Here are the text messages with fake names for privacy sake.
Kitchen manager: Hi! James just texted me and told me he was sick today. It would be incredible if you could cover dinner tonight. You will have Alex to help until 4:30 and Joe from 4-close. It’s a small count so it should be chill. I’m going to ask Logan to help prep things for dinner as well. I will be out of service for the next day and a half but I told Rose the situation as well. Sorry to spring this on you last minute, I was just informed. Thank you, it is really appreciated!
My response: Unfortunately I have no training or experience while cooking and I would feel uncomfortable.
Kitchen manager: I’m sorry but there is no one else to cover. Logan is on breakfast and Andy isn’t back yet. Logan is going to help prep for you and all of the recipes will be in the Manila folder to follow. Once again I apologize for springing this on you but this is the only option to ensure that dinner goes out to the guests. You will be compensated for a dinner shift at that wage!
I have never experienced a job where I am forced to work a position that I have not applied for. This is a seasonal job that I have been at for over a year and this management has all been hired within the past 3 months (kitchen manager and general manager).
It was indeed the kitchen managers day off and she is apparently house sitting an hour away so she won’t come in to cover the shift herself.
In my experience a kitchen manager is responsible for covering shifts and I am unsure how to proceed. I feel like they are strong arming me and pinning me against the wall since I have to rely on them for housing.
I need advice on how to handle a boss forcing me to do a job I didn’t apply for and received no training for.
Comments
Is this a current text or did the shift already happen? It stinks you’re put in this position. I would definitely be upset as well. I would reiterate that you’re not comfortable with this and if you truly don’t want to do it then be direct and say you will not be there for that shift. Are you hellbent on staying at this job? I would apply to other places and see what you get and put in a 2 weeks notice if you get something else
Looks for new job and housing. If it was me
“Okay you want me to fucking cook? Ok THIS is the food that’s coming out while you make me cook.”
I’ll do it as slow as i need to do it to be safe, and read the recipe so I don’t mess up. And if that bothers them, well…..I wasn’t hired for cooking :/ you guys can’t get mad that I can’t do this.
Wouldn’t doing this give you additional work experience. It’s a challenge and scary but think you got this.
“I think we had a bit of a miscommunication, when I said I’m not comfortable that was the most professional way I could articulate that my answer is ”No, I’m not doing that”
I understand you are in a bind but the way you approached me as if this is a done deal without even making an attempt to ask is highly unprofessional.
In the future if !TheBuisness! has an emergency come up I would prefer to be asked rather than ordered. I’m aware this may affect my employment with “ABC CANT-FORCE ME TO WORK INC”, but again, no. Let me know if I’m fired today so I don’t waste fuel driving to a location if you intend to let me go.”
I think the ‘not in my job description’ crew deserve to be unemployed.
Go higher
Kitchen staff are specifically trained, most places require some version of a ‘food handlers card’ that means they’ve been trained to basic standared of hygiene and safe preparations
You… being in the kitchen, means anyone who gets sick and a lawyer pretty much gets paid by the owners insurance…
I have such a different take on this! You get to be the hero and cover a shift that no one else can, with zero expectations of any quality. This is complete Gonzo/Meatballs ’80s movie shit. LOL through that shit and have a fun story to tell.
For the love of God please tell us the name of this place so we can never, ever go there. You’re basically saying “I have no idea how to make food” and they’re like “it’s OK, just wing it” LOL.
You might need food service certification to work in a kitchen. Check your state health laws.
you say no and if necessary I will quit and walk out. your call.
There are two kinds of people in this world. The first jumps at every opportunity to learn and grow. The second has a “not my job” mindset. This is the moment you decide what kind of person you are.
I left a job because they tried to throw me in the restaurant, we stood in the store connected to it & he tried to tell me I was working over there until the hired someone. After multiple “I am not working in the restaurant”s, I got in the car and went home.
I don’t know what your position is, but it sounds like cook might be a step up. I’d try it at least. No, they can’t force you to do anything, including come to work. But it sounds like it might be useful training.
Say “I am not serve-safe certified, if someone gets food poisoning who is liable me or the company?” that may get you a better response. Either way don’t cook if you’re not comfortable they can’t force you to do the work you’re not trained for. Say no.
This would be the job of the…..kitchen manager to cover, not yours.
What is your role? Are you a saucier or a dishwasher? What do you mean in your text response “while cooking”??
More generally, lots of people get asked to step up when a teammate cannot go. Just watch sports if you want the public version of this. On the other hand, they NEVER ask the statistician to play shortstop for both performance and safety reasons.
As a restaurant, I’d rather close, than ask the waiter to learn to make coq-au-vin on the fly. The solution is to convince them that both the restaurant and you will be at risk. Someone will get sick or hurt.
On the other hand, if you’re just a sou-chef balking at stepping up to the head duty, then strap on them boots and go to work kid.
Put a sign on the door that says:
“Cooking staff is out sick. Wait staff will try cooking your food if you can wait an extra 45 minutes.”
Then tell everyone you can only do scrambled eggs.
What job were you hired to do?