Started as Kitchen Manager this week and it's been a long one so far About This Page:

[phoebec]

The first week is always the hardest. I am glad it is going so well. Congratulations!!!!!

[num1DVCfan]

I was actually thinking about you the other day and wondering how things were going without the terrible boss. I'm glad to hear that everything is coming together and it sounds like you have a happier road ahead of you.

[wendygrubb]

Hope everything goes wonderfully and you end up loving it. Think your employees will be grateful to have someone there now who values their opinion. Its always tough to get used to something new. Beef of luck!

[jimmymac]

I'm glad it's working out so far

[mcneal]

I have thought about you several times this week and hoped that all was going well. So happy to read that indeed it is going well. Sounds like you are handling everything very well ( as I knew you would). Glad to know you are getting along well with the coworkers and that they had a warm welcome for you. Good luck for reaching your goals in the next 45 days.

[lesabrowning]

Glad to hear things went well, I knew they would! You have a great attitude, I am sure your coworkers are happy to have you : )

[Grammy Grumpy]

You've got a few more days under your belt, how are things?

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by Grammy Grumpy

You've got a few more days under your belt, how are things?

Up until yesterday (Friday), things were still going well. Yesterday morning even went well but the school I'm in now introduced that computer system and once that happened, everything fell apart very quickly. We have 3 lunches and the kids get 30 minutes. First lunch took every minute of the 30 to get kids through (the other full timer rang). Second lunch took 40 minutes to get the kids through (the part timer rang) and third lunch I was able to get the kids caught up. Kids started eating lunch in line because they were so hungry and a few dropped their lunches because the stupid trays we're using at the moment (styrofoam) don't fit on the rails correctly. In addition to that, they can barely support the weight of food so when you add the weight of a milk, the tray doesn't stand a chance. I told the part timer when we served together we're going to go back to the hard plastic (reusable) trays - didn't say when, just we will - and she said "no, absolutely not, we're not using those." Sorry but she doesn't have a say in it. She says she doesn't have time to wash them but I've watched her this week. Between lunches - on a good day which we will eventually get back to - we have 15 minutes from when one group is fully served to when the next group comes in. The part timer stands around and does nothing that whole time so she does have time to wash the trays. I also told the other full timer about going back to the trays and while she has her doubts about it, I told her at the other school that I just left we used the plastic trays every single day. She wasn't sure about it but I told her it can be done - "if it can be done at another school with only 3 people and 22 minute lunches, it can be done here with 3 people and 30 minute lunches." My Food Services Director knows about it too - I told him what the part timer said - and at first he wasn't sure but when I pointed out 1) kids were not taking anything but the hot lunch (they have to take the cold stuff first now) and 2) kids were having trouble and dropping lunches he agreed it might be best to go back to the hard trays. He just said not to do too many changes at once which I hadn't planned on anyway. I'd like to only so kids can have someplace sturdy to put their food and straighten out their money (which parents are still sending in at the moment) before they get to the register but I will wait a few days.

So other than the computer system messing things up yesterday (we couldn't even get out of work on time because of it) until that point things had gone well. I kind of dread next week only because the people I work with don't really want anything to do with this computer system. I wouldn't mind ringing all the time (I'm the only one actually comfortable with it and the FSD suggested it may have to be that way - me ringing) but the full timer has to know it too for days I'm out. On a bright note though, I may actually get a phone in the office out of this whole new register system. Yes, I have an office (which the other workers use more than me which I don't get), but it doesn't have a phone . The FSD said something about getting a computer in there so I can do end of day work instead of using the register but I said "can I get a phone instead?" Maybe if I'm lucky, I can get both a computer and a phone which means their stuff will get the boot. They eat in my office, they have their coffee maker in my office, the full timer has a fan - for her - on my desk, and they have a big utensil holder (full of utensils, napkins and straws) sitting on my desk. I've been good this week by not saying anything but it really, really annoys me that all this stuff is there. My desk is not that big (almost like a student sized desk you'd have at home - it only has 3 drawers, one in front of me and 2 on the side) and I do actually have paperwork to do so the more room they take up (especially when they eat and drink coffee) the less room I have to do my paperwork that I don't want food/coffee spilled on. I don't think that's asking too much but as with the plastic trays, I don't want to do too much at one time. Let's see if I get either the phone or the computer (which will eliminate some of the paperwork but not all of it). But anyway, that's how my week ended - on a very stressful note. I still like the job and I know the computer will work out, it's just getting the other two on board to not only accept it but also to move quicker with it. They know registers and this isn't much different - instead of buttons, we have a screen to touch - but they're acting like it's something totally foreign and incomprehensible. It wasn't broken but the powers that be decided it needed fixing - and this is how I'll end up after all is said and done

[Shawnam1868]

Honestly, I'm surpised its taken this long for your school system to start using a pos system. I've never ran one, but I can tell you from the breakfasts and lunches I've had at Stevie's school, it seems like it'll be easier in the long run. I'm sure you are doing a great job and to be truthful, as a parent, I'd rather my kid get his food on a plastic tray. Styrofoam is bad for the environment and way too flimsy.

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[Huntermom]

Sounds like you had a good week. I'm surprised your school didn't expect it to take longer with the new computer system and add a few minutes to each lunch (or stagger them a little more.

Do you know why the school switched to disposable trays? My first thought was for sanitary reasons. Depending on the ages of the kids, they can be really good at spreading germs.

As far as the office goes, it sounds like it is the place people "hang out" Do the employees not have a break room? If it s the only place for them to have a coffee and relax, maybe you could pick up a small table at a yard sale for them to use. Do you have room in a corner of your office? Have you asked them what they think you should do so you have a clear place to do paperwork. I worked at a court once that had a poorly designed office area. For a while, I had the largest office (after having the smallest with no window and one in the basement). My office had a table that was used for staff meetings as well as breaks and lunches. It was used that way when the previous occupants had the office and after I left. I can't imagine what would have happened if I told my colleagues they could gather and socialize in my office.

Good Luck. And don't forget to enjoy yourself a little.

[CinderAbby]

I'm surprised your school didn't expect it to take longer with the new computer system and add a few minutes to each lunch (or stagger them a little more.

Me too but I guess that's male thinking for you. And the worst part? We were actually the last school to go "live" with it so they should have known by Friday how long it was going to take. Wasn't my decision though.

Do you know why the school switched to disposable trays?

Simply put? Because the part timer - who does the dishes - has been allowed to avoid work all the years she's been in the building. When the kitchen went from 4 people to 3 (the start of 11/12 school year), the person who actually did all the work in the dishroom left. The 3 remaining people felt they had no choice but to go to disposable trays to get all the work done in time. I knew this going in and have been trying really hard not to make too many waves at the start hoping the part timer would maybe pull her weight/become a team player with a new manager (me) there. If it ends up I get either the plastic trays or the worker, I'll take the trays because we have some subs who wouldn't mind permanent work.

Do the employees not have a break room? Do you have room in a corner of your office?

Technically there is a break room in the building - it's the teachers break room but no one is going to walk down the hall to it. There is not a break room for the kitchen staff but there is room in the store room (where the other schools take their breaks) for a small table and a couple of chairs so they can certainly sit in there. As for room in my office, there is no room. When the other two are sitting there, one of them needs to move just so I can get to the desk so it is very cramped.

[Huntermom]

Maybe one of the best things you can do is see if you can get a decent place for your employees to take a break. MY experience with schools is sometimes the non teaching employees don't feel comfortable in the "teacher's room." I think having a place to relax for a few minutes is important.

As far as the trays go, has anyone done a cost analysis of which is more expensive (I'd guess the disposable-buying them abd disposing of them). Maybe you can approach it that way. then it is not a question of who doesn't pull their weight but of the best value.

[CinderAbby]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Maybe one of the best things you can do is see if you can get a decent place for your employees to take a break. MY experience with schools is sometimes the non teaching employees don't feel comfortable in the "teacher's room." I think having a place to relax for a few minutes is important.

As far as the trays go, has anyone done a cost analysis of which is more expensive (I'd guess the disposable-buying them abd disposing of them). Maybe you can approach it that way. then it is not a question of who doesn't pull their weight but of the best value.

I totally get not feeling comfortable in the teachers room. At my old school, the copy machines were in there as well and I remember one day I was making copies and a teacher actually said to me the machines were for staff use only. Lots of teachers don't look at those of us in the kitchen as staff - they look at us and treat us more like servants at times which is a shame. The janitors even get more respect than us. Yes, we may not be teaching the kids anything but IMO feeding them is just as important as teaching them if not more so. Without some sort of fuel during the day, how can kids even learn? But anyway, like I said, I get not using it.

As for the disposable, now that I'm a manager, I get handed all the invoices for our deliveries for me to double check and sign off on. I'll be able to see what it costs to get the plates so I can certainly do some sort of analysis and present it that way. Thank you for suggesting doing it that way.

[mcneal]

I agree about checking the cost of the trays. Plus styrofoam is just bad "green" wise. Plus it seems to not be working for the kids.

What if you find a spare small table and a couple of chairs and set up a small area in the store room. You could put a pretty tablecloth(they usually have them at Dollar Tree) on it and set up the coffee maker. It would be really nice if you could do this one afternoon after the others leave and then surprise them with it the next morning.

[Huntermom]

Don't forget to factor in the cost of disposing of all those styrofoam trays. It is adding the trash removal costs with each one tossed. It would not surprise me if the disposal was close to or more than the cost (as well as not good for the environment).