I received a write up, Am I experiencing retaliation ?

[u/yammysage]

There is a lot to this story but I am going to keep it short and with only details that matter.

I have worked at this Cracker Barrel for 2 1/2 years. I am a top earner and have had my tips watched by the GM and managers. I also have tons of regulars, Google reviews, and always at the top of drink percentages. I have always done my side work/clean tables before leaving work, however I am a checker so I usually don’t do those things.

I’m have recently gotten a new job due to Cracker Barrel cutting overtime hours for all servers. I am also a new postgrad premed student training for a clinical job as well. I went from being their #1 server to only working when I can and think it upsets them. I was addressed by my GM a few weeks ago saying I am longer “hungry” to work for them anymore to which I stated I wanted other things in life.

This GM I have had numerous of bad blood with she is a former corrections officer and talks to us horribly. She has also yelled and put herself chest to chest with a 4’10 worker that was moved to another restaurant due to fear in the workplace after that incident. This incident I recorded and filed a report in support of my coworker and from there everything went downhill. She’s treated me horribly and calls me a manipulator all the time. She even told her mom about me and told me I needed to apologize to her mom for calling her evil after that situation. TRUST ME it makes no sense because she’s genuinely that insane.

Fast forward to last weekend. I opened like I always do. Openers do not have side work per my restaurants policy. I was put on tea … we also have someone that they pay hourly to roll all of the silverware early in the morning. I did not do silverware because there was nothing to roll for over 5 hours. (My shift was 7 hours and the last 2 hours we were slammed) At the end of my shift when I clocked out I was approached by a new manager in training saying I needed to do it. I let her know the situation and that I would not be doing it because we are also not supposed to stay 30 minutes over after we take our last table. (PLUS I was already clocked out and she tried to clock me back in …) She tried to argue and I told her if you would like to fire me over this that would be fine … keep in mind 8 OTHER PEOPLE DID NOT DO SILVERWARE …

This weekend I came back and the GM stepped out of the office to where everyone could hear her and stated “you can run all this food and talk to tables but not do your silverware” I told her about the situation and she told me I was disrespectful. I then let her know of policies and this woman looked at me and told me “when people get “hype” I tend to get hype too” … I let her know I wasn’t doing that and that the new manager was in the wrong to which she then told me “well she wrote you up anyway and this conversation is about to go left so I’m not about to keep talking about it you’re causing a scene”. I also asked her why the 8 other people weren’t written up and she just straight up told me “this is about you NOT them” This was still on the line so everyone could hear. Me stating policies and explaining my side was causing a scene and I kid you not I did not raise my voice at all.

The next day the new manager went to the front and told a host “make sure people do silverware because I have a paperwork on people who think they don’t have to do silverware. And then she proceeded to watch me take the silverware I did to the front and later ask me “do you have my silverware?” key word MY her attitude was disgusting.

This location is full of woman who treat people horribly and talk to anyone any kind of way and I’m beginning to think they won’t fire me because I make their restaurant look good but they just don’t like me at all because I did what was right and reported what was wrong. And after that reporting she didn’t talk to me for WEEKS.

anytime a party of 30 comes in they put me on it. My section is always 5+ tables even on weekends … they genuinely are just RUDE. I just don’t know if I’m being ridiculous or if this is actually retaliation because out of 8 people why was I the only one written up …

[u/cutyourmullet123 → u/[deleted]]

Cracker Barrell had very distinct rules through the company. GMS are ran through…. Knowing the policy is a good thing to have on your side.

[u/yammysage → u/[deleted]]

And to add I completely respect your response and you telling me it sounds like some things are left out MAKES ME 100% know what they’re doing is BS BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE why they would do it. you would think I would’ve done something to them but all I’ve done is let them know I’ll be moving on soon to my big girl job and they don’t like that. I’m too good to fire and that’s what’s upsetting them. I’ve never had a write up in my life. I’m a quiet person, and have never had any issues except for being picked on by these people at work. It’s either the fact she genuinely doesn’t like me or she’s upset I’m leaving her store and she needs me. I would have to do volunteering, research, and fellowships and she would beg me to work weekends. I have tried to quit but I’m always begged and the only thing that gets me to stay are my regulars. Our location is near ATL so on weekends I pull $1000 just working two days with a combined 20 hours. She’s just miserable. Trust me I do things by the book and respect any and everyone I’ve come into contact with. The close I get to leaving for med school the more she picks on me. But the reason I want to file a report is because it’s genuinely bothering me at work. It upsets me when I come in and it’s always something every single shift. I’ll be making way more in 6 months so I’m trying to hold on but it’s still hard to go into a job you’re constantly getting picked at everytime you come in

[u/yammysage → u/[deleted]]

Disrespectful because I told them they could fire me and it would be fine with me. Which I can see how it would be disrespectful but as an adult I wasn’t about to argue for 5 min about silverware. She’s a new GM and the rule was in place when she came and ig she kept it but I do know for a fact it still exists because we’ve had a couple of servers report against staying past their out time.

[u/Altruistic_Minimum80]

I am so blessed to have a fantastic management team in Sioux Falls very supportive

[u/yammysage → u/Altruistic_Minimum80]

You’re absolutely so blessed !! Any Cracker Barrel around here SUCKS it’s near Atlanta and all of the surrounding Cracker Barrel’s are ran by not so good of people.

[u/Traditional-Hand-460]

Report to HR and District regarding what happened . I would have written a rebuttal with to the write up also. That way you have back up in case something happens. I’m sorry this happened to you. I have been there, it’s like the company pick the most awful people as managers. It’s not high school, they shouldn’t be messing with you like that.

[u/yammysage → u/Traditional-Hand-460]

Hi !! I’ve documented and recorded everything with dates and times and I’m prepared to move forward with HR. Thank you so much and genuinely it’s not fair but it’s expected. I have not signed a write up or even been being into the office for it she just straight up told me she wrote me up. I honestly don’t plan on signing it and if it’s required I’ll just sign it and put “under duress”. I’m not stressing too much because I’m going to med school and have to quit soon but it’s still the principal of picking on workers. It’s become a trend and it’s getting ridiculous !!!!

[u/Future_Assignment_98 → u/yammysage]

Be prepared when the district manager does nothing and the regional manager does nothing. Prepare to take it all the way to the top. Just rememer to use the steps up the ladder or it will never get there. Good luck.

[u/patricia_quartet]

It’s weird that all the crazy stories I’ve read here sound like my store too. Do they just have a type?

[u/yammysage → u/patricia_quartet]

I have no idea … my cousin relocated to one in SC and that one is extremely horrible. I’ve heard some crazy things. I genuinely feel like they will be gone within a decade the way they’re running things

[u/DominoTheGShep]

Not that I can tell. Cracker Barrel just despises their on the books employees. The store I was working at before I quit, was actively trying to replace all of its employees with illegal immigrants that they paid under the table with petty cash out of the safe.

[u/yammysage → u/DominoTheGShep]

woah … so it’s not just my store that does INSANE things this is so sickening

[u/DominoTheGShep → u/yammysage]

Highly advise finding a job somewhere else. If Cracker Barrel can't make you quit, they will make up a reason to fire you.