Never leave work just because your GF is mad at you!

This weekend, I was working in a kitchen on a wedding. The kitchen crew of five had just finished unloading the two company vans and was now setting up kitchen work stations. After a mere half hour on the job, a young culinary student slash Newbie caterer told us, "Sorry guys. I gotta go. My lady... I have to go take care of her."

"Is she hurt?" someone asked.

"Nah, nah. She's freaking out. Sorry to leave. This would've been fun, I know it," Newbie said. "She keeps calling me," he added. Why he was answering his cell phone at work, who knows?

The kitchen Boss Man, told him calmly, "OK, OK," which may not be how I would've responded. Then again, perhaps Boss Man has been in the biz long enough to be able to spot and deal with flakes easily.  It turned out we would be okay without Newbie's "help" for the event.

Newbie's leaving seemed unbelievably immature and wrong, but also depressed me. Newbie is about to graduate from the California Culinary Academy, which is my alma mater. His actions were a poor reflection on the school. If this was how Newbie operated, he was only setting himself up to fail at cooking. This wasn't the first time I had seen this sort of work ethic. There were also ample flakes (and crazies) when I was in cooking school.

Much later, at the end of the night, I laughed about the Newbie incident with the Boss Man: "Why was he taking calls? Is someone hurt or dead?" -- about the only reasons to take a call at work.

"I know!" Boss Man said, nodding his head. "That seemed a little odd that he was leaving." Odd, stupid, unreliable, and dumb.

I told Boss Man that another kitchen worker who was acquainted with Newbie told me that the girlfriend in question was "crazy, and total drama," which gave a little more insight into their relationship. This was the first time Newbie had signed up to work with the catering company. The chances of him getting emailed or called to work for them again may be close to zero.

Comments

[Dr. Biggles]

Ya know, I wouldn't wish being in your 20s on anyone. I know, barely lived all the way through mine.

As near as I can tell, moving through your teens, you clearly know it all, and more. Then, in your 20s you can get a chance to show everyone you know it all. With wild abandon you set forth to show the rest of us dumbshits how it's done. And relationships are right at the top of that heap, above it all.

He/she may or may not get it, but someone needs to sit down and have a talk. It took me a handful of those before I came around. My mother taught me to never bring your manager a problem, bring them a solution, and find a job that nobody wants to do and do that one. Not bad at 17, if I do say so myself.

Kick their ass, remove cel phone and get your butt to work! DAMMIT !!!

[Jalapeno Girl]

Dr. Biggles: well put, as always.

[greg]

Yes i went to the CCA too, a long time ago before it became a puppy farm turning out litters of "cooks" Its sad dealing with most of the young help these days, when that kind of stuff happens, we just look at each other and say " we will alaways have a job"

[Jalapeno Girl]

Greg,

It is sad and incredibly frustrating dealing with apathy at work. I hardly bother telling someone to show up early, work hard, help out, keep busy, and so on. My main reason: the info would likely be unwelcome or lost on the recipient.

[kitchen equipment]

I have to agree with all of those above. When you're given the chance to work, an opportunity to shine... You really have to take it. A career is something you work at for most of your adult life. A relationship in your 20s probably won't last half as long. What a bad move.

John.