'If she wants large tables, she can have them': Server makes sure annoying coworker gets overwhelmed on the job after getting embarrassed in front of customers

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 21, 2023 4:00 PM EDT

Sometimes the best lessons come from giving someone exactly what they wanted. In this case, we have a scheming coworker at a restaurant who denied a server (and their patrons) a specific table because she wanted to save that for herself. As we know, larger groups mean bigger tips, but you can't control every table at a restaurant, especially when it was the customer that specifically requested said table.

 

Still, the coworker, whom OP refers to as Blondie, was adamant and refused to let go of the table. This is a great example of what not to do if you're trying to be a gracious coworker, but it is how you make enemies in the workplace. As some folks in the comments section pointed out, the internal politics in a restaurant can be wildly unnecessary and cutthroat, but we believe the Redditor was totally justified in her decision to give her coworker exactly what she wanted. What ended up happening was that the coworker was given every large party that came in at the same time. Sure, that means potentially good tips, but it also means a high likelihood of getting overwhelmed. That's what you get for scheming!

 

For more stories like this, check out this post about a server's conflict with a tea-demanding customer! 

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  • 01
    Apron - "Server wanted a big table, so I helped her out",
    via Petr Sevcovic
  • 02
    Font - Server wanted a big table, so I helped her out M OC Forgive my possible lack of adequate details. This happened a long time ago, and I don't have the best memory to begin with, but I read a story a bit ago that reminded me of it.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 03
    Font - When I (F43) was 19-20 years old, I worked at the local franchise of a popular steakhouse/buffet as a cashier and hostess. On our busier days, table turnover could be insane, and me having to help clean a table to seat was a normal thing (servers bussed their own tables). We of course would seat tables that were already clean, but sometimes customers would prefer a different location that wasn't. Since it was a buffet, this wasn't a huge problem. We would clean while they filled plates.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 04
    Font - On one very memorable occasion, this happened to me with a bit of a twist. I took a party to a clean table in Blondie's section. I don't know how old she was, but I would wager early 20s, and she had been there longer than I had. Anyway, when we got there, the head of the party said they would prefer a different table (still in Blondie's section) and indicated one that had not been cleaned yet. I flashed my best customer service smile and said it would not be a problem. They started to tu
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 05
    Font - All of a sudden, Blondie rushed up to me and said that table was unavailable and would random other table be okay instead. I explained the situation and that they had chosen that table specifically, but she was adamant. She explained that she wanted that table and another available to merge for large parties (tips are almost always better with a large group).
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 06
    Font - I apologized profusely to the current party I was seating and asked if the new table would suffice. They assured me it was alright and took everything in stride as they made their way to the food.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 07
    Font - The next time Blondie went into the dish area in the kitchen (less than 10 minutes later), I followed her in and proceeded to tear her a new one. It felt really weird to be so thoroughly dressing down anyone older than me (I was raised with old school morals and ideas of respect for those older than me), but she had embarrassed me and I told her so and that what she had done made it look like I didn't know how to do my job. She apologized but held her stance.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 08
    Font - I was still fuming, so I did what anyone with teenager brain would do... I went to Mom, or rather the head server and her supervisor. I told Mom what she had done and why, and she told me that's fine. If she wants large tables, she can have them. For the next at least 15 to 20 minutes, every large group that came in was seated in her section (remember, busy day, so this was frequent). She eventually came up to the hostess station to ask me to stop. I told her to talk to Mom.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 09
    Font - Edit: Okay, so a couple of things that have come up- 1) Mom is not actually MY mom. She was the oldest, longest employed server there at the time, so she was mom to everyone. 2) I was a teenager and it was very early in my work history, so I did what I was told. Mom told me to do that. 3) This was most definitely NOT fine dining. If it was, I should hope that we all would have been held to better standard and the situation would not have been there in the first place. Finally, 4) This is
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 10
    Font - oskar7_07 12 hr. ago I don't understand OP getting a bunch of hate, this is commonplace in most fast-casual restaurants. The in-store politics are the dumbest lever and are exactly what I experienced in my restaurant jobs out of high school. I've had my own revenge/MC on certain servers and mediating through a manager.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 11
    Font - missannthrope1 11 hr. ago Had no idea Sizzler could be so cutthroat.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 12
    Font - redbucket75 12 hr. ago +1 . What a strange manager. You'd think the manager would want to decrease petty bulls that results in poor service, not increase it. But whatever, it's Sizzler (or similar) so I guess par for the course.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 13
    Font - BlueNinjaTiger 11 hr. ago 90% of the time yes. Every now and again though, sometime needs to learn a lesson via their own experience because they wont listen to someone else.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 14
    Font - ApprehensiveCrow4910. 12 hr. ago Play stupid games, win stupid prizes! I bet she never did that again, and her tips were probably terrible. I wonder what "mom" said to her?
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 15
    Font - Coolbeanschilly 13 hr. ago +2. I hope that you kept on doing this to her whenever the restaurant was at peak business. That, and always help bus her tables last.
    via u/FandomFreak1980
  • 16
    Font - FandomFreak1980 OP • 13 hr. ago Honestly, I'm surprised now that I went off on her at all. I'm normally a very non-confrontational person. I might have grumbled to myself, but I would do what was expected of me. She just pushed the wrong button that day.
    via u/FandomFreak1980

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customer service tips manager malicious compliance server waiter revenge customers restaurant entitled reddit thread Reddit tales from your server entitled people
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