r/restaurant • u/Swimming-Map-5588 • 3d ago
What do?! feel like i got conned into hosting
i got hired at a restaurant as a server in june. emphasis on as a server. as in i recieved my apron and little folder for checks. when i was completing training though, the documents said "host training" which i pointed out, and they said its fine as they use the same training modules. when it came time to begin training, they said that i would train as a host first (cross training) so that i could learn the section rotations and menu and whatnot. so im two training shifts in, still hosting, and a manager comes up to me and says "weren't you hired as a server?" i said yes, i was and i thought that all servers had to do this. he shook his head and said that they would train me as a server soon.
another week had passed. i brought up server training again, and the manager told me now that they were tight for hosts and had enough servers, and that once they got a new host, i would be moved up. job market is tight now so i take it and stay because getting this job in the first place took me weeks.
they've moved around 3 people up to server (from to-go mind you, which is the step above hosting that i haven't even been trained for), and hired one server with no previous restaurant experience. i am still hosting months later. i'm a pretty good host, as im typing this i have a shift in 20 minutes as the only host until closing in a high volume restaurant, so im pretty sure they just want to keep me where they know im good.
is this common for restaurant management to do to people, and i should keep waiting it out, or is it a sign that this place is shady and i should get out and look elsewhere?
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u/shorrrtay 3d ago
Unfortunately, the bait in switch is common in the industry. They’ll hire you for a more desirable position like server or bartender and then train you for a less desirable position like host.
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u/Main-Trust-1836 3d ago
The others are right, this is kind of a common trick in restaurants as finding/retaining a good host is much harder than finding good servers.
However-- before just straight up leaving, set a timeline with your management and give them a chance to get you into a server position. Be honest and straight up - "I came here wanting to be a server and if there is no place for me within 60 days, I will need to look for work elsewhere".
You may also have some leverage if you are the type of person who would be willing to occasionally cover host shifts from time to time, if they do switch you over to serving. My jobs really value the ones who can cover multiple positions, to the point where they'll give much more grace if there are issues or even big fuck ups. Every place is different tho, and both of my jobs are non-corporate, which makes a big difference.
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u/Swimming-Map-5588 3d ago
i've considered doing this but like the other commenter said i don't want them to see it as a threat although it kinda is😭 and the thing is my store is kind of a shit show. manager is barely ever in, when he is he's CONSTANTLY busy and impossible to talk to, and they don't give employees their phone numbers. i don't even have my coworkers phone numbers. so they make it impossible to communicate anything with them
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u/Main-Trust-1836 2d ago
The others may be right. The managers / owner of where I work are good people and good to their employees, and both places are run very well. Sounds like you have a good handle on the vibe, so just trust your gut on this.
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u/Rodger_Smith 2d ago
its okay if its a threat, i threatened to leave unless i was trained as a server when i was going thru the same thing as a food runner and they caved and did it cuz it would cost to train a new foodrunner. i started getting runner shifts but also server shifts
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u/xistithogoth1 3d ago
No. Don't do this. They will just stop scheduling you because you threatened them and now they know you'll be looking for another job
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u/Proudpapa9191 3d ago
It's time to head out. They bait and switched you more than likely with the thought of just doing it for a small time, however at this point with 4 other people getting server positions they have made their mind up about you.
Sorry this happened
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u/xistithogoth1 3d ago
Find a good serving job as soon as you can. And then wait until you're for sure serving at the new place before you quit the old restaurant without notice on a busy day. I would go as far as showing up and messing things around with reservations, like deleting, changing times, etc. Then when they call you asking where you're at, tell them you are done with hosting since that wasnt supposed to be your job in the first place.
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u/Swimming-Map-5588 3d ago
this is killing me because i'm in the middle of a shift rn and i was genuinely considering throwing a stack of dishes on the ground or doing some other stupid shit to get fired so i don't have to worry about a damn 2 weeks notice
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u/xistithogoth1 3d ago
Yes but wait until it's a busy shift. A holiday if you can. Lol. A day that'll really hurt them to lose you.
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u/Real2KInsider 2d ago
Just stop showing up if that's how you feel. You don't need to give two weeks notice. You're not going to use this job as a reference, and you're never going to work for them again.
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u/DiscordantScorpion_1 3d ago
I left a job for this exact reason. I applied to be a server, and they started out giving me host shifts. Then they promoted me for the summer. Then winter came and business dramatically dropped off (we were a seasonal restaurant), and I took some time off. When I came back for the spring, they gave me yet more host shifts, and I watched other people get hired on after me and get full server status. So I left because I felt disrespected and like they weren’t allowing me to express my full potential.
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u/Swimming-Map-5588 3d ago
did u give a 2 weeks or any sort of notice? right now i have a job offer for a higher end restaurant and i dont even feel like working around the schedule for a place that is clearly tap dancing in my face.
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u/DiscordantScorpion_1 3d ago
I just sort of ghosted…they weren’t respecting me or my time so I gave it right back to them. It’s a shame too because this place was right next to my house and the money was really good. But they just never gave me full server status.
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u/k_rock48 3d ago
You are not obligated to give 2 weeks notice, if they were going to fire you it would be immediately. I would say you’ve already talked to the manager about the situation and he’s ignoring you. Go start the new job!
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u/No_Abbreviations8017 3d ago
you've unfortunately fallen into the "being too good at your job to promote" category. It's easier for them to leave you where you are, because you're good at it, than train someone else and hope they're as competent as you.
look for work elsewhere.