Restaurant owner receives bold email from colleague complaining about dining experience because he saw the chef wearing headphones: 'I put a no phone policy in my restaurant'

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Sep 19, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

This restaurant owner recently received a pretty bold email from a colleague who was less than thrilled about seeing a chef in the kitchen sporting AirPods. The colleague, who owns a restaurant of his own, complained about the "unprofessional" vibe it created during his dining experience, citing a strict "no phone policy" he has in place at his own restaurant.

But as the internet chimed in, opinions on the matter were split right down the middle. Some argued that it's no big deal if the chef is listening to music while cooking; after all, they're in the back doing their thing, not serving customers directly. And this person sending an email ratting out the employee to his boss came off as extremely entitled. Others felt strongly that wearing headphones in a kitchen was just plain unsanitary and unprofessional. So, is it snitching to call out a colleague for their controversial work habits, or is it a valid concern about maintaining professionalism? Read more below. 

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  • 01
    • r/mildlyinfuriating ⚫ 13 hr. ago gayrobotsex This email my boss received from his friend (another restaurant owner) who dined with us the other night.
    via u/gayrobotsex
  • 02
    10:53 307 6 C Today at 10:52 AM Hi A Hope all is well my friend i went to your spot yesterday and food was amazing (as always) looks like you got a great staff in place service was perfect and wine suggestions was on point! I was sitting next to the bar and did notice a cook on the phone with airbuds having a conversation. I know how it is bro no worries i put a no phone policy in my restaurant unless its emergencies. See you on Wednesday at the conference Sent from my iPhone
    via u/gayrobotsex
  • 03
    theshogun02 • 13h ago That guy sounds like a real piece of work to work for. → 13K ⇓ Reply
    via u/theshogun02
  • 04
    I_loseagain • 11h ago Seeing as your boss showed you the email I assume he didn't care what you guys were doing since the service was top notch? 9.4K ☐ Reply
    via u/I_loseagain
  • 05
    Fatso_Wombat • 8h ago 'Sent from my iPhone'. Hope he wasn't at his restaurant at the time. The one with the no phone policy. 6K 6K Reply ...
    via u/Fatso_Wombat
  • 06
    yParticle • 13h ago Maybe the cook uses them to improve his hearing and filter noise? 2.8K Reply ...
    via u/yParticle
  • 07
    gayrobotsex OP • 13h ago • Edited 13h ago Cook listens to podcasts/music with the earbuds. If he's taking a phone call he walks out the back door. I (head chef) backed the guy up because he did NOTHING wrong and the customer had no reason to send an email and try to snitch. 4.2K ☐ Reply ...
    via u/gayrobotsex
  • 08
    Poster_Nutbag . 12h ago For some reason, restaurant management and ownership tends to attract a high amount of people who take glee in tormenting and overseeing folks they view as lesser than them... usually the staff. Ө 1.4K Reply ...
    via u/Poster_Nutbag
  • 09
    • Mysterious_Cut_7503 12h ago Not even a single coma. Bro rushed that email just to snitch. 643 ↑ 643 Reply
    via u/Mysterious_Cut_750
  • 10
    Ihaveaface836 • 11h ago A cook was on the phone I know how it is bro GIF
    via u/Ihaveaface836
  • 11
    tOSdude . 11h ago "I put a no phone policy in my restaurant" "Sent from my iPhone" Ө 297 ⇓ ☐ Reply NeverMind ThatShit ... 8h ago Sent at 10:52AM too, how much do you want to bet he sent it while "working" at his resturant?
    via u/tOSdude
  • 12
    squanchtomeetyou • 11h ago Imagine how normal this would have been if he had just stopped after the first half.
    via u/squanchtomeetyou
  • 13
    firstdueengine • 13h ago Narc!
    via u/firstdueengine
  • 14
    Apprehensive-Two3474 • 12h ago No phone policy doesn't work anymore because smart watches exist. You know how it is bro.
    via u/Apprehensive-Two3474
  • 15
    silentlyjudgingyou23 • 11h ago No phones while working is kind of a standard rule in every restaurant where I've worked.
    via u/silentlyjudgingyou23
  • 16
    Voodoo338 12h ago GIF 10 You're complaining. Air Bud was in the kitchen and you're complaining.
    via u/Voodoo338
  • 17
    Fitliv 9h ago Airbuds don't belong in the workplace. That's a terrible place for a dog.
    via u/Fitliv
  • 18
    ☑Seandeezeee • 11h ago As a former restaurant manager the cook having earbuds in is not only unprofessional but unsafe.
    via u/Seandeezeee
  • 19
    Broarethus 11h ago Worked in a restaurant and when you were visible in service window, def no earbuds and limited phone use. But some management kept warning about buds and only one ear, if I'm listening to music then I'm not touching my phone and worked better.
    via u/Broarethus
  • 20
    FunctionCertain7543 • 10h ago Let me play devil's advocate for a moment. If you're running a high end restaurant, and a customer can see a staff member taking a phone call on the job - not because that customer is actively snooping, but from where he's sitting eating his dinner - does that not give a totally unprofessional appearance?
    via u/FunctionCertain7543
  • 21
    ChallengeEuphoric237 • 10h ago I mean, I worked at McDonalds back in the day, and we basically had to wash our hands if we touched anything non food related. Touching a dirty cell phone or dirty airpods (from a food perspective) isn't very food safe. I wouldn't care if people listened to music or did the odd call, but they'd have to make sure they were following food safety standards if it was my place.
    via u/ChallengeEuphoric237
  • 22
    CreamyHaircut • 12h ago He's just an owner who is thinking about everything that could go wrong when a chef can't hear what's going on... He's the guy that pays the bill if someone gets hurt or breaks something from being distracted.
    via u/CreamyHaircut
  • 23
    CHEFTOP UNOS UNOI
    via Elle Hughes

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boss employee owner email restaurant chef colleague entitled reddit thread Reddit business entitled people service industry
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