Grrrr... how would you feel?

Ladies,

It is 2am EST and I am not in bed yet.  LOL  I have a few things that I am thinking about and think maybe if I get them off my chest I can get to sleep.  They are work related.

I am a waitress right now, because I can't get any other job right now due to the job market.  I am a very good waitress and have the potential to make good tips *IF* we get customers.  It has been very slow lately.  I am also the type of person that takes pride in my honesty and trustworthyness,   That being said... here's what is going on.

Last Saturday my boss wanted to talk to me.  He pulls out a check w/ a credit card receipt stapled to it.  He says the lady called and said that I overcharged her and wrote the tip amount in myself and that she left a cash tip.  I in NO WAY would ever do a thing like that.  It's dishonest, it theft, and it is credit card fraud.  I would assume if I did something like that, that it would result in my termination.  So I definitely wouldn't risk my job for a measly $4+.  So I try to explain this to my boss... but isn't saying YAY or NAY that he believes me.  The only thing he says is that he is sending her a refund for the difference and that he will deduct it from my check.  This would seem as if he doesn't believe me.  At this point I am mad, upset, and crying... not over the $4.54 but for the simple fact that my honesty is in question.  I also try to point out a few things that are a little "wrong" with the whole picture....

1) The lady called a month after the transaction (I am sure she just got her statement)
2) The check and the credit card receipt aren't even for the same amounts.  Check = $16.11 and Credit card receipt = $36.56
3) The customer copy and not the merchant copy was stapled to the check.  I always staple the merchant copy to the check because it comes out of the machine first and then I hold the customer copy with the credit card to hand back to the customer.
4) The total for the transaction (bill + tip) was not added correctly.  $36.56 +$4.54 does not equal the $40.00 total that was written in, it equals $41.10.  I'm no freaking idiot.

So, something in all this mess DOESN'T add up to me.  Because I KNOW for a fact that I have never in my life written in my own tip.  So I am arguing all these facts with him and he says that I can't admit I made a mistake.  I told him, I would gladly admit to a mistake, but writting in a tip isn't a mistake.. it's theft.  I was so upset I almost quit that day... but considering Jer lost his job the day before, I was in no position to be leaving a job... even if I have been making **** money lately. 

It bothers me very much that he believes I did it... and the only thing he would say is... well it is under your server # and you got the $ at the end of the night.  Well... yes... It is and ... yes .. I did.. but that is because the tip amount was there.  Of course I put the charge through... the slip said that is what the tip is.  I don't touch any of the #'s even if the total doesn't add up correctly after adding the tip.  I add what is written and that is it. 

So now I feel like I am being looked at as the 'untrustworthy' employee... and he said that I was more upset over the whole thing than I needed to be... but DAMNIT... it's my freaking reputation on the line here. 

So today... I go get my paycheck and we get cash in our checks, too.  So he put a slip in there showing that he deducted the $ from my cash.  Well he ended up deducting $5.50 instead of $4.54... this ****** me off.... but in an effort to just put the whole thing behind me, I didn't say anything.  So tonight, I am closing the dining room side of the place by myself and I am sweeping in the dining room and go into the back to get the dustpan and he is looking at some coupons.  The coupons were left earlier that night by one of my tables... they are for various items on the menu... but the biggest value was $1.00 off.  So I tossed the coupons into my tip jar.  Well apparently he pulled them out of there... WTF was he doing in MY tip jar?  So I say to him... "one of my tables left those behind after they used the $2.00 off coupon" and then I go back to my sweeping.  I come back to dump my dustpan and he folds up the coupons and takes them!!!!  I was like WTF!?!?!?!? 

So, as I suspected I am now being *viewed* I guess.  Why else would he go into my tip jar?  I normally keep my credit card transactions that are attached to the checks in there so I can run them at the end of the night.... but I had already done that and given the slips to the bartender.  I had money, change, the coupons and my hand lotion in there... what was his reasoning for going in there?  AND.... why the hell did he take the coupons?  What if I planned on using them with my family or something?  They are coupons you get out of the paper... it's not like they are special "elite" coupons.

Anyway.. I am sooooooooooooooo F-ing fed up with this place, not to mention we have been slower than anything.  I only made $38 on a Saturday night.  I am looking for another job, but pickings are slim. 

Am I right to feel this way?  What would you do? Right now my plan is to keep working until I find something else... but it's HARD to keep going to a place where you're not making much money and you feel like you're being treated like "the shady employee"... but as Mel Gibson said in The Patriot, "I'm a parent, I haven't the luxury of principles"... because my principles would have stood up and said I can't work here anymore. 

Thanks...
B

Again ladies, feedback would be appreciated. 

NO - I would be ******g pissed off too. Seriously - like $4 F'n dollars is worth losing your job over!

If I were you I would wait to find a new job before saying anything and when you do just let him know the reason why you are leaving is because you are offended that he would take the word over someone he has never met over someone that has been working for him for a while and has NEVER been a problem. What a jack ass. I am sorry Bridget! (((HUGS)))

I'd be pissed-off too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

It would be hard for me not to quit.  Kudos to you for keeping your temper in check. 

I would hate hate hate hate the feeling of being watched/suspected and it would make me dread going to work. 

I'm sorry you have to be going through this!!

*hugs*

Cindy

I would be extremely angry too, Bridget!  Like Cindy said, it would be hard for me not to quit but given the cir****tances with Jeramie's job, it's probably best to "suck it up" until you find something new; hopefully that's very soon!

No one likes to be wrongly accused, and I am glad you stood up for yourself.

I'm just curious... what do you really think happened?  It sounds very strange to me... almost like someone could be trying to sabotage you???

Hang in there!

Tanja

Tanja,

I wish I knew what was going on.  I don't like to go spouting off conspiracy theories... but my intial thought was she left the customer copy on the table, too, someone took the cash tip and wrote a tip into the customer copy, took the signed merchant copy off and attached the customer copy with the tip written in.  There are some holes in that theory though.... 1) the waitress that I worked with that night I trust and I don't think she would do it.  2) If one of the cooks did it, I would have hoped I would have seen them lingering long enough to pull off this operation. 

OR, the lady is lying about not leaving it.  Then again, there is one cook... she is a pain in my ass.  She is one of those people who is only happy when they are *****ing or complaining and she tries to be shoved up the owners sons butt and be a tattletale.  (She's in her 50's mind you)  She gives me a hard time because I guess about a month ago... she threw some attitude at me... and was like "Do me a favor... can you write in a BLACK pen... WE can't read your slips without taking them down"  I brushed her off because I was busy and didn't have time for petty nonsense of pen color.  Everyone that works there uses a blue pen... why the hell did she have to pick on me?  I liked the pen I was using because it had a rubber comfort finger grip.  Comfort is important when you write all the time.  So later that night (again talking to me like she is "someone important" at the restaurant with authority and she's not) she says "I see you STILL didn't do what I asked you"  I played dumb and was like "What's that" and I wasn't a smart ass or anything.  She said.. Write with a black pen.  I said "Well I was kinda busy and just grabbed a pen and went to work" and she burst out with "well if you want to get an attitude about it, we can go talk to Anthony" 

Now... obviously this lady doesn't know me from Adam except the few hours we work together each week, and I am a very happy go lucky, cheerful person, especially at work... so she has NEVER seen me with an attitude.  Because up until that moment, I've never needed to use it.  So I said, "Oh honie, that's no attitude, but if you care for me to have one I'd be more than happy to oblige and if you want to talk to Anthony, lets go discuss this issue with him"  She pretty much shut up the rest of the night.  I have no use for petty people and she is the ONLY one who thinks my slip isn't dark enough... everyone else can read it just fine. 

So the next day she send another cook to talk to me and the only reason he did it is because he is currently staying with her while he looks for a place to live.  He says "Michelle would like it if you wrote with a black pen" ... I got pissed.  I said "Nubie... you go tell Michelle to F-ck herself and that I am going to write with THIS pen because it has a comfort grip and I like writing with it... and if she has such a problem reading slips that maybe she should go get glasses"  I know that wasn't very diplomatic of me... but honestly I was fed up with the whole situation.  So nothing else was said about the pen.... except she did come and swipe it from the waitress stand.  It disappeared one day and then I got confirmation that it was taken by her.  SOOOOOO .... I went and got a PURPLE pen with comfort grip and I take it home with me every night.  HA!  Old hag!

She gives another waitress there a hard time and she doesn't put up with her **** either.  The owners son and his wife can't stand her.  I think she is just there as a warm body, because she is slow and useless when it comes to cooking, but thinks she knows a better way to do everything and people just tune her out now.  LOL

Sooo... it could have been her.. and the slip was written on with BLACK ink.  LOL 

I only have a second, so I can't respond the way I'd like, but having been around the block SEVERAL times, I had been in a similar situation...turned out it was the boss doing the scamming and putting it on me.  Just food for thought.  I hope you and Jer find new work soon.

I applaud you for not introducing your foot to his balls...with force! Maybe he's been scammed by employees before, but the guy just sounds like a jackass. Kudos to you for not quitting! To walk out would imply guilt and the fact that you're sticking it out and remaining composed says what a moral and reasonable person you are.

I know it's easy for me to say, but try not to worry about whether your boss believes you or not. Obviously it has more to do with his issues than anything you have or haven't done.

I really liked the way you laid it all out in your post. If you really feel like you want to pursue it, you could modify what you posted and give it to your boss. It would be a good paper trail but also may be cathartic for you to write it and give it to him - knowing at least he'll read it. I don't know, maybe it's a lot more work than it's worth. I have to agree with the pp's in that the whole thing doesn't make any sense.

I pray you find something else soon because he doesn't deserve an employee like you.

Hugs,

I am 110% with you.  I would feel EXACTLY as you are feeling in every way.  I would be extremely upset and SO tempted to quit on the basis of principles, but you know you can't because you got mouths to feed.  I am so sorry this is happening.  I hope you can find a better place to work.  Hugs.  Just keep on being honest and he will waste his time looking at everything you do and will see at the end of the day you are as honest as you say you are.  But I would be feeling exactly the same as you.  Exactly.

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHH...I am so sorry B....so sorry.....you of all people???? Give me a freaking break!!!! I think there may be someone too...watch your back....

I would be so tempted to up and leave to but I too applaud you....hang in there....am sure you will find something soon then you can stick it to him...I agree with Jo....glad you wrote it out....keep the verbiage somewhere....good paper trail....

I would have totally questioned him more on the coupons....what the hell? Maybe you brought them from home and does he have the right to go into your jar? Give me a break....

I waited tables for about 5 years (and believe EVERYONE who eats at restaurants should have to do it for at least a week...lol)....it is a stressful job....fun at times.....money making AT TIMES....but damn HARD work....and now that customer's expect so much more....you are amazing...

And oh, did the handwritings match on the cc receipt with the tip, total and sig? I cannot believe a lady did that for $4....OMG....

Hang in there and hope your dream job comes soon!!!

Big Hugs,

Ann

Holy Smokes!!  Did I know Jer lost his job?  I am so sorry about that.  My quick thoughts (I am doing grades and they need to be done tonight - YIKES!) is that he or someone else is setting you up.  Like maybe he is embezzling money and since she brought it up, he is blaming you.  Like you said, things don't add up.  Gotta run and correct more papers and enter grades. 

Laurie