When the Head-Waiter Runs the Restaurant.........Part II: "From Retaliation to Vindication--The Closed Office Door and the Internal Report's Release"

"I am in charge!!" shrieks the Head Waiter at a posh restaurant.  In actuality, he is simply an employee of the restaurant.  As a practical reality, however, perhaps the head waiter does, indeed, run the restaurant.....

Note:  This series is based upon a fictional account of an antisocial, smug restaurant "head waiter" employee that has hijacked and paralyzed an entire fictional restaurant and its staff with his antics and histrionics-jeopardizing profitability, stigmatizing certain employees, and destroying morale among the waitstaff.  The below account is fictional, an account based largely upon the author's imagined scenarios and circumstances combined with his experience working in and owning restaurants; any resemblance or similarity with any person or other entity, living or dead, whatsoever, is purely and simply coincidental....................................................................................

Part II: "From Retaliation to Vindication--The Closed Office Door and the Internal Report's  Release"

This is a story about a series of unfortunate incidents at a well-regarded, very fine French Restaurant in Escambia County known as "Chez Pretentieuse."   As discussed in Part I, many patrons of this establishment had questioned who was actually in charge of the restaurant as morale at the long-established, well-regarded dinner house began to rapidly decline.  

A departing Area Manager brought in a new head waiter in 2018, and at first many of the staff members thought this was going to be a good thing.  One staffer in particular that was an early supporter stated "I thought the new head waiter would be a good thing, with a fresh perspective on service, and recipes, and overall operations."  He continued, "Slowly, though, I realized this was not the case.  It became obvious that the new head waiter came into the restaurant with a preconceived agenda and an axe to grind.  He was picking favorites that kowtowed to his every whim and anyone that disagreed on any aspect of the restaurant service protocols and procedures was immediately made into a pariah.  What amazed me the most--the head waiter's initial 'open door' policy attitude quickly devolved into a 'closed door' demeanor.  I mean, the office door was closed most of the days-- and it appeared that paranoia seemed to be setting in, that's the way I saw it."

Several members of the waitstaff loudly complained to the area manager and the site general manager.  "We're no longer having training sessions, and we are not getting good guidance anymore!"  Others complained of the gossip being spread..."We were asked questions by the head waiter that seemed inappropriate--we were asked our opinions about our fellow waiters and other restaurant employees--including management-- by the new head waiter---It just didn't seem right--so we reported it to the Site General Manager" said one waiter, who continued, "We love working here, serving the public, and doing our jobs--we don't want the unnecessary DRAMA!'

Soon, the restaurant devolved into factions.  Customer service and operational efficiency were the real casualties of this turn of events.   Those employees that supported the new head waiter, and those that did not, became divided.   Soon, multiple employees filed complaints against the new head waiter.  Instead of waiting for the results or answering the complaints, the new head waiter filed counter complaints AND state


 level complaints against these same employees who filed complaints against him.  It became messy.

One employee stood up for himself and demanded action from HR.  He did not let the issue go.  He claimed that he was being retaliated against unfairly by the head waiter for a number of reasons, and he said he made a sexual harassment report that was brushed under the rug by the head waiter and other higher ups-which led to his targeting for retribution. And so he filed a harassment complaint against the head waiter.  The head waiter, enraged at this upon notification by the HR Department, filed a counter complaint against this same employee to the state's foodservice worker's licensing directorate.  It was serious.

So for 4 1/2 months as numerous management and area site management changes occurred in Chez's org chart, a report that was written by the HR department and that vindicated the employee of wrongdoing sat on a shelf.  This same report was very unflattering to the new head waiter.  But the vindicated employee was not given the report, and his shifts were cut.  As described in Part I--he felt he was being ignored so he requested the report multiple times, over and over.  

Finally, after much consternation and waiting, the HR department released the report to the vindicated waiter.  He took photos of the report and discussed it with his close friends and relatives--he felt vindicated and he hoped that soon he would be re-instated to his full shifts so that his pay would not be cut any longer......But that didn't happen.  Even though the report exonerated him.

To make matters worse, Area Management would not release the report.  Neither would the site general manager.  "It cannot be released and it cannot be shared until we say it is complete" was the management rationale.  Reluctantly, management did agree to start a clock on when the full report could/would be released--but not until more than five months after the report was completed and shelved

And the report had recommendations that supported the vindicated employee including these:

---"It appears that the head waiter may have engaged in behavior that could be construed as harassment..."

---"Provide relief to this affected, aggrieved waiter and restore him to full waitstaff duties as soon as possible"

As this chapter of the sordid tale ends, it appears as if at least one employee of Chez will be vindicated upon full and complete release of the HR report.  But there are still many tales to tell, stay tuned for our next installments:

Part III:  The Cockroach on the Dinner Table Salute's the Guest..Who Can we Blame?

Part IV:  What are the Better House Recipe's--the Old ones or the New Ones?

Part V:   Leadership Re-Established by Those Who are Really in Charge

Part VI: Fixing Chez so that her Best Days are Ahead of Her!