I could go on and on about how loopy this guy is, but I'll try to keep it short.
I work at Panera Bread. There is a man who's been coming in for a few weeks now. He never buys anything; he scams free drinks by telling the cashiers that he lost his cup; he argues with other, paying customers and accuses them of stealing his table. He has multiple personalities and leaves change at numerous tables, claiming them all as "his". When his personality changes, he changes seats. He's Arabic, and speaks in that language when talking to himself or arguing with someone. Every 10 minutes or so, he goes into the bathroom and somehow gets soap, water and paper towels EVERYWHERE. The list goes on...
My job at work is to maintain the dining room, which includes the restrooms. I spend a large portion of my time mopping up his swill water in the men's restroom, and clean up the messes he leaves at the four tables he uses, which are ofen nowhere near one another.
Recently, he started getting upset with me for clearing his "belongings" (four pennies wrapped in a napkin and some sugar packets) off one of his tables. I have to keep the tables clear for customers; his "belongings" are garbage, and he's clearly seated at a different table. He said "You will learn, you ignorant b*tch" and started speaking to me in Arabic. After work, I was walking to the bus stop, and I saw him start to circle around the parking lot in his car, so I had to get a ride from a manager to a different stop.
TODAY, I upset him once again by clearing his trash from an empty table. He started to mutter in Arabic, then headed towards the bathroom. Once he came out, I went to clean up his mess in there, and THE GUY HAD CRAPPED ON THE FLOOR. Guess who had to clean it up?
On top of all that, I found out that he's been harrassing the girls on the night staff and asking them on dates. Most of them are high-school age.
All my managers are aware of this guy and his antics, as well as the fact that he threatened me and crept up on me in the parking lot (I doubt it was coincidence he was driving by as I left work). He NEVER buys anything, and intimidates other patrons, yet they will not kick him out.
I snapped today, and told my boss that I refused to work in the dining room until something was done about him. She told me I had to. I don't know what to do...I'm not picking up a crazy person's sh*t again, and I'm not putting myself at risk of angering him by arguing with him about his trash all day.
I apologize for the ramble. Any advice? Any ideas as to why my managers don't see this as a big deal?
Oops...one more thing: This guy gives me the creeps right down to the bone. Not the "eew, he's kinda weird" creeps, but the creeps that make me want to take my kids and go hide.
|||Next time have his poop analyzed. Take a picture of him and poke the eyes with red hot needles. If I was there I would do you a favor by grabbing him by the scruff of the neck, then drag him outside and proceed to adjust his attitude.|||I do not think you can be fired for this, but I could be wrong.
Would you be interested in a not so friendly bear to go and talk to this guy for you?|||I am a manager for Panera. This is not acceptable. He needs to be asked to leave by your GM. If you talked with your GM and he/she is not doing anything you need to call your DM. Then action will happen.|||Why have you not discussed your situation with company management and human resources? Do it ASAP.||| I would try going to college so that you can get a real job.|||Talk to the police. Get the number of the officer who you talk to, preferably one that comes into your work. |||I count three misdemeanors and a felony. Why is your management team kowtowing to a harrassing nutjob? Why is nobody calling the police?
I'd quit immediately and look for a new job.|||I hate to say it but your best option would probably be to quit and find another job. You have managers who probably don't make much more than you and aren't going do any more than the have to. If you contact a regional manager he'll tell you that your managers should handle it. Anyone higher than a regional manager won't even return your call. Chain restaurants are the worst.
If you take matters into your own hands (which is what I would do) and get the police involved, they (your bosses) would more than likely recognize YOU as the problem and find a reason to get rid of you.
You need to file a report with the police ASAP though. You can't have this guy stalking you. If you get fired, so be it. Try to collect unemployment.|||Kindly ask him to leave the establishment or be removed for loitering and soliciting. If that doesn't go well with your manager then take it to someone higher then that. Good luck.|||I agree with the answers above, but I think you can handle this without putting yourself at risk of being fired. I think you can explain that you are sincerely scared of this guy and you expect the management to protect you. You can mention briefly that you don't want to have to call the police (they don't like the store's name showing up in the police log) or file complaints with the state. You can even write it down and give it to the manager, then cc the manager's supervisor. When my manager made a racist remark about me behind my back, I had much luck with sending a cc to the district manager.
The manager has to help you figure out how to deal with this guy. You're having trouble doing your job, and it's up to the management to help you. If you ask for help with him all day, they might get fed up with him and tell him to go. Managers are supposed to deal with problem customers; you never send the newbie to deal with problem customers.
You do need to document your issues with this wacko. Just write down what he does every time he comes in.|||Seems obvious to me that 'management' doesn't want to do their job by doing something about him. I bet if they had to pick a turd up off the floor, they'd do something about him. Can you talk to someone higher than your manager?
|||I don't know about where you are, but here in CA, you can get fired for any reason. What I can't understand though is why management hasn't barred him from coming in. I mean it's not like he's buying anything. Possibly they don't see it as a big deal because they're not the ones dealing with him. Is there anyone above your immediate store managers? A district manager perhaps. I think it may be time for you to go over there heads.|||I would have the whole situation documented - including all the situations. I would take a camera and take photos of the mess he leaves behind. It sounds as though the guy is mentally unstable. I honestly think his behavior merits calling the police. They may be able to take him in for psychiatric evaluation.
Personally, I would be looking for another job. It sounds as though you're definately at risk having to work around him.|||panera bread has a duty to protect you. let your manager know that is something happens to you, your family will be filing a lawsuit on your behalf (if God forbid this guy kills you). allow me to tell you, even though you may be afraid, do not let this man know he scares you. he is psycho and people like that feed off of your fear. my daughter used to work on the turn pike at sabaros pizza a couple of years ago. she called my in hysterics, saying three mexicans threatened to kill her...claiming she "over charged" them. my gawd...my kid was only 15! the management did absolutely nothing!! i immediately called 911 and ran down there myself. carry your cell phone. if your management won't protect you, you must protect yourself...you have children!!! make sure if you call the police, you tell them you called because you're in fear for your safety and your management won't do a thing. good luck and find another safer job if you can. i totally understand. i tend bar in a crappy part of town. every time i close, i pray i make it to my car without some crack head killing me!
edit: seriously...go to wal mart or the dollar store and buy a cheap ten dollar phone. just have a few emergency minutes on it!!!!|||Turn him in to the police. That is dangerous to the staff and customers. He is obviously off in his head. I'd be afraid he will do something really bad, |||I'm with Phat Woman. I owned a biz for 10 years..this falls on the owner/ manager to keep it safe. Actually, they have to..it's the law to keep a safe workplace.
I'd threaten 'em with a complaint..managers love this kinda crap. Who wants the Bureau of Labor and Industries poking around in their biz.
Local police are good too. No tolerance, babby. Employee and patron safety should be first and foremost.
You'd have a hell of a case if they did fire you. I'm sure the upper management of Panera would enjoy hearing from you as well. Make waves to get action...no one wants federal involvement. (been there , done that..fastest way to get a response from an employer..threaten to call the feds in and file a formal complaint)
Harassment in the workplace is not acceptable by law and warrants a complaint.|||first, he sounds schizophrenic, not MPD. Second, you don't have to put up with that. Call HR and complain that management is not taking care of the issue. And next time he comes in and goes nuts, or craps on the floor, call the cops, leave an anonymous complaint about a man "acting strangely". If he behaves anything like what you've described, they'll have grounds to take him for a psych eval. -Neb|||First I am sorry, very sorry for what you are going through. It must be very scary as well as annoying and upsetting as well.
Next, I absolutely like everyone's idea up there. I suggest speaking to upper management or your bosses boss since they do nothing to both protect you, the other customers as well as the company themselves.
Mention to them you have documented everything and you want this to be an official complaint about both the customer and the manager. Let them know that you have contacted the police for your own safety and give them the info ie: police report number and officers name. Then inform them you have not contacted lawyer, yet. But you are a loyal employee and waiting to see how things are handled or not handled.
I also recommend you do speak to a lawyer who handles work complaints. Do some basic research on the net into lawyers who have experience in this in your area. Check state and federal laws involving work place safety (eg: OSHA etc).
In other words, before you go to management, make sure you do all your homework so you know what you and management can and can not do in regards to keeping you safe and/or a wrongful termination lawsuit.
Best of luck. Please keep us informed. We care.
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