REST IN PEACETHIS WEEK, WE WERE DEVASTATED TO HEAR THE NEWS OF THE UNEXPECTED DEATH OF ONE OF OUR CO-WORKERS. SHE HAD CELEBRATED HER 46th BIRTHDAY ON WEDNESDAY. ON THURSDAY, SHE CAME BACK TO WORK LOOKING RADIANT. ON FRIDAY (HER SCHEDULED DAY OFF) SHE WOKE UP WITH A TERRIBLE MIGRAINE HEADACHE. IT GOT WORSE AS THE MORNING PROGRESSED SO SHE DECIDED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. WHILE WAITING TO SEE A DOCTOR, SHE COLLAPSED. THE DOCTORS RUSHED TO HER AIDE ONLY TO REALIZE SHE HAD AN ANEURYSM. THEY RUSHED TO INTO SURGERY BUT TO NO AVAIL. SHE WAS BRAIN DEAD. ON MONDAY, HER DEVASTATED HUSBAND GAVE THE GO AHEAD TO TURN OFF THE LIFE SUPPORT MACHINE.

THIS WOMAN WAS SUCH A HARD WORKER. SHE GOT ALONG WITH EVERYONE (WHICH IS A RARE THING). SHE NEVER HESITATED TO HELP HER CO-WORKERS. NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LONG HOURS.

THE SADDEST THING IS THAT SHE HADN'T EVEN BEEN BURRIED YET, AND SHE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT WORK. THEY HIRED SOMEONE TO REPLACE HER AND BROUGHT HIM IN ON THE SAME DAY OF THE FUNERAL. TALK ABOUT INSESITIVITY!

PREFERRED GUEST

At the hotel where I'm currently employed (as in many others) there are preferred guests or "club" members.

Speaking from my own personal experience, the preferred guests I've encountered have actually turned out to be some (if not the) most arrogant and obnoxious guests ever!

They've discovered that if they complain loud enough (while at the same time reminding everyone that they are "preferred" guests) that they tend to receive complimentary items such as wine, meals, etc.

They also tend to mistreat the hotel staff with profanity, threats and, at times, even with physical abuse!

Following are specific details of one such "preferred" guest at my hotel. This guy is a complete asshole!

One night, this idiot was staying in one of the nicer suites (which he was moved in to because he complained about the original room he was assigned to). He was partying with two local prostitutes and decided to order two bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne.

Upon arrival to the suite with the champagne, I was asked (actually told) to open the bottles for them. I opened both bottles and poured three glasses for the guests. The whole time this asshole is standing there completely nude scratching and sniffing himself!

After downing both bottles of champagne, they decided to go downstairs to the pool - completely nude! They were causing so much noise that they began to wake nearby guests (with rooms near the pool). Security had to be called to force them to return to their room to put some clothes on and to keep the noise level down.

The "preferred" asshole was so insulted he decided to check out that same evening. The very next day, he returned to the hotel with two un-opened bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne (purchased elsewhere) and insisted for a refund claiming he had not consumed the bottles he ordered from room service the previous evening. What I could not believe was that the hotel management actually took the bottles and gave this asshole a complete refund (including my tip!). I have never been so disgusted!

SENSE OF SAFETY

I've worked at hotels where the security was extremely tight. Tight security is reassuring not only to the guests but to the employees as well. There's a great sense of safety knowing there's such protection while you're working.

At the current hotel where I work security is a sad pathetic joke. It's a bunch of young guys who are more interested in hitting on the female employees than actually protecting the guests or hotel staff.

There are no security checks so, of course, there's a lot of theft from unscrupulous employees.

The hotel is very open to the public. By this, I mean that there are a lot of different entrances where people can just walk on to the hotel grounds. Rather than have the security staff patrol the grounds and entrances to the hotel, they're stationed in an office where they just hang out and play video games on their smart phones.

It's very scary, especially since there are a lot of national and international politicians & dignitaries that stay at this particular hotel.

JURY DUTY

One thing I've noticed (at all the hotels I've worked at) is how much your boss hates you been off from work.
When you call in sick, you are given such a hard time about calling out. They would rather have you come in to work and infect your co-workers and guests.

Having to take time off due to jury duty is even worse. I've had bosses actually try to convince me to and even offer me tips on how to get out of serving jury duty! That is not only un-American but so very unethical!

I even had a boss exclaim: "Why can't people serve jury duty on their scheduled days off!" What an idiot!

SHOPPING & OTHER FIVE FINGER DISCOUNTS

Believe it or not, a lot of people at work steal anything from food, alcohol, toweles, bathrobes, soaps and even toilet paper among other things.

One of my co-workers hosted a party for the christening of her grand-daughter and all the alcohol for the adults were bottles she'd taken from work (bottles of champagne and alcohol from the minibar storage room).

After the end of any banquets or receptions, any food that's left over is quickly packed up by cooks and/or stewards and taken home.

There's another co-worker who's afraid to invite anyone from work to her house because all of her silverware, glassware, dishes, coasters even ashtrays have all been taken from work.

If you ask people why they do it, you'll get a slew of different reasons. Some complain that they have no choice because of a freeze on salary increases and/or an additional 5% deduction in everyone's paycheck. Others say they see it as a chance at getting back at their bosses for mistreating them. And yet others steal for the simple thrill of it.

OVERNIGHT SHIFT


During my career as an In-Room-Dining Server, I've worked every shift - the morning shift, the afternoon/evening shift and even the overnight shift.

I didn't really care for the morning shift for two reasons: (1) I'm just not a morning person and (2) As busy as it usually gets during the morning shifts, there's not much money to be made. The cost of breakfast is much less than lunch or dinner.

The shift I absolutely HATE is the overnight shift. I find it to be the loneliest and the longest. Many times there's only one person scheduled to work on the overnight shift. As a result, you tend to do more work because there really isn't anybody to share the duties with.

You tend to deal more with drunk guests during the overnight shifts. They'll call with munchies (from a result of what they've been ingesting or drinking). Many times, they're so inebriated that they can barely speak, so getting them to place an order is quite a mission.

When you make it to their rooms for the delivery, most times they are in the nude and/or very touchy-feely with the servers.

SICK DAY

I'm coming down with a cold and, as terrible as I feel, I'm headed to work. One reason is because I feel like if I can actually get out of bed then I can make it to work. Another reason is because, like so many of my co-workers, I just can't afford to take the time off.

I've gone to work with the flu, with an inflamed sciatic nerve and with stomach viruses among other things.

There's also a lot of pressure from your superiors to come in to work no matter how awful you're feeling. Never mind that you may be contagious to your co-workers as well as to the guests - ESPECIALLY if you handle food!