has for-cause terminations, or lay-offs, and this wouldn’t be either.

Assuming Sam was asked what was up, I think she would say… “I’m not being rude; I’m being direct.” Then where are you as a manager investigating discipline?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 10:57:47 +0000

AITA: Am I the Asshole? It is a Reddit group, and where people post their stories (like this one) and ask readers if they are in the right or not — Am I the Asshole (or is the other person)?

NTA: Not the Asshole is the response from readers when they feel the OP (original poster) is in the right — that the original poster is Not the Asshole.

By: Sarah Y

Sarah Y — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:00:15 +0000

please define:. AITA and OP NTA.

By: John Mark

John Mark — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 06:29:25 +0000

i like your blog

By: Diana Schneidman

Diana Schneidman — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 04:00:59 +0000

In reply to Harriet Saxe. I agree, Harriet. Especially offputting in a post about respect for others.

By: MariaRose

MariaRose — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 18:23:00 +0000

Such a variety of responses to a key issue—unsuitable derogatory behavior to service personnel. The person describing the behavior didn’t mention how this person behaves in interactions with other types of service personnel just the dining out situation but just from the description of the behavior, this specific individual doesn’t perceive their behavior offensive and probably thinks they are entitled to be served without any complaint from the service personnel. ( that doesn’t excuse their behavior).
Unless the company requires the two traveling partners to eat together for billing purposes, it shouldn’t be a problem to separate dinner arrangements, especially since they can’t find an appropriate way to address this person and tell them directly that their constant complaints about their food has made them uncomfortable when eating. ( not only spoiling their appetite but enjoyment of the food). I would think that would have been the first approach especially since this individual has been a long term travel partner, this behavior would have been noticeable for quite a while, so why make it an HR problem unless the behavior is seen in all interactions with personnel in lower level positions. Since these two individuals are a team—there’s no I behavior allowed that reflects on the team. Nitpicking about the food preparation should not be a major factor in dining out.

By: Harriet Saxe

Harriet Saxe — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 17:05:29 +0000

The writer should not call anyone a “karen.” Doing so turns someone’s name into a vulgar epithet. There’s a thesaurus full of real, alternative words. I wish you, my wonderful Evil HR Lady, had noticed and edited the Reddit question appropriately.

(signed) Mother-in-law of the best Karen ever

By: Elizabeth West

Elizabeth West — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:03:26 +0000

I wonder if this ever happens when she lunches with clients.
Regardless, they’re traveling for work and she’s with a coworker, so at the bare minimum, Sam should be acting like she’s in the office break room, not Queen Karen sitting on her throne. And I definitely think OP should let their boss know this is happening.