I work in the food service industry as a food server. Today to my shock I was put on immediate suspension without pay pending a legal investigation and accused of making racist comments.
It's been a bad couple of weeks at the resturant as far as tips are concerned for everyone so of course we complain to each other about it in passing. NEVER in the dining room or NEVER to or in front of guests. I made a factual observation that i have been getting stiffed or tipped only 5% from my african -american tables lately. Other people have said tthe same or agreed with me and said it' always that way. I also said how I have some black tables that tip well and others who say the service was great and proceed to leave me a few bucks on a $90 dollar tab. Apparently some catty co workers told my general manager that I made the comments that black people dont tip and now I'm possibly fired and a racist. I dont see this as racist because i was just stating a factual observation. at NO TIME did i use any racial slurs or profanity or make any derogatory remarks about the people other than they didnt tip me very well or at all. Can i actually be fired for saying this to co-workers? No guests overheard me and i have received no complaints from my guests of any race. I also complained about all the high school kids lately who dont tip either. So did all the servers yet we are not in any trouble for that. i'm not a racist but now i'm going to be fired. I've received no prior discipline or reprimand and am a good employee.. Is it leagl to fire me or even suspend me causing me to lose 4 shifts and hundreds of dollars of my rent and bills money, just for saying " my black tables stiffed me and i don't understand why?"
*Also please note the fact that i did not say "ALL blacks tip bad or not at all" I said some are good some are bad even when they say the service is great. It is a factual observation when i dont generalize and even point out that i have black guests that tip me well but i do get stiffed often by black customers. i also get stiffed by teenagers. all the servers complain about the teenagers and no one is accused of discriminating against teenagers. also No guests heard this and it was only said one on one to other co workers who ive also heard say the same. i did talk to my boss clamly and was told it has to go thru leagl? Legal??? why? I made no racial slurs, used no profanity, and did not say anything bad about the tables other than they didnt tip which was a fact. I only said it after the tables left. i have no idea if they will tip beforehand and all my guests get the same service no matter what race or age. when its said after the fact and it is a fact that actually happened
I did say we have all complained lately and not just about *some* of the black patrons. i stated several times that myself and several others have been outspoken about all the teenagers coming in without adults, filling the resturant and then stiffing everyone. My self and everyone else also complains when white people or any other people stiff them or leave them 10% or less when we only have 3 table sections. So why am i wrong and racist for mentioning a few black tables and not in trouble for mentioning white tables or tables of teenagers? i am not racist and made no other comments other than about tables who dont tip AFTER they have already left the resturant. I dont see where i harassed or discriminated against anyone personally. what i said doesnt equate to harassing any ethnic group or discriminating against any group since i give the same good service to all tabls regardless so how am i discriminating against anyone? this ultra P.C. world we live in is getting insane.
It's been a bad couple of weeks at the resturant as far as tips are concerned for everyone so of course we complain to each other about it in passing. NEVER in the dining room or NEVER to or in front of guests. I made a factual observation that i have been getting stiffed or tipped only 5% from my african -american tables lately. Other people have said tthe same or agreed with me and said it' always that way. I also said how I have some black tables that tip well and others who say the service was great and proceed to leave me a few bucks on a $90 dollar tab. Apparently some catty co workers told my general manager that I made the comments that black people dont tip and now I'm possibly fired and a racist. I dont see this as racist because i was just stating a factual observation. at NO TIME did i use any racial slurs or profanity or make any derogatory remarks about the people other than they didnt tip me very well or at all. Can i actually be fired for saying this to co-workers? No guests overheard me and i have received no complaints from my guests of any race. I also complained about all the high school kids lately who dont tip either. So did all the servers yet we are not in any trouble for that. i'm not a racist but now i'm going to be fired. I've received no prior discipline or reprimand and am a good employee.. Is it leagl to fire me or even suspend me causing me to lose 4 shifts and hundreds of dollars of my rent and bills money, just for saying " my black tables stiffed me and i don't understand why?"
*Also please note the fact that i did not say "ALL blacks tip bad or not at all" I said some are good some are bad even when they say the service is great. It is a factual observation when i dont generalize and even point out that i have black guests that tip me well but i do get stiffed often by black customers. i also get stiffed by teenagers. all the servers complain about the teenagers and no one is accused of discriminating against teenagers. also No guests heard this and it was only said one on one to other co workers who ive also heard say the same. i did talk to my boss clamly and was told it has to go thru leagl? Legal??? why? I made no racial slurs, used no profanity, and did not say anything bad about the tables other than they didnt tip which was a fact. I only said it after the tables left. i have no idea if they will tip beforehand and all my guests get the same service no matter what race or age. when its said after the fact and it is a fact that actually happened
I did say we have all complained lately and not just about *some* of the black patrons. i stated several times that myself and several others have been outspoken about all the teenagers coming in without adults, filling the resturant and then stiffing everyone. My self and everyone else also complains when white people or any other people stiff them or leave them 10% or less when we only have 3 table sections. So why am i wrong and racist for mentioning a few black tables and not in trouble for mentioning white tables or tables of teenagers? i am not racist and made no other comments other than about tables who dont tip AFTER they have already left the resturant. I dont see where i harassed or discriminated against anyone personally. what i said doesnt equate to harassing any ethnic group or discriminating against any group since i give the same good service to all tabls regardless so how am i discriminating against anyone? this ultra P.C. world we live in is getting insane.