dilema: part two
 

Alright, understand a few things, where I work, we seat 544, not to mention we go on a wait as soon as the doors open and stay on a wait at LEAST (talking slow night) an hour before we are closed. We had a $14,000 lunch today. Anyhow, that kind of volume it helps to know what you are doing and know how to use the equipment.

there is this guy that works prep, just like me. Often we work together with a couple of others, begining of the week might just be the two of us and we have a list of things that need to be made. Sauces, cuts.. because of the volume everything is made in prep and stocked on the line. The line is responsable for heating and cooking meats, we maranade and butcher or mesenplage. We don't prep by the pound we obviously prep in bulk. One case of bell peppers wont cut it (bussel and a half) but Im rambling.

The guy, Chris, he is so slow but he has been working there for a year. He doesn't know any recipies, he couldn't tell you what a hotel pan was if he only had two to choose from, he can't light a pilot on a steam kettle and he has no flow. I thought he was a regular gumby (jargon meaning green/new) but he has some food service experiance. Turns out he has seazures (spelling?) from time to time and Im guessing thats why the staff accepts his slowness. Ive heard that some staff does cut Chris slack, he does show up to work and doesn't mind being thrown in the dish pit.

So I guess what Im wondering is
a) Do his seazures count as a disability?
b) Shouldn't he still be expected to pull his weight?

Re: dilema: part two
 

Hmm...this is a tricky and controversial question ;)


All I can say is that yes, I'm fairly certain that his seizures DO count as a disability...I don't think that he can be turned down from a job b/c of it...if he WAS...that's discrimination.

AND...
I think that everyone in general is always EXPECTED to pull their own weight...but that doesn't always happen...obviously.
I'm sure that he's doing the best that he can...in addition to his seizures, he may very well be "slow"...but I'm sure that the level that he's performing at probably IS his best...he can't be faulted for that. Not everyone is a rocket scientist.

You work with what you're given, which is most likely exactly what he's trying to do.
I'm sure it's frustrating for you..having to work under those circumstances...but try to remain positive....it could be you....kind of puts things in perspective.

Just my opinion...:)

if it does count as a disability, that is fine, they cant discriminate for it, BUT, if he is incapable of doing qa particular job well, he should be put to work doing somehting else. If he cant keep up with prep, thats fine, he got a chance, and he couldnt quite make it. Im sure there are other jobs that he could do just fine.

A team is only as good as it's weakest link, and f the link is not capable of self-improvement, and becomes a detriment, he needs to be moved to another chain.

as Vod said, it could very well be classified as a disability. BUT, also as he said, if the guy cant perform the work as the others are expected to, then he clearly is not qualified for the job. Not letting him do the job and calling it discrimination for being bumped back to say dishes, does not qualify. I deal with employees like this all the time, unfortunately the ones I work with are back injuries, heart attack survivors, and extremely fat guys. They ALL want to apply to be welders, but if the hole they need to climb into and often HAUL ASS back out of is smaller than they are, they dont get the job. No chances, no opportunities NO NO NO.

BUT, because they can do other things we HAVE to employ them *I really despise unions* thereby screwing the harder, more skilled workers that HAVE to pick up their slack.

Might also want to check and see if he is a "relative" of someone there by any chance. Those little buggers slip in out of the woodwork like crazy at a lot of high paced jobs like that, hoping that the day will move by fast enough that no one will realize how much of a toad someone is.

Not to make lite of the subject of seizures...but this reminds me of a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode, where Larry David just opened a restaurant and the cook he hired [unbeknownst to him ] had Tourette's Syndrome. The kitchen was visable over a counter and in the middle of opening night with a full house, the cook would start yelling "COCKSUCKER...MOTHERFUCKER..." and such.
Also i would like to express my apologies to any tourettes victims here, just thought it was funny.

I know what you mean there, lol, we have a little hometown type store that has employed this stockboy :he's like 100: for the past 10 years, apparently he is a little mental as well as has tourettes. Smells like he hasnt bathed in years, and is hella slow. if you go down whatever aisle he might be stocking you either go get the rest of your stuff first or dont get it at all unless you like the feeling of vomit creeping up into your mouth. He will go through the aisle's stocking shelves then toss shit on the ground and start barking like crazy. if you dont know about him, you damn near want to piss yourself laughing.

also reminds me of the date with Duece Biggalow Male Giggalo, tourettes were so bad he had to take her to a baseball game so she could get it out of her system and still have a good time lol

well, no matter how slow you are it shouldn't take a shift to do 120 pounds of cole slaw. Its not like you have to be smart to cook but high volume does demand some speed. Chris isn't a family member really, but once you work in a restraunt you kinda become family if you catch my drift.

You know the more I think about it, the more I remeber why I didn't want to go back to the kitchen. I love my job, Ive always been good at this kind of work I just get tired of being a beast of burden. Sure it looks good when Ive done all the prep and Chris has acomplished one thing, but you know I don't like being there longer than I have to and Chris is the best in the pit...
I guess my next question is, how do I go about getting another raise?

ummmm do you own a skirt? :D

the raise may be tough until you are there for a few months more. And I know what you mean about the family thing in the restraunt business, when I was younger I used to do the same thing, but certainly not at that high of volume so hell a retarded monkey could have done it..

*also I would like to express my apologies to the retarded monkies here, just needed a point of reference*

you didn't offend me, I got a raise the first day I was there, but thats only cause they have this thing called a 'demo' its where they jew you out of a few hours work to see how good you are. Anyways Im usually hired by reputation, lulu's being mostly a fry house (I would call it fast food cause we burn the tables so fast) with no saute' station obviously had never heard of me, the wait staff however, most of them knew me from previous restraunts, ANYWAYS... they were low balling me on the pay so I did my little demo and before I left I was like Im not working for less than x amount, I got that amount and now that Ive been there and do the bulk of the prep (not to mention cleaning) I feel I deserve more money and there has to be some way of getting it.