Was I in the wrong 😑 over food order at work

[Safarigiraffe]

I work in a day nursery as a kitchen assistant & last week at work the Chef was away so I was on my own in the kitchen with hardly no help. Our menus work on a 3 week rota so as our supplier didn’t send in everything I had to work with what I literally had in. Some parents complained about the food as it wasn’t being followed day by day which my Boss told me about however I could only work with what I had & did go slightly off the menu. Fast forward to today the Chef had a go at me for going off the menu cos parents complained & apparently I did my own thing on the menu & also said that she was short on 2 lunches for this week cos I went off menu and used up what she was gonna use this week, I explained that it was because I had to work with what I had but she was having none of it. My Boss has sorted things out to get some things from another nearby nursery however am I in the wrong here considering the parents complained about me going slightly off the menu?

She didn’t seem too fussed because she wasn’t getting flack for it. Now she is and she’s absolving herself of responsibility and deflecting it on to you. Standard bad management. Sounds like you did a good job given the circumstances, OP.

No point in going over it though, you'll only prolong the upset.

Easier said than done but try to forget about it.

No-one died and a lesson learned.

It's strange the kids themselves complained they had the same thing twice especially enough for parents to say something. My ds says he has the same thing everyday which is "pasta noodles and pasgetti" I don't believe a word he says usually as long as he's getting fed. I guess I would be upset if the chef was going on at me all day too

It sounds as if you were left to make things work, and you did. You told the manager you'd had to change things and they didn't suggest any alternative, so they should have had your back, and told the complaining parents "we're very sorry; our supplier didn't deliver what we'd ordered, so we had to swap things round - we wouldn't normally serve the same thing two days running but our priority was to make sure all children had appropriate food for their dietary requirements."

Try and make sure the procedure is clear next time you are left in charge and things have to be changed - who do you have to clear any changes with, how do you log what needs to be changed to get stocks back to the right levels?

This is definitely out of order. Very poor management, ineffective and quite bullying. YANBU to want to be treated better.

If this sort of thing is common, I would seriously consider looking for another job. If it’s not, I would put it behind me but be ready to speak up directly and challenge it if it ever happened again.

You are not to blame as you are not a chef you did them a favour to cover I would say no in future, I am a cook and the amount of times over the last 20 years I have just had to work with want I have is nuts lately its weekly due to stock shortages

Sounds like a definite case of lack of management. Why didn't the Boss approach you knowing the Chef was away to see what needed to be done or ordered? Why was it left to you to make do?

OTT where I used to work, the cooks helped themselves to the shopping which decreased the profit to the cafe side of the business. Is it possible someone is short changing the inventory and the Chef's absence meant this could have been picked up by Management?

What? This is such a non issue. Parents sound stupid and entitled.

You're a catering assistant not a chef. I assume you aren't getting paid as much as the chef does? I would be looking for another job where you are supported and given the correct level of responsibility for the pay.

They ABU to expect you to cover seamlessly for the chef when you've never done orders etc before.

And some thanks you are getting for all you did do🙄

With all due respect, food in the belly is better than no food, you did good op @Safarigiraffe

What a fuss over nothing. Vege mince twice in five days - the horror! Food supplies are an issue for everyone at the moment.

Food in nurseries is something parents love to complain about

Worked in a nursery for 6 years and your be surprised how many complained cause the menu was off

You child ate, is it that much of a big deal.
Get a grip!!!

OP, Dont give it much thought, not worth it

If I were you I'd just tell your boss that you won't be helping out with catering again, and leave everyone else to sort it out and take the moans.

Given that it cost me £1400 a month to send my child to nursery, I think I was probably allowed to care a little bit about what they were being fed?

I understand the parents being pissed off, lots of parents plan their menus around what the kids are getting at school or nursery.

Really ?? I mean, seriously ??
I know we are all different - something I really love about MN - but I struggle to believe this is true.

@berksandbeyond

Would it really make a difference if they was getting Chicken pie instead of Fish pie for example?

No, ofcourse it doesnt !

The £1400 you pay , food is a very small percentage of these costs

Well £96 but yes. They learn Japanese and modern dance and honestly eat better than I do.

we are in a bougie part of London / Surrey, they all cost around about that here

I'm never even sure why parents get worried about which week the bloody menu is on. The children were fed and watered and don't care either way.
Just ignore and carry on, totally not your fault.

Japanese and modern dance.😂

Rude

In my experience, hiccups at work are always best dealt with when everyone is kept informed and updated well in advance.

you say you told them “food will be a bit short this week” that could have just meant smaller portions.

If you had said “We are missing several key ingredients this week so I will need to change some items on the menu”. That will then give them the opportunity to either notify parents of a meal change or go to the shop to buy additional items.

Using up items for following weeks has also had knock on effects for the menu the next week, again a quick “I’ve had to use next weeks xxxx to get through this week so we’ll need some
more”.

you didn’t act with any malice and tried your best, so I wouldn’t be mad at a staff member who did this but I would explain all the above and ask them to communicate any issues to senior staff in my absence in future.

don’t get too down about it, it has been and gone now just take on board the feedback xx

I don’t think it’s rude, I also think it’s slightly laughable given they’re not even 3!

What is wrong with speaking Japanese at 3?