“Pettiness precludes greatness.” -the Author
I was working at my least favourite restaurant during my career. It was passed the point where I enjoyed the staff and place so I only stayed for the tips. The only thing that kept me half sane was a sense of professionalism, seeing my regulars, and drinking heavily after most shifts. But by the end of the night I nearly quit on the spot and walked out in disgust.
***
It was probably a Friday night and I was serving the lounge. I’m not sure how busy it was but I had the whole room to myself. Mack was managing. He was a good man and meant well but he was too by-the-book. Being someone who uses books for reference I throw them out when needed… and in a dysfunctional place like this that happened alot! Mack once told me to train a newbie “by-the-book.” After I told him “got it” he was smart enough to follow up with “not Mr. Wright’s book.”
The key to dealing with a supervisor like this was doing things “the corporate way” when they are watching and “the smart way” when they aren’t. But that night I made the mistake of being caught.
One of my favourite tables came into the lounge. Not only were they kind, easygoing, and tipped well, but I liked them. They were a middle class couple in their 50s and were always positive. They were so fond of me they bought me a gift on one of their Caribbean cruises. I think it was tiny life preservers for shot glasses you can drink in the hot tub. While I never used them I certainly appreciated the gesture. Needless to say, no matter my mood or however busy it was they got the best service whenever then entered my bar.
I’m not sure what the woman got but the gentleman had a few pints of Stella Artois, in a matching pint glass. Anyone who is familiar with the glass knows there’s a line below the rim where you fill the beer up to so the rest of the glass has a healthy portion of head. I think as I brought the third pint I accidentally bumped it into something so some of the beer spilt onto the table. After cleaning up the mess I returned with the glass back to the bar.
As I did so Mack came behind the bartop to observe how things were going in the lounge. Without thinking I started pouring beer into the Stella glass but rather than stop at the line below the rim I filled the glass to the top. I’m not sure if this was a conscious decision but when Mack asked me why I did so I shrugged it off. While he felt I was breaking protocol I simply didn’t think 2 oz of extra Stella in a glass was a big deal… especially for a table that came in weekly!
***
At the end of the shift Mack called me into the office. I assumed he wanted to thank me for coming in early and doing a great job that evening, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. After a perfunctory greeting he handed me a sheet of paper. It was a dreaded write up form. Things quickly escalated.
I read it calmly and quietly, like someone reviewing a pre-written confession before a show trial. Indeed, I was expected to sign it. Mack accused me of theft and insubordination for pouring 2 oz of extra beer into a Stella Artois glass. I would’ve laughed had it not been so absurd. Most of the rest of the conversation escapes me but given I was a hothead back then and how ridiculous it was, I’m sure we got into an argument of some intensity.
No doubt I repeated tropes I’d used before when confronted over petty issues: That most of the staff were usually late, often didn’t show up, tended to neglect side duties, and were generally unreliable. To be written up over something so asinine and irrelevant for me was beyond insulting. Not for the first time I threatened to resign my position.
After that “pleasant” exchange we both became silent. Eventually, Mack spoke up and asked if I’d sign the write up. Taking a quote from the introduction of Wing Commander II I said “no sir I won’t sign it.” Unsurprisingly, he didn’t get the reference.
Afterwards, I walked into the lounge, grabbed a piece of paper, and again not for the first time, wrote a resignation letter. Mack came out, saw what I was doing, and tried calming me down, but I wrote on in silence. However, while I dated the document I notably didn’t sign it. As I left I reminded them of how much time and effort I put into the restaurant and didn’t appreciate being accused of theft. Then I took my unsigned resignation letter and walked out of the restaurant in a foul mood.
***
I came back the next day but made sure to be calm and friendly as it’s best not to bring in negative feelings from previous shifts. Mack was also in a more conciliatory mood and I hoped he’d drop the write up. I worked the shift as best as I could and as far I remember there were no major issues. At the end of the night Mack invited me to the office again.
After 24 hours of reflection I was sure he would quash the write up and in preparation I readied myself to apologize for getting heated the other night. Instead, he doubled down and reiterated all the lame excuses to justify such an act of treason against an all star employee. I’m sure I offered some initial resistance but quickly thought better of it. You can’t fight stupidity and I knew there was no point. I refused to sign, again, and walked out without another word.
It was then I realized how much I hated that place and knew I wouldn’t be there much longer. Within a few months I left and never came back.