Employers

[Chef Isaac]

I have found a few things somewhat funny lately as I turned in my letter for resignation to my current emploer.

When we hire people, we really try to pull them in quick so they can start training and get itno production. They say "we have to give 2 weeks notice at our other job" and then, we ask employers, try to talk them into starting earlier.

However, on the flip side, when it is time for someone to leave, like myself, the curent employer tries to hold you back and mandate you give a months notice.

Funny thing is is that in my letter of resignation, I told my employer that I am starting my teaching job on this date and time. So I would have to come in a little later to my current job. Wow... that was not taken so calmly by my GM. He yelled at me on Friday. I almost just left.

I consulted with some other chef friends of mine and they said that it is to the point in time that I can call the shots. My current employer doesnt want to find some sort of compromise... then I can just leave. I gave them a months notice and to be frank, for everything I have done at this account and for the company, I do not see a problem with working around my schedule. I am still willing to do 40 hour work weeks. The fact of the matter is is that I can not come in at the time I used to. It has to be later.

RRRRRRR..................

My first class starts Monday. I will for sure not be telling the school that I can not teach because of my other job. This is sorta a once in a life time opprotunity for me at my age at this time of my life.

My mom says just to take all my vaction, comp time, and personal time. That is a thought.

[Sundance]

My mom says just to take all my vaction, comp time, and personal time. That is a thought.


I second your Mom's advise!!

Listen, you're going above and beyond by offering a months
notice. If my boss layed into me after that............ See Ya,
vacation time................

Good luch Chef...... it sounds like an unappreciative boss. Or
he/she is not taking the stress well.

[dhood]

Hey Chef, I have just recently went through a similar sitiuation a couple of years ago. Managed a restuarant for 5 years, after they almost went bankrupt and was forced to sell to a large franchise things went downhill fast. After a year of 75+ hours a week min.( of course on salary) it was either my marriage or my job. When I finally got the offer I was looking for I left a notice (they also required a month), they for the first time in three years immediantly offered me a 6,000 raise. I still decided to leave and start a new career as a machinist. I said all that so that i could say this. I now work about 50 hrs. a week getting paid overtime, M-F, and taking my family to church on a regular basis, and for the first time in my life had the time I needed to start my first honeybee colonies (have wanted to for several years). Life has never been better. I hope you soon have the same story.
And check with your local labor dept. but in SC, if you leave a notice and work it, they must pay you for all accumulated vacation time but not holiday with your last check.

[Sundance]

These employers that "require" a months notice...... Do
they give you a months pay if they lay you off?? Do they
guarantee a months pay if they downsize??

dhood......... congrats on the right decision. Time with
family and your hobbies is priceless.... No job is worth
75 hours a week (regularly).

[alpha6]

Chef,

Forget about them if they won't work with you. You already have another job, so its not like you will need their recommendation to get one.

I say you go to some country station and learn the words for "Take this job and shove it." :p

Time you put the old behind you and put all your energy into the new. Doesn't sound like it is worth the headache to me.

[Zane]

Focus on the new job!!! Its rough to lose a good chef I'm sure and they are going to miss you. Try to get your comp time, you worked it already and deserve the time, you dont work for free. Your old boss needs to work w/ you or else your not going to stick around! I imagine you need the pay until the new gig gets going so talk to him. I've had good and bad boss's. I hope your Boss is on the good side! Hopefully you can talk it out but you hold the cards now not him!!!!You dont need the stress. Dont worry, Have a homebrew!!! Good Luck Teacher!!!!

[Michael Palmer]

My first class starts Monday....

So, does this mean that you'll have more time for your bees? When we talked, it seemed the only way to get over your stressful situation was to work less in the kitchen.

Good move Isaac.

[randydrivesabus]

it is customery to give 2 weeks notice. this is a courtesy to your employer. if it ain't good enough thats too freakin bad. give your energy to your new job. you don't owe your former employer anything.

[Chef Isaac]

I packed up my desk and took all my books home on Friday. I was pretty pissed off. I have a call into my bosses boss and will talk with him. I feel like I compromised enough. If my boss cant see that or actually respect that fact that I can get everything done or appreciate everything I have done in the last three years, then I will say good bye.

Yes, this will mean more time with the bees. I can not wait. I will actualy get a vacation... three times a year and holidays off. Something I never had. I lost my vacation every year for the last three years either because we were not staffed up enough or it wasent a good time. I am happy for the move!

[MapMan]

I must be out of the loop - a month's notice? That's crazy! For some people who left my employ, I figured that two weeks notice was fine. If I thought that they would be worthless for those two weeks (come on, human nature warrants that you would not give even 32% if you were leaving for another job), I let them go earlier than two weeks... A month is way too long, even (especially) for executive positions.

You won't get your comp time, as it usually isn't "recorded", and vacation time is only yours if accrued. If you have known about this Monday as the start time for your new job, and you need a change in hours to make it work, and you just let the GM know on Friday, I think that it was very inappropriate to let him know so late. You'd be ticked off too, if someone pulled that on you! I tend to look at both sides, since I was an employee, and an employer. Just remember, your name is still out there in terms of reference on your resumé for possible jobs in the future, as you'll likely change positions again. Don't want a bad name in the industry.

MM

[Chef Isaac]

MM: Yes, but on my leter of resignation, which I handed in on Monday, it said I was starting my new job on Friday and teaching from 6 am to 11 am hence, I can not be there until I am done with my class. Not sure why it matters... I will still get everything done like I did and have done for the last three years. Ordering, scheduling, etc...all the menus, training, employee evaluations, etc. It will all be done. The ONLY thing that is different is that I will not be in at 10:30 am... I will be in around 1 pm.

I am not trying to burn any bridges.... however, I am compromising. I gave them a months notice, something that is done in our industry out of respect.

[TwT]

Wow... that was not taken so calmly by my GM. He yelled at me on Friday. I almost just left.

you are a lot better person than me, think I would have got Fired after I finished with that GM, I got yelled at when I was a kid and no longer, my boss or bosses can talk to me about stuff and that what I do to them, but when yelling starts they better be ready to take it to the dirt road, the only one that yells at me now and gets away with it is my wife and she does it enough to cover everyone else :) (maybe that's why I cant take it, Quota filled ;) ) One of the first things people in the Business world should be is Professional, if they can then they shouldn't have a Leadership Job!


My mom says just to take all my vacation, comp time, and personal time. That is a thought.

smart women, that's what you should do.

[Mathispollenators]

I think your mother knows best and sounds like a wonderful wise lady. Follow Mom's advice and enjoy teaching.

[papa bear]

good for you chef. you answered a bad situation with integrity. i hope they will find out what they have lost. and don't worry about the new job everything always does workout for the best.

[randydrivesabus]

burnt bridges or not you have to look out for #1.(thats you in case you don't know).

[Barry Digman]

When I was a young man working derricks in the oilfield, they had a rather unique way of handling employment. The driller was responsible for getting the 5-man crew to the rig. Sometimes it was an hour away, sometimes 3 hours. Sometimes you simply moved with the rig, sometimes you flew out every day. Anyway, you stood on the curb in front of your house/apartment/room and if he stopped and picked you up you knew you still had a job. If he didn't stop you were fired. No questions asked. Quitting was known as "twisting off", as in a bolt that was torqued until it finally twisted off.


It's always interesting to hear how different industries handle employment, and the terminology that's associated with the jobs and the work. New hires were called weevils or worms, and a slight injury like skinned knuckles or a knot on your forehead was a "weevil bite". Among other things, our rig had cat heads, mouse holes, rat holes, monkey boards, dog houses, and pony rods. The fellow who worked for the company who contracted for the rig was the "company man". The rig superintendent was the "tool pusher".

I've always wondered where terms like "swamper", which is the guy who rides along with a truck driver and does the hardest work, originated.

[Keith Jarrett]

Yes, this will mean more time with the bees. I can not wait.

Me either. :) good luck Chef, I meant good luck...

[tecumseh]

the chef writes:
My mom says just to take all my vaction, comp time, and personal time. That is a thought.

tecumseh replies: and you would question the advice your momma gave ya'? I would not.

your description(s) does suggest how far south the relationship between employee and employer has evolved. in this case the evolution is not really such an improvement.

good luck in your new gig chef...

[cow pollinater]

Chef,
I won't question your mom's judgement, but there is something to be said for sticking it out as best as you can and soldiering on. As an employer, I look for people who put their responsabilities within my employment first and THEN take what is owed to them. I also go out of my way to make sure that their needs are met first, foremost, and before mine are so that there is never a conflict, but I don't think your current employer gets that logic.
While taking what is owed to you (personal, sick, vacation leave) is certainly not dishonorable, being able to look a future employer in the eye and tell them that you gave nothing but your best, and accepted less than owed, to a company that was still hard to work with looks much better than the "suckem dry" approach. Give them your best until the last minute. Then you can leave with your head held high. (and your middle finger in the air if you so choose.:D)