Week 4 journal post [Story in an hour or less]

 Joseph Ho

Thomas Maltman

Fictional Writing

9/29/20

The Workplace

I don’t like to think I have an ego. I am just very hardworking and driven, these characteristics drive me to be a hard ass… especially why I see that people aren’t doing their jobs. I am only 23 years old but I feel like I am 40, my back always hurts, and I have trouble with my knees. Throughout my life, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I always thought maybe I’d be a doctor, 12 years later and I am a general manager of chipotle. I went to college for four years expecting it to help me start my one business, safe to say it did not help and wasn’t worth the money.

Chipotle isn’t that bad though, I actually like my co-workers and have gotten the hang of the whole procedure. I’ve also had plenty of experience in the past as a general manager. I used to be the general manager at a pizza restaurant called Markos. Markos was fun… no it wasn’t, that is why I quit and am now working at chipotle. Why was it so bad? Well all of my workers hated me and the way I ran things, I actually wanted to work. They didn’t share the same mindset and instead smoked weed in the back, took hour long breaks, and pretty much just showed up whenever they wanted to. Trust me I am not a bad boss, they just wouldn’t listen to me and it started to make me look bad.

I’d like to think I am such a good boss because I am very assertive but am also understanding. Lately tho I feel as if I am starting to fall into the same hole as Markos. This time it is with my managing staff. Since I’ve gotten to the store which was two months ago, we have lost two managers. We’re in need of managers. Recently I hired two new workers that are currently becoming managers. One of them is driving me crazy. His name is Steven. Initially he was doing great, but now he seems to have no motivation. Lately, I have been holding his hand showing him the ins and outs of managing. Last week was the first week I let him run hints oh his own, and I am starting to get complaints from my crew that he is being lazy by staying in the office for his whole shift, calling in people to do his work, and also he has been talking behind my back.

It has been a week since I let Steven run shifts alone and I’ve had it, he continues to disrespect me and also isn’t standing up to the challenge of becoming a manager. I’ve been holding it in for too long. Today he called off on me and I am already running short staffed...I have had it with him.

“Hey why weren’t you at work today!!?”
“I am so sorry Greg, I’m just going through some personal shit right now.”
“I don’t care anymore Steve.”
“You can’t keep doing this to me, I had to bust my ass off and open with two people today.”
“I know I know, I am truly sorry Greg those weren’t my intentions. I had to take care of my baby.”
“You have one more chance, if you call off on me one more time within the next three months then you are fired!! Do you understand me?”
“I just don’t get it man. You’re being so cold right now, my wife just had a baby and they’re my priority right now.”
“You told me you needed one week off and I gave that to you. If you needed more days off you should have told me in advance not the night before. And most definitely just not show up, that is unacceptable.”
“Whatever bro.”
“By the way I showed my therapist our conversations and he is on my side, you need to chill out.”
“OH REALLY?! Have you told your therapist I’ve had to work 70 god damn hours a week because you haven’t finished your god damn serve safe yet!? Huh did you tell him that?!!.”
“Like I said bro I am sorry I haven’t finished that yet. I’ve been going through a lot bro I just haven’t had the time.”
“YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME?!!! IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS!!! Stop making excuses for yourself Steve you’re digging yourself a deeper hole.”
“Well why haven’t you been nagging any of the other managers in training to get their servsafe don’t so that they can help you run shifts?”
“Because of you Phil!! You’re in the class, we’re waiting on you to finish so that they can start their classes as well. I’m done with you, if you don’t have your servsafe done by next week, YOU'RE FIREDDD!!!”
“Heard, I will have it done. But just so you know I bet Tyler and Justin would be on my side. You're being so inconsiderate. I am a father now, and you’re threatening my job.”
“You’re being a child Steve I’ve tried to work with you, I even gave you manager pay already and you haven’t even been promoted yet. If you end up getting fired just know that it was your fault and your decision.”
“Oh and by the way, Tyler and Justin are not on your side... in fact they want you to hurry up so they can begin their servsafe.

I’m done being the nice guy and especially with Steve. I come to work with the mindset of working and getting on with my day, I don’t come to socialize. Honestly as bad as my job sounds I actually love my job. I won’t let what happened at Markos happen to chipotle.

To my surprise, Steve called me the same night.

In a sad cry Steve said, “I am sorry Greg, I know I’ve let you and the rest of the managers down. I have just been so exhausted with trying to be a father, manager, and a good friend.”

“I know Steve, I know, it is just that I really need you to step up. I am running a store and I can’t have people giving me eighty percent when I need a hundred and ten percent.”

“I understand, just know I will be stepping up and trying my best.”