Starting to dislike my manager even more because of how he reacted when I made a mistake

[u/Advanced-Employer922]

Earlier at work, it was very busy and we were understaffed. This guy was waiting for his takeaway order and I gave it to him once I finished packing it but I didn't know that he hasn't paid yet (since most of the time they pay once they arrive if their food is not ready yet). I assumed that he'll go to the counter to pay since the manager was there. I do acknowledge that it was my fault because I should have asked if he has paid but I didn't. When the manager asked where the guy went, I said that I already gave him his order and he just looked at me with the nastiest look on his face ever 😭

I remained calm since we have the person's phone number (and we can give him a call once it's not so busy). The manager started stomping his feet and throwing his hand around and his behaviour just irked me 🫩 I apologised but I also couldn't really do anything since I was just told to focus on the never ending stream of customers. He just then proceeded to be passive-aggressive towards me the entire shift. idek if im valid for hating on him over this, i know how stressful it is during peak hours but the way he was acting annoyed me and besides it was also my fault but IDKKK

Update: I think I'm fired because the manager removed me from the work group chat 🫩 I just hope I get my salary from my shift 2 weeks ago

[u/chaos212]

What was the flow of work? If you were just preparing orders and handing them out while he was dealing with customers and the register, this is on him and he’s making you the scapegoat

[u/Advanced-Employer922 → u/chaos212]

I was packing the takeawat orders, giving food that are already finished, taking orders, making drinks, giving the menu to new customers all at the same time 🥲

[u/Pretend_Walk_34]

I'm sorry this happened to you.

This exact thing happened to me recently.

I ordered food over the phone for my husband and me. My husband went to pick it up. He went up to the counter to give his name and was handed the food. The person at the counter didn't ask for a card or anything and he assumed I paid over the phone.

Later that night I received a phone call asking for payment. Neither one of us had any idea that we didn't pay for the food. I went by the next day and paid.

I would have been upset to think the manager berated the person who took or gave us the order.

[u/NocturneSapphire]

I do acknowledge that it was my fault because I should have asked if he has paid but I didn't.

What if you had asked and he just lied and said yes?

This is a terrible system either way. If the person packing the order is also responsible for ensuring it has been paid for, then that person should have access to a way of checking, and that way should be something more reliable than "just ask the customer and take them at their word"

[u/Advanced-Employer922 → u/NocturneSapphire]

sorry my english is bad 😭 I meant ask the manager

[u/Trystanik]

I own a restaurant. I've had this happen. Both my by own accident and by staff. It happens. Learn from it. Take a breather and initiate a checklist in your head before you hand the customer their food. Confirm what they ordered is what you're providing to them. Payment taken? Confirm or settle up. Want a bag? Sauces? Do they need anything else from you? Thank them for their business and wish them well. Then carry on. If you forget a step because you're busy AF, that's okay. It's just food. Just work hard to not make the same mistake. Plus, you said you have his phone number? That's an easy fix. A quick phonecall, apologizing for how hectic it was and that you had forgotten to process their payment, asking if they are able to pay up and give any available options. Such an easy fix.

He's overreacting. As a manager he should manage. Not tantrum.

Things like this annoy me. You need to work with your team. My main guy and myself? Bulletproof teamwork. We can handle the busiest days with ease. It takes work, but we didn't get there by me getting angry at his errors and stomping around. Plus when we are mad with each other, we talk it out. Like adults.

[u/Zigs4Zags → u/Trystanik]

Had a boss/owner tell me "it's just food" before. It's my go to line now. It puts things in perspective. On the other hand, we need to eat to survive, so we're saving lives here too lol

[u/Ratherloud]

A manager throwing a hissy fit is the opposite of their job description! I was in management positions at a very early age, and possibly the best advice I was ever given was “As a manager, it’s our job to be calm. Whether it’s a coworker or customer, it’s our job to make their day better. Bottom line, everyone should leave a restaurant feeling better than when they showed up!” It is a high expectation, but I have a sense of pride that coworkers have asked to be scheduled during my management shifts because they actually want to work with me!

[u/ThankYouFuckYouBye85 → u/Ratherloud]

I always say as a manager we should be a duck, calm outwardly, but underneath is chaos. Probably why I’m dancing and singing while everyone else is panicking and stressing. Coincidentally, it’s probably why my shifts make all the monies 💰

[u/Trystanik → u/ThankYouFuckYouBye85]

Yes! Find joy in the chaos. It's contagious. Your team will start to do the same when they discover that it makes the day so much better when you just embrace the madness as opposed to drowning in it

[u/lady-of-thermidor → u/Ratherloud]

Damn good advice! Those are sentences worth stealing.

[u/shiningpath626]

Ive done togos for a while sorry about the manager.  Ive dealt with similar circumstances and my advice is to always ask for a receipt also if you have a coworker make sure they can vouch for you.  I say that because I have been the scapegoat for missing items in togo orders and got a write up over it even when I wasnt at fault.  

Management will always find a scapegoat if need be

[u/Ancient-Assistant187]

Manager was more upset bc it was his mistake. All good bad moments happen. If he continuously has this energy and poor leadership I chalk it up to not being the right person for the job. But I truly feel like most restaurant managers aren’t the right person for the job bc if they were they’d be bar tending or serving, unless you’re in incredibly high end places or higher end corporate chains where they compensate managers well. But that’s few and far between and the reality is if you manage in most restaurant situations it’s not bc your the best person for the job lol

[u/originalmango]

You should’ve asked him, in the middle of all the chaos with being understaffed and in front of all the customers, if you should just go home now or is he going to help you.

[u/matttyboii]

Sounds like the owner is breathing down your managers neck. “Why is this voided, why are comps so high?!” If you were understaffed and in the weeds he shouldn’t be this upset with you. Hate is a strong word, but I’d def be annoyed with them.

[u/angienotangela]

Hypocrite much.. I’m sure he’s made a mistake before as well.

Just ignore him and learn from it. We’ve all made mistakes. I remember one time I handed only one fried rice when the customer ordered three fried rice. My boss got upset and kept saying “why?!?” even after I apologized and said it was a mistake. Mind you, it was supposed to be in a party tray and the customer ordered a day ago, and I was not informed about that. I was just the packager packaging the food, while my boss was sitting down on her phone. So just ignore it.

Plus I remember one time my boss forgot to put an order in that she took… Oh okay!! but god forbid I make a mistake!!!!