The evilness within me is rising...

[K'Ehleyr]

Well, I'd go with the inner 'fuck it' as well.

The thing is to be as helpful and considerate to others in the place, while giving her the absolute minimum as politely as possible. It's a balancing act, and tricky, but it can be fun.

Let them hang themselves by their own petard. Karma and all that.

Exactly.

The one thing that disturbed me about the way K'Ehleyr was talking was that it almost sounded like it was OK to make the customers pay for this grudge against the boss. Even if the boss is a total moron, that kind of thing will just give the boss all the ammo she needs to make it look like K'E's problem and not hers at all.

Hmm, well I certainly didn't mean it to come across that way and it is definately not my aim to make customers pay for my 'grudge'.
I believe I am far better at looking out for customers' needs and wants.
On the day I was far more prepared, more experienced, more confident and dealt with any situation in a calm and efficient manner.

I have been in the hospitality industry for most of my long'ish life and treat customers as I would wish to be treated in any establishment. The fact that the majority call me by name; that I laugh, josh and joke with them; we exchange family stories, makes me think I'm doing ok.

Anyway this thread was about how concerned I was with the rising ire I feel towards the 'Twit', not my customer service ability.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

This right here is what gave me the impression:

Is it bad that when she was in the kitchen today and I was 'out front' I took great glee in taking orders that are not on the menu, rolling my eyes at customers when they complained they had been waiting so long, poking my head in the kitchen and asking 'do you need a hand?' Explaining that we had no ice 'for some reason the ice machine isn't working' (she had put it back together wrong), sorry we have no mushrooms etc.. 'the order obviously didn't come in' *said loudly so she could overhear*

If you do those kinds of things in front of customers, you're going to lose the ammunition you need to make sure everyone sees that your bad boss is the problem and not you. And if she decides she wants to eliminate potential competition (you), she could use those sorts of behaviors against you. This is a petty person we're dealing with. She could use even the tiniest, pettiest things to try to assert her power and make an example out of you to knock everyone else in line.

I know that if someone rolls their eyes at me, as a customer, I am liable to either not go to that place again, or report it to management. I will not see "you had a bad day with your boss." I will see "you showed disrespect." Which is exactly what you do not want if it's your boss who is the problem.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I'm siding with the customers. I'm trying to help them. It's a 'hands in the air, I'll try and find out what's going on' thing.

And yes it is petty ~ on her behalf and now on mine. Which is why I hate it.

I just wish this would go away. I don't want to work in this atmosphere and I don't want it to come over... but I just can't.

Anyway I have another 2 days off so I'm going to try and forget about it.

 

[Captain_Nick]

I agree with the above. 'Passive aggressive' were two words that appeared in my mind after I read the first post. Rather than worrying about what other people are doing wrong maybe you should look at your own performance. It probably could be improved.

 

[MANT!]

Wow, I come and read the entire thread...

Glad it wasn't as bad as you were fearing...but also understand how you felt bad afterwards...

K'Ehleyr, looks like what you need to do is to start looking for other employment (unless the situation changes) and in this economy, you may have to put up with the bullshit for awhile...

Good thing you're British and have that "stiff upper lip" thing going for you...


Me, I'd probably have an assault charge and a restraining order against me by now...

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I'm siding with the customers. I'm trying to help them. It's a 'hands in the air, I'll try and find out what's going on' thing.

Regardless of the intention, customer perception is the important thing--because your customers could go to your boss and give her exactly the ammunition she needs to can you or write you up. You cannot let the customers see your attitude, not ever. I can tell you that seeing an argument between employees is a very, very offputting thing, whether it's directed at the customer or not. It gives an impression of lack of professionalism and I know that if that's me, I don't want to patronize a place where employees act that way.

And yes it is petty ~ on her behalf and now on mine. Which is why I hate it.

But you have control over how you handle it; you don't have control over your boss (unless you walk, or wait for her to dig herself her own hole without standing there with a shovel yourself). If the situation really is bad and you can't leave it, I think you should go to HR if you feel you can't talk to your boss. Whatever you do, don't have an unwitnessed conversation on these matters with your boss--have a representative from HR sit in with you so that your words can't be twisted around.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

BUT Nerys the boss is new. K'E has been there a long time, and the customers know her. They will side with her and they already know she is efficient and friendly so any fuck ups won't be seen as her fault. Customers LOVE to side with the lower decks against an incoming manager. So everything will be fine and there will be no need to freeze any teacakes for any coming-to-blows.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

BUT Nerys the boss is new. K'E has been there a long time, and the customers know her. They will side with her and they already know she is efficient and friendly so any fuck ups won't be seen as her fault. Customers LOVE to side with the lower decks against an incoming manager. So everything will be fine and there will be no need to freeze any teacakes for any coming-to-blows.

This
Nicely said teacake ~ people always side with those that they like ~ let the revolution commence

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

BUT Nerys the boss is new. K'E has been there a long time, and the customers know her. They will side with her and they already know she is efficient and friendly so any fuck ups won't be seen as her fault. Customers LOVE to side with the lower decks against an incoming manager. So everything will be fine and there will be no need to freeze any teacakes for any coming-to-blows.

That's not a guarantee at all. Maybe some of your longtime customers--but you're always going to have new or less frequent customers. Or others who have been longtime customers in the past but do not appreciate the behaviors described. I know that in my own case I have no compunctions about abandoning even an old, dear hangout if people are rude, whether that be employees or management. Lack of professionalism is an immediate strike against a business in my book. Your inability to handle your "backstage" problems without it spilling over into the customer experience is not my problem.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

BUT Nerys the boss is new. K'E has been there a long time, and the customers know her. They will side with her and they already know she is efficient and friendly so any fuck ups won't be seen as her fault. Customers LOVE to side with the lower decks against an incoming manager. So everything will be fine and there will be no need to freeze any teacakes for any coming-to-blows.

That's not a guarantee at all. Maybe some of your longtime customers--but you're always going to have new or less frequent customers. Or others who have been longtime customers in the past but do not appreciate the behaviors described. I know that in my own case I have no compunctions about abandoning even an old, dear hangout if people are rude, whether that be employees or management. Lack of professionalism is an immediate strike against a business in my book. Your inability to handle your "backstage" problems without it spilling over into the customer experience is not my problem.

Backstage problems are not spilling over to customer service.
I am never rude to customers or any other rational people.
I consider myself to be far more professional than Her.
This was supposed to be a lighthearted thread about a bad day at work.

I thank you for your insightful comments but as you say ~ It's not your problem.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

BUT Nerys the boss is new. K'E has been there a long time, and the customers know her. They will side with her and they already know she is efficient and friendly so any fuck ups won't be seen as her fault. Customers LOVE to side with the lower decks against an incoming manager. So everything will be fine and there will be no need to freeze any teacakes for any coming-to-blows.

That's not a guarantee at all. Maybe some of your longtime customers--but you're always going to have new or less frequent customers. Or others who have been longtime customers in the past but do not appreciate the behaviors described. I know that in my own case I have no compunctions about abandoning even an old, dear hangout if people are rude, whether that be employees or management. Lack of professionalism is an immediate strike against a business in my book. Your inability to handle your "backstage" problems without it spilling over into the customer experience is not my problem.

You obviously don't appreciate a good soap opera.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Sorry to bring up an old thread but you have the background to it... and it's still the same story and it's relevent to current events so...

So it's the Royal Wedding here tomorrow and I decided to spice up my working day (yes ~ everyone else has a bank holiday) by buying myself a tiara to wear ~ as you do

I mentioned this to New Boss and she thought it would be a total hoot as long as we wore the same thing. So I went to the £1 shop (I am on a budget!) and purchased 2 x lots of 2 packets of 'princess wear'.

I went to my neighbours to 'run the idea' past her and I've broken both my sets of earrings and the necklace I was going to wear as a tiara. So neighbour has lent me a gorgeous proper pearl tiara and I have earrings and neckless to match.

I'm going to be a total bitch and get her to wear the cheap stuff whilst I strutt around in pearls.

I have phoned her to advise of my sad demise of the tiara but said I have lots of sparklies for her

Am I bad yet

 

[lurok]

I'm going to be a total bitch and get her to wear the cheap stuff whilst I strut around in pearls.

Sounds like WIN situation to me...

Am I bad yet

Yes. And any reference to pearl necklaces in internet forum is asking for trouble...

 

[K'Ehleyr]

I'm going to be a total bitch and get her to wear the cheap stuff whilst I strut around in pearls.

Sounds like WIN situation to me...

Am I bad yet

Yes. And any reference to pearl necklaces in internet forum is asking for trouble...

You win one of the 70% discounted Easter Eggs that I've recently purchased for being the first to pick up on the pearl necklace

And as I can't IM it to you I'll just have to eat it myself