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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Refused service at work.

70 replies

Littlemissgiggle5 · 06/07/2016 22:03

So I finished work (in a pub) and I wanted to have a drink whilst I waited to be picked up. I asked my ass. Manager to serve me and she refused to on the basis that I didn't want to work her close (which would have been an extra four hours) I didn't want to work the close because I don't feel too well. (Recovering from the dreaded summer 'flu') So because I'd said no, she refused to serve me. When she didn't even have a valid reason for not wanting to work...
I guess the real question is is she being unreasonable? Or am I over reacting?
(Currently posting from a different pub holding a nice cold pint!!)

OP posts:

Pinkandbluemcdonald5 · 06/07/2016 23:08

"bad form in the industry" - not in my experience. People would beg colleagues to finish their shift so they should sit with pals in the bar, and I would then serve them. there was never outrage if someone refused and did the same as they wanted to do.

Bogeyface · 06/07/2016 23:18

I agree that it isnt bad form (Sorry RJ! :) )

Where I used to work it was common for the bar person to ask on of the restaurant staff to finish their shift if the bar persons mates where in. As we had a rota that meant we all worked in all parts of the business, it was give and take. If a restaurant person had said no because they wanted to have a drink when their shift finished I wouldnt have held it against them. ITs just how it goes sometimes.

RJnomore1 · 06/07/2016 23:24

Boges 😉

It really depends whether it was what you say or being asked to stay on because it was busy, saying no and sticking your colleagues in it then expecting to sit drinking.

Dh would not be happy with staff swapping shifts anyway they do the rota for a reason blah blah...

Bogeyface · 06/07/2016 23:28

If it was busy then it was a given that you helped, so yes in that case it was bad form to say no and sit there drinking whilst the others struggled.

My ex boss didnt care about shift swaps as long as one of the supervisors (me and my friend/colleague) was on and all the jobs were covered. In many respects I think that front of house in the hospitality industry is a different kettle of fish to other industries due to the unsociable hours coupled with the soclal aspect of the job.

Pinkandbluemcdonald5 · 06/07/2016 23:43

The op wasn't about the place being busy, it was about swapping shifts.

If the place was mobbed and needed staff to help out, then good team spirit would be carry on until everything is okay. But this wasn't what the op implied.

Original poster

Littlemissgiggle5 · 06/07/2016 23:48

Mixed reviews!
The staff there regularly stay for a drink after work. I just wanted half (alcohol yes) whilst I waited for my lift. It was already her close and the pub was not busy at all (I did most jobs before I finished) I was NOT going home ill. I did my shift that I was rotad to do and didn't want to work any longer. I went to a different pub to be picked up from there instead (not far from where I work)
What I didn't understand is how she can refuse service when I did absolutely nothing wrong?

OP posts:

RJnomore1 · 06/07/2016 23:50

Ok that's a bit unfair but going by Scottish law you can refuse service to anyone and you have no need for a reason.

Original poster

Littlemissgiggle5 · 06/07/2016 23:51

And yes, she is regularly extremely unprofessional but because of her job title most people tend not to say anything about it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Littlemissgiggle5 · 06/07/2016 23:52

I wouldn't be allowed to refuse service unless I had a valid reason. That is what the general manager has said to us all.

OP posts:

StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine · 06/07/2016 23:53

In the end it's being not served half a pint of something alcoholic.

It's hardly the end of the world.

GarlicStake · 07/07/2016 00:07

I'm not a fan of passive aggression but it has its place. I think the "Is A.Mgr okay? She seemed a bit off ..." suggestion upthread was ideal for this situation!

She decided to be nasty because you weren't up to doing her a favour. No, it's not the end of the world but it's sour. I'm inclined to dig a little hole for her to fall down

trafalgargal · 07/07/2016 00:35

Legally she was within her rights
Professionally she's a bit of a twit as you aren't going to be inclined to help her out when she really needs it in the future.

As for "bad form" absolute nonsense - Bar staff have lives too and are as entitled as everyone else to not have to work on except in emergency (I say this having both worked and managed pubs in the past). She was prefectly within her rights to ask you to work on but you were also perfectly fine to refuse.

Good bar staff work hard and are an asset to the business - it isn't good policy to treat them like rubbish as there's always another pub who will snap them up .....and if they are personable there's a good chance some of their regulars will follow them.

trafalgargal · 07/07/2016 00:54

When I was doing a 30 mile school run for a year (long story as to why) it was a bit pointless going home so I got a lunchtime bar job near the school. I'd drop DS off just before 9 ..........my shift started at 10. If I didn't fancy breakfast or didn't need to go shopping I'd go straight to work. With the petty managers I'd sit and drink coffee and read the paper whilst they set the bar up til 10- with the decent ones I'd often take over the setting up so they could get ahead of themselves for the day in the office or kitchen. I wasn't paid til 10 so I didn't have to do it (although I'd often find a breakfast would appear like magic from the kitchen with my name on it as a thank you :) )

Used to drive the petty ones nuts but they knew they were reaping what they sowed.

Bogeyface · 07/07/2016 01:11

LittleMiss

Do you work in a village with a double barrelled name "NS"?

Pearlman · 07/07/2016 01:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

trafalgargal · 07/07/2016 01:30

Most bar staff (not all there are some spectacular exceptions) don't drink much anyway. Spending your working hours seeing what twits most people make of themselves drinking too much tends to put you off doing the same too often.

0urKid · 07/07/2016 02:12

Op I've been a barmaid for the best part of 20 years. I know how this situation feels from both sides. Sometimes trying to get a late shift covered was impossible. I was always the person first asked to cover shifts and as long as I had no plans or childcare issues I would happily cover with no issues. However there were a couple of times when despite helping my colleagues out on several occasions not one of them would put themselves out for me and it did sting a bit. I tried to not take it personally but sometimes I couldn't help it.
This isn't related to you op. Just an example of how other staff can take the piss. One time on a day off a colleague rang and said how desperate he was and needed to have the evening off and that he owed me one and what not... So I got my sister to come and babysit as Dh was still at work. I ordered a taxi. Basically I put myself out for him. When I get there he sighs with relief and promptly sits on the other side of the bar. I was confused. I asked him why he couldn't work tonight and he said "Oh my mates are coming in so just fancied joining them." I was fuming.

Original poster

Littlemissgiggle5 · 07/07/2016 11:54

Bogey
I had to seriously think then, no it doesn't!

I don't think it would have annoyed me as much if she wasn't this petty regularly but she's always had a grudge against me for some reason. It's not as if it's the odd comment either, she's gone as far as to shout at me in front of customers and (my personal favourite) say that I was playing on my mental illness whilst I was having a panic attack..
This was just the straw that broke the camels back really..

OP posts:

TheySayIamparanoid · 07/07/2016 15:07

So are you going to say anything about it OP?

Original poster

Littlemissgiggle5 · 07/07/2016 15:44

All of the managers where I work are extremely unprofessional so I guess I'll just leave it.

OP posts:

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