PDA

View Full Version : What would you do?



23-01-2010, 07:38 AM
Hello

Worked a late Xmas party last night, at a regular venue, that i've worked at frequently over the last few years.

I was flabbergasted at how much the standards have slipped at the venue :eek:

I was set up adjacent to the bar, and couldn't help but notice the amount of drinks the barstaff where helping themselves to, and not just the odd soft drink. I saw them have a few bottles of drink and helping themselves to a fair few spirits as well.

For a good amount of time of the night (as the bar was quite quiet), the barman is there playing with a knife, tossing the knife in the air & pretending to staf the ice tray (and not discreetly out of view of the guests either).

Later in the night, the duty manager comes into the room goes behind the bar, makes herself a drink, plonks a straw in it & stands their in front of the guests drinking it.

I saw four of the other function staff (waiters / waitresses) go behind the bar and help themselves to barcardi & coke & tia maria and coke.

I don't remember seeing 13 years of gigging (even in some pretty ropey nightclubs) the staff helping themselves as much as i did last night....

Here's my dilemma,

Bearing in mind that i've worked at the venue for a good few now, it's a 4* hotel and know and get on with the deputy general manager quite well, would you say anything about what you'd seen or just let it go??

Kernow
23-01-2010, 08:17 AM
Personally Alan, I would stay well clear of the issue, as horrific as you find the situation, you are engaged to provide the entertainment and responsibility for staff discipline rests solely with the hotel management.
It seems that they are not only content to tolerate what's happening but are actively participating.
Unless their actions are directly jeapordising the safety or performabce of what you do, I think this is a definite 'tongue-biter' situation. Anything other risks alienating your relationship with the staff, management and owners of the hotel and resentment never creates a good atmosphere within which to work ?.

soundtracker
23-01-2010, 08:50 AM
Personally Alan, I would stay well clear of the issue, as horrific as you find the situation, you are engaged to provide the entertainment and responsibility for staff discipline rests solely with the hotel management.
It seems that they are not only content to tolerate what's happening but are actively participating.
Unless their actions are directly jeapordising the safety or performabce of what you do, I think this is a definite 'tongue-biter' situation. Anything other risks alienating your relationship with the staff, management and owners of the hotel and resentment never creates a good atmosphere within which to work ?.

Agreed, no-one likes a grass (oops too much Eastenders!):)

Penfold42
23-01-2010, 09:05 AM
Personally Alan, I would stay well clear of the issue, as horrific as you find the situation, you are engaged to provide the entertainment and responsibility for staff discipline rests solely with the hotel management.
It seems that they are not only content to tolerate what's happening but are actively participating.
Unless their actions are directly jeapordising the safety or performabce of what you do, I think this is a definite 'tongue-biter' situation. Anything other risks alienating your relationship with the staff, management and owners of the hotel and resentment never creates a good atmosphere within which to work ?.


Agreed, no-one likes a grass (oops too much Eastenders!):)

Would agree to a point...I don't think playing with a knife in front of people is funny, not in this day and age. I would have a off the record chat. They can either like it or lump it - it's your work and you may get tarred with the same brush, even though you have nothing to do with it.

Yes I know no-one likes a grass but it is a hotel FFS, if they start losing work you will.

Charlie Brown
23-01-2010, 10:15 AM
I agree with the others. Just turn up and do your job, regardless what they are doing. :)

rob1963
23-01-2010, 10:18 AM
Personally Alan, I would stay well clear of the issue, as horrific as you find the situation, you are engaged to provide the entertainment and responsibility for staff discipline rests solely with the hotel management.
It seems that they are not only content to tolerate what's happening but are actively participating.
Unless their actions are directly jeapordising the safety or performabce of what you do, I think this is a definite 'tongue-biter' situation. Anything other risks alienating your relationship with the staff, management and owners of the hotel and resentment never creates a good atmosphere within which to work ?.

:agree:

NKR
23-01-2010, 10:28 AM
As its a late Christmas party, the staff may may have been given some rope to have a drink themselves as they may not have had a party themselves. You will know if it goes on next time.

Now where that sits with insurance I have no idea, but probably not well.

My mantra has always been I am here to DJ not run the hotel. However, I would ditch the venue as if anthing goes wrong and you have some trouble sounds like you would be on your own. Also if you grass them up its not going to be a comfortable place to work.

If you don't like the way they run things then disassociate yourself from the place. I have two venues I won't work for various reasons, but one involves staff issues and being left with my backside hanging in the breeze by them.

jc light and sound
23-01-2010, 12:18 PM
Personally Alan, I would stay well clear of the issue, as horrific as you find the situation, you are engaged to provide the entertainment and responsibility for staff discipline rests solely with the hotel management.
It seems that they are not only content to tolerate what's happening but are actively participating.
Unless their actions are directly jeapordising the safety or performabce of what you do, I think this is a definite 'tongue-biter' situation. Anything other risks alienating your relationship with the staff, management and owners of the hotel and resentment never creates a good atmosphere within which to work ?.

Totally agree.

Shakermaker Promotions
23-01-2010, 01:19 PM
I echo the above. Just do what you are there to do and let them get on with it. You know what it's like when a member of staff asks you to play something for them... in my view they should be working and not worrying about what we are playing. Well, it's the same kind of thing. Not worth (in the nicest possible way) poking your nose in.

The only thing that would bother me is if I were a resident there and lost bookings because customers decided not to book the venue because of the staff attitude.

Mark Wild
23-01-2010, 01:39 PM
I would have a off the record chat.


I'm with Pikey, if you know the general manager, a quick " Can I have a quick word please mate" wouldn't do any harm. I think that may just evoke the management to put a tighter leash on the staff that are taking advantage and clearly don't deserve the responsibilty they've been handed.

Penfold42
23-01-2010, 04:28 PM
I'm with Pikey, if you know the general manager, a quick " Can I have a quick word please mate" wouldn't do any harm. I think that may just evoke the management to put a tighter leash on the staff that are taking advantage and clearly don't deserve the responsibilty they've been handed.

I'm glad of that - was begining to think I was the only snitch on here....:D

Shaun
23-01-2010, 04:33 PM
I would have a off the record chat.



I'm with Pikey, if you know the general manager, a quick " Can I have a quick word please mate" wouldn't do any harm. I think that may just evoke the management to put a tighter leash on the staff that are taking advantage and clearly don't deserve the responsibilty they've been handed.

:agree:

DJMaxG
27-01-2010, 11:15 PM
I would tell the manager, but Joke about it, as if it was part of the evening's fun. That way, you aren't really saying it to grass them in sorta thing.

DazzyD
28-01-2010, 11:33 PM
I would keep it to myself. Getting staff in trouble could make any future work at the hotel very uncomfortable for you.


Agreed, no-one likes a grass (oops too much Eastenders!):)

Been watching The Bill, me thinks? ;)