Recently we have had to do some hiring and so far everyone is working out well but we're having an issue with one of the new cooks.
He is new to the business, graduated culinary school and at his last job he was the lone cook. He does have alot of previous management experience in other fields and to me he seems to be used to being in charge. Now he is in a line environment and did very well during training.. appearing to pick things up very quickly. I can understand the culture shock part of learning the line as it was all new to me when I started. I was also used to being the lone cook (or one of three cooks) and I had alot of learning to do. He's a good worker and for the most part does what is asked of him.
I'm finding that he resists taking direction from me and I'm not sure why. That I have to figure out for myself and address. It might be that I'm a girl and he has gender issues or maybe he truly thinks he knows better than I do. He is also used to being in charge so maybe it's difficult for him to listen to someone else. That one I will get to the bottom of and deal with on my own.
What baffles me is how he works on the line. He appears to think the entire line rests on him and will muscle in on other stations when orders come in if he has nothing going on. He does not seem to think prep is important and has landed in the weeds more than once because of his desire to "help" everyone else. I have told him.. we have this go back to your station..., the KM has told him more than once to keep to his own station and the crepe guy bit his head off when he tried to muscle in but still.. nothing is working. I kicked him off of fruits on Sunday. I was in the walk in when a waffle was ready to go so when I passed the KM on my way back to fruits he said to me to go on table 70's waffle it was just called and I said ok. I had no sooner put the case of kiwis I was carrying down when the new guy was at the waffle iron ready to do it for me and I turned to him and said ... I have this you need to go back to meat and potatoes... It was a ten second time delay and I still had the waffle up before the KM was ready to sell the ticket. He ran out of all of his meats on Sunday because he was not focused and concentrating on what he was doing. That pretty much had the hot side sunk for a while. This is the story with him on all of his stations.. he does not seem to want to focus on the station he is on.
I do not want to fire this guy. He is a good worker, has a strong work ethic and is reliable and responsible. But something has to change with him and I am at a loss as to how to help him fit in with our kitchen.
Any advice you guys have I'd love to hear.. positive or otherwise.
He is new to the business, graduated culinary school and at his last job he was the lone cook. He does have alot of previous management experience in other fields and to me he seems to be used to being in charge. Now he is in a line environment and did very well during training.. appearing to pick things up very quickly. I can understand the culture shock part of learning the line as it was all new to me when I started. I was also used to being the lone cook (or one of three cooks) and I had alot of learning to do. He's a good worker and for the most part does what is asked of him.
I'm finding that he resists taking direction from me and I'm not sure why. That I have to figure out for myself and address. It might be that I'm a girl and he has gender issues or maybe he truly thinks he knows better than I do. He is also used to being in charge so maybe it's difficult for him to listen to someone else. That one I will get to the bottom of and deal with on my own.
What baffles me is how he works on the line. He appears to think the entire line rests on him and will muscle in on other stations when orders come in if he has nothing going on. He does not seem to think prep is important and has landed in the weeds more than once because of his desire to "help" everyone else. I have told him.. we have this go back to your station..., the KM has told him more than once to keep to his own station and the crepe guy bit his head off when he tried to muscle in but still.. nothing is working. I kicked him off of fruits on Sunday. I was in the walk in when a waffle was ready to go so when I passed the KM on my way back to fruits he said to me to go on table 70's waffle it was just called and I said ok. I had no sooner put the case of kiwis I was carrying down when the new guy was at the waffle iron ready to do it for me and I turned to him and said ... I have this you need to go back to meat and potatoes... It was a ten second time delay and I still had the waffle up before the KM was ready to sell the ticket. He ran out of all of his meats on Sunday because he was not focused and concentrating on what he was doing. That pretty much had the hot side sunk for a while. This is the story with him on all of his stations.. he does not seem to want to focus on the station he is on.
I do not want to fire this guy. He is a good worker, has a strong work ethic and is reliable and responsible. But something has to change with him and I am at a loss as to how to help him fit in with our kitchen.
Any advice you guys have I'd love to hear.. positive or otherwise.