The Right Guy At The Wrong Time

            But first, the firing. This individual had been working as a food server at the San Francisco eatery for over a year. As I would find out, his employee folder had two write-ups for minor infractions--one involving a heated exchange with another employee and the other for being late for a shift.

            Near the end of the evening, I was seated at the bar and watched as he presented a three-top their check. No more than two minutes later, I watched the guests head for the front door, only to be followed by their server. He spoke with them, seemingly explaining something about their bill. It looked as if the host was apologetic as he reached for his wallet and handed the server some money.

            "So, what was that about?" I asked shortly thereafter.

            He shook his head as if amazed. "They left me six dollars on a $95 check. I wanted to ask them if I had done something wrong, or if they had just made a mistake."

            I was incredulous. "You mean you asked them if they had under-tipped you by mistake?"

            A wrinkle of concern crossed his brow. "Well, yeah, I just figured that they had made a math error. I mean, if I had done something wrong I want to know about it."

            I told him to go finish his side work and promptly called my client. With the sound of the surf in the background, I explained to him what happened. After what seemed like an uncomfortably long silence he said, "How were the people you interviewed this afternoon?"

            "They were alright. But do you remember the server who waited on us Wednesday night? Well, you must not have been as objectionable that night I thought because she came in and filled out an application. I spoke with her briefly and think she's spot-on."

            Another pause. "Why does she want to leave Chez Fake Name?"

            I told him that the restaurant's general manager had been getting far too friendly of late, and despite her protestations, the man just wasn't going to leave her be. I pointed out that she had done a marvelous job waiting on us the previous night, especially considering that my client is gruff, demanding and barely socialized. His only personal attribute is that he is well aware of his considerable shortcomings and delegates well.

            "Well, Robert, I guess we're through"

            I was dumbfounded. "Through? What do you mean we're through?"

            Even over the sound of the surf I could hear that he had had enough of me. "Two words Plotkin...fire and hire!" With that he hung up.

            I should have studied harder in school. Anyway, minutes later I had filled out the termination report and called the young man into the office. "Approaching guests about the amount of a gratuity is unacceptable. Regardless of why, or whether you think that they made have made an inadvertent error, it's totally inappropriate."

            The young man's eye's started to glaze over as he mumbled an apology. I shut off my empathy, girdled my fortitude and said, "We have no alternative but to let you go." About fifteen minutes later he had composed himself enough to leave.

            I should mention that I am not keen on firing people. I'm not sure if anyone really is, but I find it impossible not to empathize with what the person must be going through. How do you emotionally console someone when you're the hatchet man?

            So while I was dealing with my own emotional wounds, a server knocked on the door and said that there was someone at the bar who wanted to see me. It turned out to be woman who I had spoken with earlier in the day. She had just quit her job, this after the general manager took liberties bordering on criminal.

            I got her a cup of coffee and we spoke for the better part of an hour. Today she started her new job.