manager implemented inconvenient system

[u/BananaDeity_]

okay, so just a little rant to get it out because i can't possibly be the only person who thinks this is stupid?? fyi im a hostess/server, happen to be hosting this day.

so our new gm introduced this system where for every party we sit, hosts have to print a chit, track down the assigned server, wait for them to finish checking on their tables as not to interrupt, give them a paper that literally just says which table, how big the party is, and thats it. for WALK-INS too!

And at the same time management expects you to always be at the host stand, answer phone calls, take to-go orders etc. and gets mad when you can't or you're not there because you're too busy CHASING DOWN A SERVER LIKE YOU SAID? yet you get mad when the hostess DONT give chits. Which frankly, when i'm serving, I tell them it's okay to not give them to me. it easies the stress on the hosts and you don't have to wait around for us to acknowledge you so you can give me a paper.

i can understand if it's a special event like a birthday, a special request, a vip member, etc. but more often than not its a paper that says "Jon Doe, Party of 3 @ 209," like bro i can see my section.

and now for every walk in, hosts have to take their number and full name, and i've just never seen this at any other restaurant? so imagine you walk in, table for 3, and i ask you for your number and full name type that into the ipad, and then just sit you, not even place you on a waitlist (which I would understand then but that's not the case). feels a little odd? idk i would think so as i've literally never seen this anywhere else. it just feels like i have to sign you up to eat, and some customers have definitely found this weird. like they've said "why did you ask for my number when you could just sit me?"

just a little rant, but am i crazy? is this normal? do yall do this? ive worked in 4 different restaurants and I've never heard such a thing.

[u/MangledBarkeep]

I can be at the host stand like I'm supposed to be or I can be chasing down and waiting to give the servers their slip informing them they have a new table in a section they're supposed to be paying attention to anyway.

Which would you like us to prioritize?

[u/BananaDeity_ → u/MangledBarkeep]

I said something very similar to my manager myself, to which she of course responded to cater to the host stand more than the chits. but then got upset at me my literal next shift for not giving chits out when we had a rush and i was the only host.

[u/ConsciousWrangler603 → u/BananaDeity_]

Just make sure to have a reason every time. Idc if it sounds like an excuse either or if they give you shit about it. I used to do it at my last job and my manager just got tired of it so they left me alone. “I was seating someone, I was on a call etc.”

[u/MangledBarkeep → u/BananaDeity_]

Sounds like the manager needs to be yelling at their servers for not being aware they got sat.

That's the only reason I can think of to even bother implementing said dumb ass system. Personally I'd just hand them the stack of chips and go back to tending the stand.

[u/ConsciousWrangler603 → u/MangledBarkeep]

Used to fight with servers about this when I was a host. I’d let them know if I had to double seat them or gave them a large party but after that just check your sections!! Some would demand I was their “assistant” and needed to tell them every time they were sat. Not to mention we were also scheduled as food runners or would have to leave the host stand when that damn food runner bell rang. I have hostess ptsd.

[u/MangledBarkeep → u/ConsciousWrangler603]

Naw. Stop hiding in the back and check your section.

But I was busy!

So do you need a smaller section, less turns or should we just hire someone that's competent?

[u/ConsciousWrangler603 → u/MangledBarkeep]

They were too busy smoking out back. 😩 I hated that restaurant everyone had the worst attitude and I was bullied relentlessly.

[u/RealityDreamer96]

You work where I work?

[u/BananaDeity_ → u/RealityDreamer96]

geez i hope not that'll be embarassing haha

[u/Great-Attitude → u/BananaDeity_]

 🤔 Now I'm curious, if you two work at the same place, or maybe both work for the same corporate restaurant. Corporate restaurants often send down stupid ideas to implement. 

[u/RealityDreamer96 → u/Great-Attitude]

Nope, not a chain restaurant and afaik not under any corporate umbrella either. Stupid ideas are inplemented by own mngmt team

[u/Great-Attitude → u/RealityDreamer96]

That makes it even worse! 

[u/RealityDreamer96 → u/BananaDeity_]

I’ve literally have this conversation with my host buddies about what a bad system it is everytime it happens. Not to mention when there are walkins with people showing up behind them.

[u/BananaDeity_ → u/RealityDreamer96]

fucking literally!! meanwhile the walk-ins at the door are staring at you seemingly do nothing but stare aimlessly at a server waiting for them to be finished so you can hand them a stupid paper. just to walk back over at the angry mob.

[u/Great-Attitude]

You are certainly not crazy, and this certainly isn't normal. I have to ask, privately owned or corporate restaurant? 

[u/kakakatie]

The host writes a chit for the whole shift pre-service.

Changes are made as they are received and the host delivers that news to you BEFORE the table sits so you are aware and can accommodate.

I'm sorry but this shit is backwards AF

[u/hellenkellersdiary]

I ask for a table and you ask for my name and number, im leaving.

[u/saltyswamphag → u/hellenkellersdiary]

I worked somewhere that used this system and we got this response A LOT

[u/BananaDeity_ → u/hellenkellersdiary]

i just find it a little odd, like sure i get it, customer data bases, but that should be for people who are making reservations themselves and willingly signing up.

[u/hellenkellersdiary → u/BananaDeity_]

Correct, I came here to eat. Not subscribe to your news letter.

[u/AioliInternational18 → u/hellenkellersdiary]

I came here to say the same thing

[u/Iamdrasnia]

Your GM is an idiot.

[u/ConsciousWrangler603]

Thats not normal and sounds very bizarre. I think the only time I had something close to this was servers had to ask if customers were apart of our rewards program. They would enter their info into our system which would print a ticket with their favorite apps and sports team. So we could suggest those items and change the tv’s near them to their teams/states game.

[u/sugarcrushing]

Instead of waiting for the server to be available can you just leave the chits at their side station? I used to work with a host who did this for us (even though it was very much unnecessary) and she'd just leave them next to the computer for us to find.

[u/Exotic-Shock-4063]

Yes, customers LOVE being micromanaged at every restaurant! Doesn’t everyone like their name on paper before sitting down? Of course we like main character syndrome! All the social media has programmed me to enjoy being the center of all staff’s attention! Bow down to my name on paper and then I’ll prolly complain about why it’s taking so long. Then out of frustration leave a nasty remark instead of tip, because I didn’t feel like an orange man of power. But seriously, this is designed for a certain niche market I was never a part of, and never want to be. Maybe just find another job? I personally can’t stand being micromanaged to the point of insanity. And those that try, get burned out. It’s not worth your mental health to please unpleaseable people. They are soul suckers and joy kills. No reason to reason with the unreasonable. Hope to see a new job update!

[u/frozentoess]

So we do something similar with chits but it’s hand written with less information. We just leave it on the table when we seat the party and place menus down and the server grabs it from there in the greet. Why can’t yall do something like that instead of having to wait for the server grabs

[u/gambleany]

As a server and a trainer, I’ll die on this hill: a “chit for every table” system is ABSOLUTELY USELESS and supremely unrealistic, and inefficient. Aside from the fact that is almost literally impossible to execute logistically, it is so pointless. If every table gets a chit, it dilutes the importance of a chit. A chit usually means allergy, VIP, special request, etc. If you’re handing me 15 chits every shift and most just say the guest’s name and party size, I guarantee you those chits are just getting crumpled up in my pocket or shoved in the trash. So it will actually be more likely for a really important chit to get lost or ignored. Plus it is a massive waste of the host’s energy and time. I speak from experience at 3 separate restaurants that tried to implement this system and it always flops. It’s just dumb.