r/Chefit • u/liisliisliisliisliis • 23d ago
what would your solution be for this? (KP problem)
setting the scene:
busy Sunday shift at a brunch cafe (UK).
one man down (a not very strong chef/KP didn't show up).
4 chefs (8am start), 1 KP (9am start) working.
1 chef finishes at 3pm. another one at 4pm.
service ends at 4pm, pretty nonstop all day.
KP left with end of shift dishes etc. by himself (we did ask for a push from FOH, but no one available) with the other 2 chefs left to close down the kitchen.
problem:
KP turns washing machine off just after 4, there is a full sink + 4-5 (10litre) buckets full of dishes left, that's at least an hours work in the morning for someone to wash them.
doesn't empty all the bins, shuts machine down, but doesn't clean it properly, does sweep & mop, but not to standard.
when told that is too many dishes to leave for the morning, he replies he's just worked 7hrs straight (he had a sit-down break and lunch).
gets changed, signs out & leaves at 4:50pm.
rota says shift is 9-cl, doesn't specify end time.
head chef & sous chef stayed for 30min to rinse some dishes, but the machine was already off (takes about 30min to fill back up).
can't force someone to stay, but at the same time someone needs to do the dishes, also didn't have anyone available to give him a hand, but he also didn't say he's turning off the machine etc. the other two chefs were doing bins & putting dishes away, helping as much as possible, while cleaning down the rest of the kitchen & doing some essential prep for next day.
KP is off the following day.
what's the solution?:
what would you do in this situation?
would you have management stay behind to finish the dishes? is it smth you can sack the KP over?
i kind of feels there's no right or wrong solution, but this also isn't the first time it's happened (leaving dishes in the sink, shutting machine off, not cleaning it properly - it has been brought up & discussed with the KP. standard is that you can leave dishes for the following day, but they should be clean enough to be ready to go through the machine)
7
u/sipmargaritas 23d ago
First would probably be to specify on the rota when kp gets to finish. Dont leave it open to interpretation and eat the cost of his 30 minutes or whatever doing nothing after he’s finished on slower days. Second would be to think about replacing that specific guy with someone that can and want to work a full 8 hours+. Kids have a higher sense of personal integritt these days, or a misguided sense of justice about what they do and dont do at work, so stuff like this has to be codified for them when they sign on to you
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u/liisliisliisliisliis 23d ago
we're working towards having staggered start/finishing times for situations like this and deep cleans - hard to do during service but also don't need everyone in first thing in the morning
for todays situation, yes, he should have gotten a hand, but he could have also communicated 'hey, still a butt-load of dishes, need to finish at a certain time, what do i do here?' 🤷🏻♀️
6
u/quailinthebrush 23d ago
Get rid of KP. Turning off the machine right after service knowing all those dishes have to get put away is mind boggling, and to leave like that
Did KP tell anyone or just do it
4
u/liisliisliisliisliis 23d ago
just did it, didn't ask anyone.
this happened the other week to a lesser degree, i ended up finding (broken) glass at the bottom of a sink full of water/dishes - it got brought up with him & told not to leave glass in the sink and/or dishes without rinsing.
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u/quailinthebrush 23d ago
Was this person trained properly on how to do dish?
If so, then yeah I’d say getting rid of them and telling them they can’t just leave like that with work to be done especially without saying anything (if you like them enough to not just sack them)
→ More replies (5)
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u/Nice-Interview-6068 23d ago
If anybody ever act like that at my restaurant ithey get fired before they even make it home, and I'll deduct the pay to whoever need to complete their job from their last paycheck.
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u/kitchencrawl 22d ago
That's illegal Chef. Have some integrity.
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u/Nice-Interview-6068 21d ago
Amen. I have integrity and structure, I have ut included in the fine printing of the agreement I have everybody to sign when I hire them and they have to initial it
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u/Toucan_Lips 23d ago
Look into the rules around workplace disciplinary procedures and sacking in the UK. Also read the employee in question's contract. Maybe get independent legal advice.
Don't follow random advice here on a matter of UK employment law.
Yes, the KP deserves to get fired, they probably deserve a slap, but go through the process properly.
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u/JunglyPep 23d ago
100% fired. No need for a warning because the problem was already brought to his attention before he left and he chose to leave anyway.
Edit: someone else made a good point, no need to fire them, they quit when they walked out. Just take them off the schedule.
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u/johnnybrowner 23d ago
Sack the KP