For exactly a month, I worked for this company. As time progressed, I began to notice that not all employees were treated as equals. From what I gathered, the longer you worked there, the more leeway you had to just stand around and do nothing.
The second night I worked there (mind you, I'm still training and I have NO idea what's going on), I bussed tables by myself for 3.5 hours before finally complaining. Don't get me wrong, I knew I was just starting out and I had to learn, but NEVER in my life have I been treated like that! At no other job that I have worked, have I been treated like a slave. So after I complained, the manager told me that the girl who did nothing but stand at the host stand doodling, would no longer be working there. (I have since then heard otherwise)
A week and a half later I sit two male customers in smoking around 4:30,5 P.M. Theyh get waited on, and everything is fine. As I'm busing tables around that area the guys start hissing at me and saying "hey come here". I pointedly ignore them. However, I do notice that virtually every other female employee is sitting there talking to them, making ME very uncomfortable because I seem to be the only female not speaking to them. As I continue to do my job, they continuously hiss at me and say hey, to at one point I say "Don't!". Thinking they got the hint, I go about working, feeling more uncomfortable.
At one point, one of the other female hosts comes up to me and says "They just asked me if I have ever had 'real sex'". I decide at this point I'm no longer walking around the restaurant by myself. At one point, I wasn't able to have someone with me and the guys again did the hissing/cat-calling thing and me not being able to take it told the to shut the hell up. As an employee, I didn't feel safe at my workplace and I told the managers numerous times that I didn't feel comfortable working with those guys sitting there for that long of a period.
I did witness both managers going up to the men, but I didn't witness any stern talking, I saw laughter and smiles. The managers didn't do anything! Around 9:20, twenty minutes after my shift was supposed to be done, I ask if I can go home, i get "I'll let you know" as a response! It's around 9:45 p. M (yes the guys are still there, and they are still receiving alcohol even though at the bar there is a sign that says, if you are intoxicated we will no longer serve you alcohol)
when I finally go to one of the managers and say "I want to go home NOW! I don't feel safe working here tonight any longer!"
The managers looked at me like I was crazy. I mean, I'm still relatively new to working there, and I'm near tears because of the treatment these guys were giving the female employees, and I get looked at like I'm crazy?!
I'm sorry, but last time I checked, I have a right to work in a safe environment!
Oh, and on the subject of managers, the one manager that hired me, never called any female employee by their name. He always called them baby, or sweetie, or something like that.
And that brings me to my final week of working there. There's this rule as hosts, to sign the board once you clock in and whoever was there first gets to leave first. Makes sense, right? No, not really. On this particular evening, I was working 4-9, and I had gotten there first, so I assumed I would be the first to go. Unfortunately, no that's not how things worked. Someone who got there an hour after me was let go. After this happens, I get told by another host to "get used to it!"
First of all, if I'm told that whoever gets there first, leaves first, I'm going to follow that. Secondly don't tell me to "get used to it". That same host continued to tell me what to do the entire night. So while she was standing up there rolling silverware (which is a SERVER'S task, NOT a host) I stopped busing tables because I was tired of getting glared at from the girl because she had to wipe of the tables and put silverware on them because I had moved on to clear another table.
I told the manager that I would only be working this last week for them because I was tired of the unfair treatment and the "i've worked here longer than you, therefore that makes me better than you" routine. So while I'm waiting to be told I can leave, this same host keeps coming up to me asking me why i'm so mad and why I won't talk to her. I told her to "leave me alone" a couple of times. I believe I even said "I don't want to talk to you go away". I then started to walk away to get a napkin to wipe of the board and she was like 'YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE FRONT!"
Uhm, yeah I know this thanks again for telling me how to do my job.
On my day off the next day, I get a call from my one friend that works there.
She said that one of the managers asked if anyone had heard from me and what my plans were. Some said "Oh I think she's looking for another job". And the manager had replied with an "Oh well".
Needless to say, I no longer work there. I found a job that pays a lot better than 2.83 plus tipshare (meaning for every 100 the restaurant brings in $3 goes to the hosts/bartenders).
Kris
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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