writes tessa, who works at a restaurant in albuquerque: “the day manager left this note for the night cook, who does spend all night smoking, watching TV and calling his girlfriend on the business phone.” (i’m sure this note will absoutley set him straight.)
reddit!
stumble it!
473 responses so far ↓
#1 Mishee
that cigarette is fucking delicious!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:51 am rating: 0
#2 Juliet
Did he post that note for the night cook in plain view of everyone? Terrible!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:53 am rating: 0
#3 Mishee
I love to do absolutley nothing!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:54 am rating: 0
#4 Juliet
Now that is P-A! Love it!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:54 am rating: 0
#5 Mishee
A boss should TOTALLY not do something like that! Issues with work performance should be brought up face to face in a private meeting! Mark - YOU SUCK!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:56 am rating: 0
#6 WanderingPenguin
Um….can’t they just fire him if they are “absoutley” sure he is smoking in the restaurant? Did they need this note?
I do love it, though, So we need this note!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:57 am rating: 0
#7 eric the beehivehairdresser
Isn’t that the chicken scratch writing of a 1970s serial killer?
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:58 am rating: 0
#8 Juliet
I’d love to do absolutely nothing and still get paid. I’ll be at home. Just send my cheque every two weeks!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:59 am rating: 0
#9 Juliet
#7 - His dog told him to leave that note!
Nov 2, 2007 at 10:59 am rating: 0
#10 Mishee
Maybe Mark should be “commited” to the looney bin if he is really a 1970’s serial killer. I am sure we still have a few of those running around…
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:00 am rating: 0
#11 FickleGal
It looks like it’s in plain view for any customer to read. That’s so wrong and yet so right.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:01 am rating: 0
#12 Katzndogz
Why would he need to look at the prep sheet if he’s committed it to memory? If he’s trying to be sarcastic, it didn’t work out well.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:01 am rating: 0
#13 WanderingPenguin
:O Holy wow! I just looked at the title! A Wet Hot American Summer quote! I don’t know if I’ve ever heard (read) one of those!
“No, I said ‘Fondue With Cheddar’”….
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:01 am rating: 0
#14 Katzndogz
I’m sure it’s in the kitchen and not in front of the customers. If I were a customer and read this, I’d walk right out. Last thing I want is food prepared by a pissed off cook.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:02 am rating: 0
#15 Strideo
Straighten up Carlos!
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:05 am rating: 0
#16 FickleGal
Same here Katz. I’ve seen Waiting!
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:05 am rating: 0
#17 Canthz_B
If the night cook does absolutely nothing then maybe the restaurant should be closed at night.
They are losing money.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:07 am rating: 0
#18 Canthz_B
“Don’t make me do to you what I did to your lazy waitress Mom, Carlos. Your mother doesn’t work here anymore!”
-Mark-
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:13 am rating: 0
#19 Mishee
oh god they were probably wandering around without a hall pass and found their way into here! waa, waa, waaaaa
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:18 am rating: 0
#20 Wade
I hear they are hiring at Blenz.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:27 am rating: 0
#21 Paul
When I was younger I worked in my fair share of “resturants” as a cook, and I can’t think of one where I had the time to stand around at all. However, also remembering how the employees were to each other tells me all I need to know about Mark. He’s the shitpicking princess that nags you about every little detail and complains about Carlos doing nothing all night, but doesn’t fire him. Seeing as Carlos doesn’t see much of Mark to get the nagging first hand he will ignore Mark and talk to his girlfriend about him all night long. There’s even a chance Carlos will smoke the note with a smile
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:32 am rating: 0
#22 WanderingPenguin
I wonder if Mark left a note for the PAN gods.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:33 am rating: 0
#23 Team Cassandra
#7 That is the the handwriting of the purely passive-aggressive. I know - I have an aunt that writes like that. If she had written that note it would look something like this:
Dearest Carlos,
I am SO impressed that you have committed the prep sheet to memory. No one has ever done that before! If you don’t mind, it would be great if you could put down your cigarette now and then and attend to it.
Of course, I would never fire someone for their habits (even if those habits may cause cancer in my staff and clientel) but times are tough and finances are tight - I cannot afford to pay one person to prep and one to smoke. I hate to say it but - prepping is actually better for business:)
Please let me know which job you’d prefer.
Kisses,
Your Auntie.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:36 am rating: 0
#24 Wade
I’m not all that familiar with “resturant” chains-of-command… how does the day manager know (or care) what the night cook is doing?
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:39 am rating: 0
#25 Troy McClure
Now look at that yo-yo, that’s the way you do it
You smoke a ciggy watchin’ MTV
That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it
Money for nothing, phoning chicks for free
Now that ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it
Lemme tell ya, that guy ain’t dumb
Maybe get a blister on your little finger
Maybe get a blister on your thumb
He’s s’posed to clean the microwave oven
Unpack the kitchen deliveries
He’s s’posed to stock the refrigerator
Not just watch the colour TV
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:39 am rating: 0
#26 Team Cassandra
That ain’t workin’
That’s the way you do it
You get your money for nothing
And your smokes for free…
Fun, Troy!
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:43 am rating: 0
#27 Team Cassandra
Wade- The day manager expects to show up to a prepped kitchen.
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:45 am rating: 0
#28 Mishee
Those prepped potatoes that taste like Marlboros were fucking delicious!
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:53 am rating: 0
#29 In Which It Works The Other Way Around As Well For Your Friday Links « This Recording
[…] We love passive aggressive notez. […]
Nov 2, 2007 at 11:55 am rating: 0
#30 vox populi
Apparation (Harry Potter style) is an aspiration
of those whose work is an aberration to
those of us with dedication
to the job. Duly
our appreciation
will be expressed
when your application to transformation
from lackadaisical to motivation is
noted.
Mark (my words) the Day Manager.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:04 pm rating: 0
#31 Wade
Ah!! OK.
I wonder if mark’s cousin, “au statt” stephen, runs a pub in nottingham england.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:05 pm rating: 0
#32 A.A guy
Any “resturant(sic) manager who allows a T.V set in the kitchen is absoutley(sic) inviting his kitchen staff to kick back and relax.The same goes for allowing back of the house staff to sit at the bar and entertain themselves there.
SMOKE EM IF YOU GOT EM!
(and why does the letter a keep morphing into a “z” or a “>” ?
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:09 pm rating: 0
#33 Lara
I want to know how Mark knows Carols is hanging around smoking?
It’s obvious how he knows that Carlos isn’t doing his prep work, because he probably comes in and finds the onions still waiting to be chopped, but does he employ a network of night-time spies to find out what Carlos is doing?
Also, if the restaurants I worked in during college are any indication, the “day manager” isn’t the boss of the “night cook”. “Day manager” is just a title they gave Mark to make him feel important.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:11 pm rating: 0
#34 A.A guy
If you work in a restaurant DON’T let them promote you. It just results in less money,more hours and the Markerization of your soul!
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:19 pm rating: 0
#35 claw71
I’ve seen this a million times and in my career as an HR Manager I’ve labored to get employers recognize that they are usually the root cause of these problems. Don’t empower lazy workers.
Mark is a manager, we aren’t sure if he has jurisdiction over the night shift but as a manager he should be dealing with Carlos in a managerial capacity. Notes like this actually transfer control into the hands of the worker.
Since Tessa confirms that Carlos is a deadbeat I can only assume that Carlos retains his employment by default. The employer can’t find a suitable replacement at that rate of pay and won’t increase pay to improve the candidate pool. Carlos knows this so he willfully refuses to peform his duties.
As a consultant my first move would be to replace Mark with a real manager. Then I’d implement a performance incentive program to encourage consistent prep work from the night cook.
Aftert that I’d call Tessa into the office and have her do a little prep work on my tube steak. Then I’d submit my invoice to the owner and be on my merry way.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:21 pm rating: 0
#36 mere
the first part of the note sounds like something i’d say–behind the night cook’s back. ‘instead of doing NOTHING, maybe he could, oh, i dunno.. WORK?!’
but then again, being p-a is much more fun when you just shove it all inside…
that’s why this website rocks.
i do agree that it wasn’t so cool to have the note up in front of everyone.
i wonder what restaurant this is, because i don’t necessarily want to eat there at night. cigarette ash and salad.. mmmmmmmm…..
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:23 pm rating: 0
#37 GhostWriter
How does Mark know? Simple- he doesn’t.
The note was written by Tessa (who does know).
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:25 pm rating: 0
#38 GhostWriter
It’s not really a tall order- All he has to do is “take a look at the prep sheet.”
He can fit that in during commercials.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:26 pm rating: 0
#39 unholyghost2003
I was about to say what Lara said, more or less. The Day Manager and Day staff get screwed by Carlos not doing any of the prep work (so they probably have to do it all when they first comw in) Mark probably CAN’T fire Carlos since Carlso is on the night shift and Mark is the Day Manager (implying that there is a NIght Manager who should be making Carlso do his GD job) and Mark probably knows how Carlso spends his time while NOT working from those poor souls who are working swing or have some day shifts and some night shifts. I HATE lazy staff.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:27 pm rating: 0
#40 WanderingPenguin
If it’s not really a “tall order”….wait for it…then would it be a… “short order”?
Wonder what kind of cook that would make him?
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:27 pm rating: 0
#41 claw71
I bet the owner of the restuarant thought he was pulling off a fast one hiring himself an illegal Mexican to work the night shift but little did he know that Carlos was from Portugal.
Employers need to check the backgrounds of their applicants. If you aren’t hiring a 100% genuine wetback you might as well hire a black guy.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:41 pm rating: 0
#42 Canthz_B
I resemble that remark!
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:47 pm rating: 0
#43 Wade
Though it is possible that Carlos’ ancestors moved to the Albuquerque area 250 years before Mark showed up, lol.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:51 pm rating: 0
#44 Mishee
I am still trying to figure out the title of this post…
anyone know the significance?
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:55 pm rating: 0
#45 sunlotus
He starts out with “Maybe” so I guess Carlos has the option. Given the option, I know I’d MUCH rather smoke, watch tv & talk on the phone than work any day, I mean night.
Where is the Night Manager in all this? Maybe Carlos IS the Night Manager! Sweet.
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:56 pm rating: 0
#46 WanderingPenguin
re #53: see #13
Nov 2, 2007 at 12:57 pm rating: 0
#47 April
Maybe the prepped food is being eaten by the Heisa Monster.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:15 pm rating: 0
#48 Wade
I like the way Mark oscillates between passive voice words/statements (maybe, perhaps, find the time, your attention to this matter will be appreciated) and attempts to be more forceful and assertive (doing absolutely nothing, do something besides smoking).
This note could be the very definition of passive-aggressive.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:16 pm rating: 0
#49 morpho aurora
instead of leaving this wimpy lil note, mark should stick around (or come back) and say something to carlos in person. i don’t like having to do someone else’s job either, but notes like this usually aggravate the situation. marlboro mashed potatoes could be just the beginning.
cast iron skillets are wonderful teaching tools!
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:25 pm rating: 0
#50 claw71
I’d like to know if this place is a semi-national chain with a penchant for promoting gutless teenagers to management as soon as labor laws allow or if some former IHOP franchise owner got too cheap to pay the fees and simply rebadged his operation as Bud’s Urbane Restaurant Parlor until he can opt out of the property lease.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:27 pm rating: 0
#51 GhostWriter
claw71, you’ve ruined your election chances!
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:27 pm rating: 0
#52 FickleGal
Does anyone here think that women are born with a gene that causes them to be passive aggressive geniuses?
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:28 pm rating: 0
#53 WanderingPenguin
Hmm. This is a note from Mark to Carlos. So I would have to say, “WTF does that have to do with anything, FickelGal?”
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:36 pm rating: 0
#54 WanderingPenguin
And then I would go ON to say: “Can you believe I spelled ‘FickleGal’ incorrectly?”
Sheesh.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:37 pm rating: 0
#55 FickleGal
I am aware of who wrote the note. I was thinking out loud, WanderingPenguin. Oh, I got it right on the first try!
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:41 pm rating: 0
#56 WanderingPenguin
Well, then my answer would be: they learn it from their moms, who learn it from….etc etc etc.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:42 pm rating: 0
#57 WickedLady
That prep sheet was fucking delicious!
Yay, my first ‘fucking delicious’ comment.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:43 pm rating: 0
#58 claw71
I know GW, but I’ll let you in on a secret:
After Joe Biden had all of his issues with Indians (dots, not feathers) and African Americans (Obama’s clean and talks good) somebody had to fall on his sword. Since Colbert is only interested in South Carolina and I’m not strong enough to carry my own ticket I went ahead and took one for the team. But Joe’s on his own from here on out, if he pisses off some other ethnic group I’m not defelecting that heat. Especially if it’s those maple syrup licking freaks to the north.
Now if I can only convince people that it was I who left Giuliani’s wife (the second one, right?)in her time of need I’ll still be on even footing with both parties.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:43 pm rating: 0
#59 claw71
Women aren’t passive aggressive, they’re manic depressive and it’s got nothing to to with genes.
Unless the pair they just bought are too tight.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:45 pm rating: 0
#60 WickedLady
I object! I happen to be quite satisfied, not at all depressed.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:47 pm rating: 0
#61 claw71
Tessa was F-ing delicious.
WHOA! (Now laugh as I wrap my arm around the back of my head to take a drag from my Marlboro)
Hickory Dickory Dock
Tessa was sucking….
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:48 pm rating: 0
#62 FickleGal
Are you suggesting manic depressive men don’t exist?
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:49 pm rating: 0
#63 claw71
Wicked Lady:
I find it hard to believe that you’re satisfied if you haven’t met me.
The ladies all call me Snickers.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:51 pm rating: 0
#64 claw71
Of course not FickleGal. Men have mental issues too.
We have to deal with women, don’t we?
Bada-Bing!
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:52 pm rating: 0
#65 luvtosurf
I guess the ‘boss’ had to do that out of frustration. Maybe things will get better. But, I had to laugh when I read it. That’s some funny stuff.
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:57 pm rating: 0
#66 Lara
I’m assuming Mark can’t stay and confront Carlos and tell him to do his fucking job because Mark is afraid of Carlos.
He leaves notes, then slips out the back door 5 minute before Carlos’ shift begins.
Actually, knowing Carlos, he’s probably late every day anyway, and there are people out in the dining room waiting for their Big Angus Onion Southwest Chipotle Burgers for like half an hour while he has a pre-work cigarette in the walk-in cooler.
Nov 2, 2007 at 2:22 pm rating: 0
#67 browser
WTF!!!
I can’t believe the racist B.S. some people post online.
I bet CLAW71 wouldn’t have the guts to say that crap face to face with a person of color. And you all just let it slide. Damn.
Nov 2, 2007 at 3:33 pm rating: 0
#68 mike