Wedding Hell
Sunday, November 4th, 2007
Last night was painful. Personally, it didn’t quite top New Years Eve 2006 for the worst working night of my life but it did come pretty close. Had I been Duty Manager, then the scales would have been tipped.
The wedding breakfast went just as well as any other wedding breakfast. 45 people enjoying a three course meal with mine and champagne. The bride and groom were enjoying themselves and the day was on course. When the group disbands and leaves the room, we have a short amount of time to strip down the tables, clear whatever dirty glassware and crockery remain and prep the room for the evening reception. For us, this consists of setting up with the DJ, adjusting any table layout for the increased number of guests arriving in the evening, and preparing for the buffet.
By 7:30 there was still no sign of the DJ and all attempts at contacting had failed. Even his mum couldn’t get him on his mobile, but she told us that he was not working tonight. With the room due to open at about 7:30, time was running a bit thin. More guests were arriving but there was no entertainment to provide for them.
Read on..
Tags: People, Work. 
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I need a vacation
Sunday, September 30th, 2007
This holiday is very much needed. In less than twenty-four hours I should be well on my way across the Atlantic for a week of sun and thrill rides. In a way it has come at a good time, because work is becoming evermore stressful, but in another way it is most unwelcome as for the next two weeks there is an air of uncertainty over my future.
I need a promotion desperately, and am willing to take pretty much anything right now. So long as it encompasses more money and authority then it is a step forward. Right now, all the extras that I do that are above and beyond my pay grade are simply not worth my effort. I get paid the same wage as all the other food and beverage guys and yet do more work.
In the last two days I have found out that a guy in my place is being given the position as assistant food and beverage supervisor, or something like that. The question begs – assistant to who? It’s certainly not me. I don’t think it would be the General Manager either because he doesn’t spend any time in our department to oversee anything. The only other possibility is assistant to a new Operations Manager, who I have heard rumours of. There was even a mention of a new one being in place by the time I got back from holiday, and any ops manager who comes along will surely be putting in a significant presence in our department in our very heavily food and beverage orientated hotel.
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From Disciplinery to Promotion in 3 easy steps
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
The disciplinary action facing myself and two of my work friends has been formally dropped. Thank heavens for that. The General Manager who was calling for it has now left to be replaced by a new guy, who felt that it wasn’t necessary given that we are fully aware of the severity of the incident, and it would also be a rather crappy start to our working relationships.
With a new manager comes more change. My good friend and former Operations Manager has now moved on to bigger better things leaving my department with a somewhat fragmented managerial structure. Officially, we have no bar or restaurant managers or supervisors. This could pose some kind of problems from ordering napkins to getting our collective shit together when all hell is descending upon us. It does so frequently.
As of writing this, no formal title has been handed to me. I am still a food and beverage assistant. This will not do.
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Discipline this… too
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Had my disciplinary interview today, much to my surprise. I thought I was just going in to balance the cellars and do some keyline checks when the head of human resources hands me a letter requiring my attendance to the investigative interview in about half an hour.
It did not go well at all. I should have lied. I wish I had lied. The truth is painful and the truth is what they got and now it’s going to bite me in the ass. I admitted that I did not follow company procedures with regard to taking room charges so I’ve pretty much dug my own grave. All that’s left is to curl up in it and die.
I am so freakin pissed with the general manager right now that I am certain to be leaving my position soon, and it should come as no surprise. About 12 weeks ago I announced that I would be resigning without immediate effect, as so that the company would not be left in the lurch whilst a number of staff were taking holiday. Reasons for this included lack of progress, lack of proper management or supervision within my department, unfavorable working conditions and the unlikely prospect of any of these factors being given due attention in the near future. I was persuaded to stay with the promise of change that comes under new management and more attention to my personal development.
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Discipline this
Thursday, August 23rd, 2007
The General Manger wants to issue a disciplinary to me and my two friends. I guess he’s pissed off that a number of guests swindled their way out of paying for about £300 worth of drink on Saturday by faking signatures all night.
You see, when a guest arrives at the hotel they can preauthorise their room account with their credit card which allows them to charge goods and services to that account during their stay. Everything is tallied up to a single bill which is paid for at reception. At the time of check-in, they are issued with a room charge card which has on it the booking name, the room number and signature of the card holder. When a guest wants to charge to their room account, we staff are required to ask for this card for proof of residency in the appropriate room. The customer must then sign their itemised till receipt which is retained by us and used as evidence of purchase should there be any queries by the customer when they come to pay their final bill.
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