Hi, i'm a Chef and have just taken over a schools catering.?
Asked by Super Galactic Spaceman
Hi, i'm a Chef and have just taken over a schools catering. I am still only temping there but they want me full time. Right i am not blowing my own trumpet or anything but from the first day i was there they noticed the differance. I have taken over management to i have my own office etc. they want me to be chef manager. Great , but the staff...... We have a bunch of women some have been there 14 odd years they are set in there ways, if i try to change things they hate it. they seem to do as they please and take the ****. they are very slow and i get comments like tis is only a school not a hotel. The school is a Privite fee paying school for a start all i want to do is make it better and have a professonal working kitchen etc but they go off crying walk out blah blah oh how stupid . i have worked in school kitchens before and if this went on they would get sacked 14 years or not . So what i am asking is advice this is my fist management job . they need to know i am boss ?

Best Answer:
You should always make them know your boss, but try being nice so they will listen, instead of assertive, where they will be rebelious. Good Luck

punch em and tell shape up or ship out theres people out there would kill for your job now get on with it you old bikes and stop grizzling like babies
Answered by jimmy_hills_chin

I was in a similar situation except i took over the catering at a tourist attraction, you need to assert your authority immediately or you will never get anywhere, arrange a joint , a meeting with the bursar and your staff and explain how thing ARE going to be from now on. I would also adpot an open door policy for your office and encourage feedback from the staff, don't dismiss negative ideas, try to be tactful and ignore it any how!! Nothing wrong with trying to improve things, ask the kids/teachers/parents what they think. I only have one member of the orginal staff left and it is a much nicer place now. hope it works out for you!!
Answered by craigcrashuk

pick a task, whether it be food prep, cooking, cleaning, whatever and have a WRITTEN way of doing it, either on display or freely available to see. Then you can continually refer your staff to the method of whatever they are doing, so that they know exactly what is required and it is much easier to point out where they are departing from your way of doing things. They will have no excuses that they didn't know, and in case of a dispute, it is hard to argue with a piece of paper! ok it will take up a bit of time to start with but your kitchen will run much more smoothly in the end. PS remember it is just a job to a lot of the staff and they will naturally take the easy road. They will need an incentive to change
Answered by paul m

You are the chef you are the boss no matter what kind of kitchen you are in, let the woman know it, if they are not happy doing what you say tell them where the door is,BUT on the other hand, one can learn from old hands they have been in this kitchen for14+ years they must have some good points you should have a talk with them after or before you start serving, you have been given the job and you want to change some things for the better, for the school and for the staff perhaps, if that doesn't work ask the head to have a word with them. a kitchen whether a school or top restaurant has to work efficiently and smoothly. At last resort threaten them with getting chef Gordon Ramsay in that should sort them out, I would like to be there to see their faces, and hear the remarks. controlling one woman is bad but to try and control a bunch of disagreeable woman in a kitchen wow my heart goes out to you All the very best of luck to you.
Answered by alex winefly