Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Working in the service industry you are already assaulted by an onslaught of situations to deal with. From the standard situations like customer interaction and fulfilling their needs; to the non-standard situations like drunk or irate customers, etc. While having to put out fires across the bar on a regular basis all night long, it makes sense that there should be a minimum amount of friction hindering your success from behind the bar. But for some reason that never seems to be the case in the service industry.
While I consider every one I work with to be a friend and can get a long with each of them great outside of work, it seems that as soon as some personalities show up to work in a bar environment their entire persona changes. And sadly, I have never worked at a bar that there were not at least a few of these personalities. It seems as if as soon as they clock in they begin complaining about or demeaning everyone around them. Immediately this sets a bad tone in the workplace making it more difficult to have smooth and profitable interactions with customers and coworkers. I can only conclude that since this is not the way they interact outside of work that this must come from some hatred for their job. If you loathe your job that intensely, find a more emotionally fulfilling line of work. Bartending is a means to an end, and not a career. I bartend because it is an easy way to make money with flexible hours while in school. So it shouldn’t be that difficult to give up the job if it causes you that much grief.
I just expect when a group of people show up to do a job, even a very diverse group, to apply themselves to doing that job. Bartending may be a much different type of work environment then others, but the same principles still apply. You are paid by an employer that has certain goals you are tasked with helping him reach. Like any other company it should be a concerted effort by the organization to reach those goals. If your actions are working against those goals, purposely or accidentally; visibly or invisibly, then steps should be taken to correct or remove the problem. Can’t we all just get along [at work]?
