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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think this doesn't make any sense?

23 replies

extremepie · 20/09/2012 12:52

I have just finished working in a kitchen over the summer - the head chef and general manager called me into a 'meeting' to explain that they were not going to renew my contract (despite telling me 4 days previously that they were).

One of the reasons they gave was that I was not fast enough at performing my tasks - the specific example they used being that I was asked to peel and slice a 10kg bag of carrots and I didn't do it fast enough. GM said 'it took you 1 1/2 hrs to do it when it would have taken a KP an hour'.

When I asked why no one had mentioned at any point during this task that I should have had them done within a specific time frame, or just mention that I was going too slowly and should speed up, she said 'well we shouldn't have to tell you, you should have known'.

Really? So I should automatically know to do something without you telling me? What good is it complaining to me that I was too slow after I've finished my task? How can I possibly improve my performance if I don't know that I've done anything wrong until the day you tell me I am losing my job?

AIBU or does this attitude just make no sense at all?

OP posts:

CrazyCatLady13 · 20/09/2012 12:56

If your manager has a concern with your speed or any other capability issue, it's their responsibility to raise it with you at the time and put measures in place to help you achieve the targets set. It's completely wrong for them to say at the end of your contract that you didn't work quickly enough.

I suspect that if you post this on the legal / employment board someone with more expertise than me can advise you on next steps. Can you approach your manager's manager to see what they say?

HTH and good luck!

valiumredhead · 20/09/2012 12:58

Part of me thinks they have a point, you should get jobs done in the quickest time frame you can otherwise everyone would be dithering around all day.

OTOH they should have told you to speed up a bit.

missymoomoomee · 20/09/2012 13:02

As a stand-alone it doesn't seem like a good enough reason to not renew your contract, but you say there were other reasons too. It sounds like there is more to it tbh.

Original poster

extremepie · 20/09/2012 13:06

That's what I thought Valium!

I wasn't going at a stupidly slow pace, it was a reasonable speed and since there were no other tasks that needed doing at the time I didn't feel it necessary to go at a mad dash and risk slicing a finger off BUT if they felt I was being slow then shouldn't they have said something at the time so I can say 'ok, I'll work quicker' instead of telling me 2 days later when there is bugger all I can do about it?

It feels like they were looking for excuses to get rid of me, I can't think of any other reason why they would not say anything at the time, the kitchen was completely dead and no one was busy so it's not like he didn't have time to say anything until 2 days later!

OP posts:

GoldShip · 20/09/2012 13:07

They have a point. Why would you only speed up once told? Shouldn't you have been doing it at your fastest anyway?

One example of this was my boss said to us 'if we offered you an incentive do you reckon you'd get more done'
i said no as I already do my best and no incentive will help me speed up because I'm working at my maximum

The others jumped at it and said yes. :( not good for them

thursday · 20/09/2012 13:14

sounds like a casual job and for whatever reason they didn't like you enough to keep you on or they can't afford to. yes, it is nice to be told at the time you aren't doing a good enough job to give you a chance to improve but tbh it just sounds like an excuse to me. kitchens are cruel, dont take it personally or dwell. maybe in future you'll ask 'how long do you think it should take?' or 'am i doing this satisfactorily?' so you dont get a surprise later on.

Original poster

extremepie · 20/09/2012 13:15

There were other reasons but they were all a bit weird - they complained that I wasn't up to the level of the other chefs, who had all been there at least 2 years - I had been there a month (during a very busy holiday season).

They also said that they had doubts that I could manage the kitchen on my own, despite the fact that the previous day I had done exactly that and we had no issues or problems, so whatever doubts they had about it had no grounds because I performed the job they were worried about just fine!

I was also told that the other kitchen staff had been complaining that I got paid more than them (per hour) and one of them was refusing to return at christmas (he was going away to uni) because of it -
a) I was more qualified than them
b) they were under 21 and under 18, whereas I am over 21
c) how is it my fault that they get paid less than me? I didn't set my wage! Surely they should be taking that issue up with management if they are unhappy, not complaining about what I earn?

OP posts:

GoldShip · 20/09/2012 13:18

This is why you don't discuss wages.

Original poster

extremepie · 20/09/2012 13:18

Like I said GoldShip, I didn't feel I was going slowly, I felt I was going at a reasonable pace and sometimes when you are working with sharp knives it is dangerous to go too fast as you risk cutting yourself!

Either way, I suppose I can take this into my next job and try not to let it happen again :)

OP posts:

LadyMargolotta · 20/09/2012 13:19

No it's not fair, especially if at the time, you didn't have any other tasks to complete. Have you had any evaluations up until now?

Usually this sort of thing should come up on an evaluation and you should have a chance to improve.

Probably not much you can do about it though.

GoldShip · 20/09/2012 13:19

So in what you're saying you couldn't go any faster because you may have cut yourself if you had. So you are indeed slower. They do have a point I'm sorry

GoldShip · 20/09/2012 13:19

Don't take it to heart though, sounds like bloody nit picking to me

thursday · 20/09/2012 13:20

translated = they'd rather keep the longer standing and CHEAPER staff. catering is devoid of morals and any caring for employment law. i have innumerable examples. hate it.

Original poster

extremepie · 20/09/2012 13:21

I didn't, they never asked me and I never told them, presumably they asked the head chef and he told them or they just guessed - it was only a small company so everyone pretty much knew everyone else's business.

They also complained about the bar staff getting paid more than them so it wasn't just me but apparently my GM felt this fact, combined with other stuff was sufficient to not keep me on?

OP posts:

lisaro · 20/09/2012 13:22

Sorry, but if the carrots example is indicative of your normal working practise then I'd probably want rid of you as well. If you're just not giving much effort then what do you expect?
As to the other points - you may be 'more qualified' than the others, but after a few months, if you're not up to speed then I'd resent you being paid more for less output.

Original poster

extremepie · 20/09/2012 13:27

This was my first one Lady :)

Like I said, I didn't feel like it made a lot of sense but this isn't the first time I have felt unfairly treated in the catering industry (not the 2nd or 3rd time either but there we go!) and I'm pretty sure it won't be the last!

It just sucks because I thought I was doing well and apparently they have spent the last month discussing how crap I am behind my back. Not a nice feeling :(

Especially when the head chef tells me I need to have more confidence - yeah because there's nothing that builds up you're confidence better than finding out all your co-workers think you're a bit shit :)

I really needed this job too but I guess there's nothing I can do about it now, just got to look for something else and give it 100% so they have nothing to complain about!

OP posts:

thursday · 20/09/2012 13:33

i would hazard a bet they never had any intention of keeping you on permanently and a months trial during busy season was just what they needed. a few vague issues when its thank but no thanks and they wont give it a second thought. dont let it knock your confidence, it wont be personal. if they KP can peel so fast then woopee!

Original poster

extremepie · 20/09/2012 13:40

It wasn't representative of my normal working practice lisaro, it was just the example they gave.

I wasn't there for 'a few months', it was one month, and I felt it was unfair that they were expecting me to be up to the same speed as people who had been there for over 2 years, especially without giving me any feedback on my performance until it was too late.

I put in a lot of effort into that job - I moved over 200 miles away from my family to work there, I also had to cycle several miles each way every day to get to work, I started early when asked, I stayed late when asked, I worked very long shifts with no breaks when it was busy

If I wasn't 'good' enough for them, for whatever reason, then fine I can accept that. I really really tried so please don't insinuate that I wasn't making an effort.

OP posts:

Original poster

extremepie · 20/09/2012 13:43

Thanks thursday, I'm trying to build up my confidence because I am capable and I do know what I'm doing I've just had so many employers treat me like shit in the last few years I go into a job nervous as hell that I'm not going to be good enough and it's quite hard to break out of that way of thinking :)

OP posts:

nickeldaisical · 20/09/2012 14:00

i can see why you were going at a stead ypace. it doesn't sound like you were deliberately going slowly.
if you started off quick then couldn't keep pace, it would have been weird.

I have been in jobs before where problems aren't pointed out until they decide to discipline you for it

nickeldaisical · 20/09/2012 14:05

and catering really is a cut throat industry.

you could be working your fastest, but if it isn't as fast as someone else, then they'll pick the someone else.
they can't afford to risk it.

LadyMargolotta · 20/09/2012 14:05

Sounds like you're well shot of them tbh.

Flobbadobs · 20/09/2012 14:36

Sounds like they just didn't want to keep you on (or couldn't for whatever reason) and were clutching at any straw possible to justify it. Sorry, that ads a bit brutal, it's not meant to be at all!

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