A Server Stepped In After A Coworker Seated Customers At A Dirty Table, But A Bad Review And Her Manager’s Reaction Pushed Her Out
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It can be very frustrating when someone blames you for a problem you’ve already tried to fix. For this server, it started when a coworker seated a family at a table she hadn’t wiped down yet.
She offered them a clean table nearby, but they refused to move and then made it difficult for her to clean theirs. Things only got worse when they left a bad review, and her manager lectured her about customer service.
After dealing with other frustrations at work, she’s decided she’s had enough and plans to give her two weeks’ notice.
Read on for her full story.
Customer left a bad review and I quit
I, 22F, was working a Sunday night shift at this restaurant. It’s family-owned and used to be part of a chain but left it.
It was extremely busy, and I was already dealing with several tables. The other waitress seats this family of three at a table I hadn’t gotten to wiping down yet. Mind you, there was already a clean table right next to them.
Usually, she’ll ask me, but she decided not to for some reason.
After finishing several tasks, she walked over to the table.
The customers complained to her that the table was dirty, and since she wasn’t doing anything, you would think she’d wipe it down for them. Instead, she decided to direct them to me while I was scrambling with other tasks.
I finally have time, and they complain the table’s dirty. I apologize and tell them I will grab something to wipe it down.
I also offer them the clean, empty table right next to them. They adamantly refuse and insist on sitting at the dirty table.
They have menus out but nothing else. I tell them if the table they were at would ruin their dining experience, I wouldn’t want to keep them sitting there. They still insist on keeping the table, so I leave and grab a rag.
On her way to get the rag, her coworker stopped her.
My coworker then pulls me aside and says they complained to her about the state of the table and that I should apologize and wipe it down. I told her that wasn’t a hygiene issue on my part, but rather that she sat them down at a table that hadn’t been wiped yet.
She brushes me off, and I grab the rag and wring it out so their table isn’t sopping wet when I wipe it.
I get to the table, and the husband grabbed tissues from the bathroom. When I try to wipe it, he physically blocks me and tells me he’ll do it himself.
Even when I try to reach out to help him, he swats my hand away. I tell him if he wants to properly disinfect it, he should let me clean it.
Then, the guy started complaining about the prices.
He reluctantly sits down, and his wife suddenly asks for my name. I tell them, and she mispronounces it. I don’t have a typical white name.
Before I can correct her, they shoo me away.
The rest of the experience was mundane. At the end, the husband was hounding me about the check, even though our prices are very clearly listed on the menu and they got a **** ton of food.
There was no mistake on the check. He was just upset or something, I don’t know.
He asked me to clarify that the combo he got was a combo (?).
Apparently, the customers had a lot to say online.
The next day, my manager stops me right before I clock out and says a customer left a bad review. She tells me the table number, and I immediately know who she’s talking about.
The review, with my name misspelled completely, said that I had an attitude because I offered to move them to a clean table. It also said that they had to do my job for me.
They didn’t wait for me to even wring out the cleaning rag and pushed me away when I tried to help.
The review goes on to talk about how ****** the food was, despite also claiming they’re a regular who used to love the food.
By this point, she was pretty angry.
I explain to my manager that my coworker was the one who seated them at a dirty table. She claimed she wasn’t trying to pin the blame on anyone, yet here she was lecturing me about customer service while my coworker sat in the back eating the food she ordered.
I felt wronged.
She said even if you say it’s not your fault, it’s always your fault. I understand that’s just how it is, but holy ****, I was mad.
This is the same manager I have to coordinate with for weeks just to get a few days off. The same manager who consistently books me to work Saturdays alone. The same manager who I watched let my coworker take a day off for a party, even though my coworker notified her the day before.
Now, she’s putting in her two weeks’ notice.
I understand I’m the newest staff member, but it really gets to a point. Now I’m just mad at the customer, the manager, my coworker, and the world.
I’m putting in my two weeks tomorrow because the money is not worth getting disrespected or treated unfairly. Especially when I got this job only for pocket money and not because I have bills to pay.
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I told my parents, and they told me I should’ve quit on the spot, lol.
Anyways, I’m lucky to have a supportive family and backup plans. I’m going to focus on my education instead of working under a manager who grovels at the feet of ****** customers and consistently books me on days I have already established I can’t work.
Yikes! That sounds like a very toxic workplace.
Let’s take a look at what the people over at Reddit would do if they were in her shoes.
This person thinks she was done before the incident.
They did behave pretty badly.
That’s a nice apology.
If she really cares, it won’t change anything.
It sounds like leaving is the best option. Difficult customers are bad enough without a manager who refuses to listen to your side of the story.
And if that’s how this manager handles problems, things probably won’t get any better.
Since she doesn’t need the money for bills, she might as well put that energy into school.
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