"Why is Redendo's short handed?" someone asked me as I am ringing up my 20th pizza. The phone is ringing off the hook and we have a long line, but our counter person is missing in action. I barely have time to look around as we all try to cover the shift. Perhaps she will walk in any minute. "Did she call you?" my husband asked. There is no time to discuss where she could be at. We are too busy getting all the food orders out. Later, I see my cell phone has a text. You probably know where I am going with this one. I am ashamed and will admit it has happened more than once.
All of the sudden it seems like everyone is using text messaging, as it is just an easier way to communicate. I have found that there are ways it can make it easier to run a restaurant. I can quickly ask someone if they can work on a different day for the following schedule. Occasionally, I get text messages from the staff for an item we are running short on and I able to make note of it. There are even vendors that have us place orders by texting rather than waiting on the phone. So there are practical uses for it.
However, you really have to set the guidelines clearly on the uses of it for work. I quickly found that out. Text messaging was not in our staff manual and I assumed phone usage would mean the same thing. Soon I found out that it was not understood to be the same. Also, by me texting the staff I probably showed them that it was fine to use text messaging as a form of communication for work related reasons. I understand that there are times where one will be sick but if you text me at the restaurant most likely I will not get it in time since I am attending customers or cooking. Plus, I would have my phone off since I am working. A phone call to the restaurant would be answered and more appropriately taken care of and I would sooner know that your not coming in.
From all this we now have clearer policies on texting that are reviewed with the staff. Also, I even have this Texting in Sick: How to Guide in our restaurant manual. I read this and thought to myself wow this whole scenario practically happened the same way to us. I wonder how other people have dealt with this. What do you think?
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