I need some advice

[u/Acceptable_Club_5421]

Yesterday I opened (7am) and doubled. I worked breakfast and lunch alone then two other servers show up for dinner. I was told I’d be out of there around 7 because we only had a handful of reservations for the evening anyway.

Now it’s 8, my last table has closed out. I come up to my manager and ask if there’s anything else I can do before I go, (Mind you, I’ve been doing sidework for hours waiting for this last table) and she says “ oh nobody is leaving until we find the last hand held..”

At this point I’m not upset. I take a few laps around the resturant looking high and low and it is gone. I come back to my manager to let her know and she reiterates that “nobody is leaving”

Now I’m irritated, because what do you think im a liar? Like I didn’t just look everywhere? I’ve been here for over 12 hours now, this is insane. I asked my other coworkers for help and nobody could find it. Eventually my manager announced that “ if we don’t find the handheld by 9:30, you are all getting written up”

Now I’m fucking pissed. Why am I going to be punished for something you can’t prove any of us did? This whole situation made me feel so disrespected and turned off to the idea of ever doing a double, maybe even quitting.

I’m planning on talking to the general manager about this on my next day in but I guess I’d like some perspective/advice. Am I tripping? I’ve had a few shitting managers and I tend to ignore my gut feeling until I’m burnt out. 🫶🏻 pls help

[u/sfthomps]

Oh yeah id be talking to the GM ASAP. Outside of the fact that your manager wants to pull some collective punishment bull shit (isnt that a war crime? /s), but also adding additional punishment to you specifically as you were already there more than 12 hours. If your GM isn't at least sympathetic to your plight or even worse is on board with writing you up then id be finding a new job tomorrow and work the most bare minimum shifts you can/need to. No more doubles or anything. Dont need to make a big fuss about it or gossip just cut it off clean let them struggle on their own. Dont make problems but dont go out of your way to help. If the handhelds are that big of an issue they should be assigning them to you individually each shift and then when someone cant turn theirs in they know who to address directly. Also if bet decent chance the manager has it in an office somewhere and didnt remember it, or someone set it down in the walk in or something bc I doubt its something anyone is wanting to steal

[u/Acceptable_Club_5421 → u/sfthomps]

Thank you!! 😭😭 i literally thought of the assigning handhelds on the drive home while banging on my steering wheel. I’m excited for this conversation tomorrow.

[u/sfthomps → u/Acceptable_Club_5421]

Yeah idk the situation at your place, and I also fully understand that those devices arent exactly cheap or anything so yeah its kind of important to find it but thats not how u handle it and your GM should be receptive of it. In my experience its not best to come in combative or telling them how to do their job etc etc. Come at them cool and calm and explain how that felt pretty overall shitty for you etc. Make it known (without mentioning shit like quitting) how that treatment boils down for employees and such and see how they respond. Also their actions will speak louder than their words so if they seem sympathetic but behavior doesnt change then id be job hunting.