Old cliche - but need some advice
By defeated
@defeated (141)
United States
January 22, 2007 6:54pm CST
Hi everyone. Am hoping you might be able to give me some help to help a friend.
He and I both work in the fast food industry (not for the same company though). Will NOT name the companies because it is irrelavant.
Here's his problem. The one he work for (for the past 5 years) has a a policy of having the person "rate" their own work performance before giving them a raise. No biggie you say? Well for my friend it is - about 5 months ago, they got wrote up - supposedly because of customer complaints - even though there hadn't been any mention of this sort of "problem" in the past. In this write up was a warning to them that one more complaint and they would be fired - period.
One of the things on the work performance questionaire is what are the good things that have happened in the past year, and what do you need to work on.
Here's lies the brunt of the problem - what should my friend say? Should they mention the (in their eyes) unwarranted write up as something they need to work on? If so, any ideas of what they should mention? They to this day is in the dark as to why they got the write up in the first place and isn't sure how to proceed at all. They asked me for advice - and to be honest, just have no clue what to tell them either:(
In case you're wondering - no, it's not a teenager that let their smart mouth get them in trouble - this is an adult man in his late 30's who works fast food because he loves interacting with people. This is why he is so downhearted about the whole thing.
Any serious advice will be appreciated - thanks.
3 people like this
5 responses
@nibory (177)
• United States
23 Jan 07
If he knows in his heart that their was no justifiable reason for the complaint, then he should not mention it in his evaluation.
He should look for things he knows he could do better and use that as something to work on. Or perhaps mention working on education or something that will help him perform his job better.
In one word, no.
1 person likes this
@ycanteye (778)
• United States
30 Jan 07
Boy that is a tough one. I don't feel it should be addressed in the evaluation though since he has no clue what to address. I think it is unfair to tell someone they have had a compliant registered against them and not tell them what it was or even find out if the compliant was warranted in the first place. I've seen customers complain for no reason other than they thought it would get them their food free. I think he should find out what the compliant was.
@MySpot (2600)
• United States
4 Feb 07
I totally agree with both posters... not to mention and not fair.
How can the place of business expect their employee to improve on a specific skill or even prevent themselves from making the same mistake, for that matter, if they don't specify why they were written up in the first place? I don't think I could 'not ask' or know...it seems like common sense that the employer would address an issue with an employee anyway.
@Datingtheplayer (661)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I think he just needs to mention in his write up that he is gaining great customer service skills by working so closely with customers... he has developed patience and hopes to continue building up this skill as he continues to work with the customers.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
•
13 Feb 07
I would say if he thought he was right and the other person was in the wrong then he should not mention it , but as others on here have said , get it sorted out for his own peace of mind , he sounds a good level headed guy so go get it sorted so its not hanging over his head xx
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
23 Jan 07
Has he asked to see the actual complaints, which I feel should be made to be put in writing and kept my management at least until the person involved got to read it, are you sure these complaint are legit or is just the company throwing in a stumbling block so he doesn't get a raise....all he can do really is be honest with his feelings, if his conduct towards the customers is good then he shouldn't have any problems, if it is the product it self then that should come back on the company not him....I hope he gets if sorted out, people should be happy in their jobs, goodluck to him.
@defeated (141)
• United States
23 Jan 07
I'm not sure if there were actual "written" complaints or if there was just his write up. Never thought to ask him about that.
At the company I work for, you get told someone "called" to complain - but never seen an actual written complaint at my job either.
Will have to ask him - thanks for the idea.
1 person likes this
@mansha (6298)
• India
13 Feb 07
I think he has donme the right thing by not mentioning it usually people just put in complaints even without reason, Isn't this some kind of wrong policy. Shouldn't management look in tothe problem firsty and evaluate the person as he is may be rate him by mystery shopper kind of thing before firing him.
