00:0615 minutes late? Nice start.
00:15Look, I'm telling you, Linda, I have to waste my whole morning with another clueless wannabe who probably thinks hospitality
00:21means smiling a lot and saying have a nice day.
00:23Derek, maybe you should-
00:25No, no. Last week, this one girl came in wearing flip flops. Okay? Flip flops!
00:30To a job interview. Yeah. Okay? I didn't even let her sit down. I just sent her right back out
00:36the door.
00:37And the week before that, guy wouldn't even make eye contact. Kept looking at his shoes the whole time.
00:42Nice.
00:43I was like, buddy, if you can't look at me, how are you gonna handle customers?
00:48Oh, well, I think our applicant is waiting.
00:52Let her wait. Build character. Shows me she's serious. Or not.
00:58Derek, I really- Yeah, fine. Let's go.
01:12Hi there. Sorry for the wait. I'm Linda, the shift supervisor. This is Derek, our assistant manager. And this is
01:19Casey, our senior server.
01:21Nice to meet you all. I'm Maria.
01:23Let's make this quick. Lunch rest starts soon and I've got a million things to do. So, Maria, why do
01:27you wanna work here?
01:28Well, I've heard good things about the restaurant chain and I'm interested in the company culture.
01:31Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everyone says that. Let me ask you something real. Can you handle the pressure? Because this isn't
01:36some sleepy cafe where you can take your time with orders.
01:39I've worked in several fast-paced restaurants. I'm uncomfortable with-
01:43See? That's what everyone says. I'm comfortable with pressure. But then the first time a customer snaps at them, an
01:49order gets messed up. Okay? They fall apart.
01:52You ever had someone yell at you over cold fries?
01:54Yes, actually. And I had-
01:57I bet you probably cried in the back, didn't you? It's okay. Get a minute.
02:01I didn't cry. I resolved the issue and moved on.
02:04Derek, maybe we should go through the standard-
02:07Nah, I prefer to read people, not scripts. Okay? You can tell way more about someone by having a real
02:12conversation.
02:14Taking notes at your own interview. It's a new one. What are you planning on, writing a book or something?
02:19What's going on?
02:21I like to document how businesses treat potential employees. It tells me a lot about whether I want to work
02:26there or not.
02:27Fair enough. Just don't expect extra points for being prepared. We need people who can think on their feet, not
02:32just take notes.
02:33Maria, can you tell us about your previous experience? Of course. I've worked at several restaurants over the past couple
02:39of-
02:40How many times have you been fired?
02:41I've never been fired.
02:42Really? Never. Not even once. Because your resume shows you've moved around a lot. Alright? That's usually a red flag.
02:49I set opportunities for growth. Different environments teach different skills.
02:53Or maybe you just couldn't cut it anywhere else.
02:55I assure you, I left each position on good terms.
02:57Sure. That's what they all say.
03:00You know what? Your posture. It's all wrong. You're sitting too stiff.
03:05Customers don't want to be served by someone who looks like they swallowed a broom.
03:09Derek!
03:09Hey, what? I'm being honest. If she can't handle honest feedback in an interview, how's she going to handle it
03:14on the floor?
03:15And this application, this application looks desperate. Like you need this job real bad. Are you desperate, Maria?
03:21I'm interested in the position. Yes.
03:24That's not what I asked. I asked if you were desperate. There's a difference.
03:27I wouldn't say desperate. I'd say motivated.
03:29Motivated. Right. You'd probably cry for the first time when a customer yells at you. I can tell.
03:34Can I ask you a few questions about the restaurant culture?
03:38Shoot!
03:39How does the team handle conflict between staff members? I mean...
03:43We don't really have a conflict. Everyone knows their place.
03:47But if there were a conflict, how would management address it?
03:50Look, people just need to do their jobs and not create drama. Pretty simple.
03:54What about feedback? Does management value feedback from servers and kitchen staff?
03:59Feedback? About what?
04:00About operations. Ways to improve service. Employee concerns.
04:05Most staff need to take orders from customers. And from me. Not overthink things.
04:10We don't need everyone trying to be a manager. That's what my job is for.
04:13I think what Maria's asking is whether employees feel heard here.
04:16Oh, they're heard. Okay, if they have something to say, if they have something worth hearing, most of the time
04:21they don't.
04:23What are you writing? You're acting like a health inspector or something.
04:27I am just documenting the interview process. Like I said, it tells me about the company culture.
04:34The company culture is fine. It's actually great.
04:37I'm sure it is. I'm just trying to understand how leadership responds to employee input.
04:42Whether there's an open door policy or not. That sort of thing.
04:45Right. Look, I've been running this floor for three years. Three years. If you want to last here, you learn
04:53how to follow. Okay? Follow directions, no questions.
04:56We don't need servers thinking that they're management material. We need servers who serve. You understand?
05:01We do encourage teamwork. Everyone's voice matters.
05:04Yeah. The restaurant does pride itself on treating staff well. We have a pretty good retention rate compared to other
05:08places.
05:09Treating them well means giving them structure. Clear rules. Not coddling them. Or making them feel like every opinion matters.
05:17But doesn't every opinion matter?
05:18Some people are here to lead. Some people are here to follow. Alright? I think you can figure out who's
05:23here to lead. That's just how it works. Alright? I think we're done here. I don't think you're tough enough
05:27for a job. No offense.
05:29Oh. Not taken. You'd probably do better at a slower place. Like a cafe or something. Less pressure. Maybe bakery.
05:35That's interesting because this wasn't a job interview.
05:39What?
05:39I've been conducting an internal review of the restaurant's hiring practices. Specifically, I wanted to see how applicants are treated
05:48during the interview process. My full name is Maria Salinas. I am the CEO and owner of this restaurant chain.
05:56Okay. Wait. What?
05:57I have been concerned about our high staff turnover. I mean, we've also received negative reviews from job applicants about
06:03the interview process. Today confirmed my suspicions.
06:08Well, this is... This is a misunderstanding. I was just testing you, okay, to see if you can handle pressure.
06:15That's all. That's what I do.
06:16No, Derek. You are being condescending, dismissive, and completely unprofessional. You violated multiple hiring protocols.
06:23I mean, I don't... I mean, no one told...
06:26You interrupted me repeatedly. You made assumptions about my abilities based on nothing. You mocked my appearance and my application.
06:33You dismissed the importance of employee feedback. And just so you know, this conversation was recorded. All formal interviews are,
06:41per company policy, in the handbook.
06:45Linda, you were here too. Tell her I wasn't...
06:47Tried to redirect you to the questions, Derek. I tried.
06:51Linda, you tried, but you didn't push back when you should've. You enabled behavior to avoid conflict.
06:57Okay, look. No one properly trained me on interview conduct, okay? That's an HR problem, not a me problem.
07:04The problem isn't training, Derek. It's attitude. And attitude matters at every level of leadership.
07:10I've been employee of the quarter twice. Twice. That has to count for something, doesn't it? Tell me, come on.
07:15You were employee of the quarter twice. Past tense. Effective immediately, you were relieved of your duties.
07:23Linda, Casey, thank you for sitting in today. Your behavior, Derek, is exactly why I came uncovered.
07:32This restaurant has grown too comfortable in excusing arrogance as leadership. And that ends now.
07:41Okay, well you can't just fire me on the spot like this, okay? There's procedures.
07:45I already have. HR will be in touch about your final paycheck and exit paperwork.
07:49Guess we just witnessed the fastest emotion in company history.
07:53I can't believe that just happened.
07:55Okay, this is unfair. Okay, the whole thing was a setup! I was set up!
07:59Maybe next time just show up on time and treat people with respect. It's not that complicated.
08:03Alright, whatever. This place is going downhill anyways.
08:10I really should've said something. I'm sorry.
08:12You should've, but I understand it's not easy.
08:15Did you really just come here to test us?
08:18I did. I've been hearing complaints about toxic interviews and I wanted to see for myself.
08:22Well, you picked the right day and the right guy.
08:25I wish I didn't need to, but I'm glad I did.
08:28Your professionalism today didn't go unnoticed. You stayed calm. You tried to redirect the conversation.
08:33That is leadership.
08:35Well, I should've spoken up sooner, you know.
08:36You spoke up when it mattered. That's what counts.
08:41How would you feel about a promotion? Floor manager. Derek's old position.
08:46Are you serious?
08:48Completely. We need people who lead with respect. People who understand that authority does not mean arrogance.
08:55I don't know what to say.
08:57Say yes.
08:58Yes, absolutely yes.
08:59Good. HR will be in touch about the details and the raise that comes with it.
09:03Thank you. Really, I won't let you down.
09:07I know you won't.
09:09Maria, can I say something?
09:10Of course.
09:11I really should've stopped Derek.
09:13I've been watching him treat applicants like that for months and I never said anything.
09:18I just kept quiet because I didn't want to cause any problems.
09:21Why didn't you speak up?
09:23I don't know. I guess I thought it wasn't my place.
09:28He's the assistant manager and I'm just a supervisor.
09:31Leadership isn't about titles, Linda. It's about doing what's right.
09:35I know. I know that now.
09:37You've been here for how long?
09:40Five years?
09:41Five years. And you've always been reliable according to your file.
09:46You're good at your job, but you need to find your voice.
09:50When you see something wrong, you have to speak up.
09:52I will. I promise.
09:54Good. Because I'm going to give you a raise. You earned it with your years of service.
09:58But moving forward, I expect you to stand up when you see behavior like Derek's.
10:03A raise? Really?
10:04Really. We need people like you. People who care. We just need you to be a little braver.
10:11I will be. Thank you so much.
10:13You're welcome. Now, let's get ready for the lunch rush.
10:19Yep. Let's do it.
Comments