Is this legal? As a waiter I was asked to manage a restaurant, until a new manager was hired?

Question

They decided that I was doing a better job as a waiter/manager. Then any manager in the past. They gave me a small raise, and asked me to continue. After 10 years it has become so succesfull that they are expanding the resteraunt, and have told me that they want me to manage only. The money is way better just being a waiter. If I dont take the manager job, they are going to hire someone else. Either way I take a pay cut for doing a good job

Answer 1

If you have accurately described the situation, you have a negotiation problem not an employment problem.

In these cases you need another offer from another restaurant. Not a threat or a bluff, but just another offer (legitimate). If you can get a competitive offer from elsewhere, and you would be willing to take it if necessary, ask for a meeting with your owner, discuss exactly what you have said in your question, and tell him that the options he has offered you don't permit you to accomplish your goals and needs (Both are critical - DO NOT just say what you NEED, you goals must be in there also). Ask specifically for what you want in the meeting, but don't demand - no one likes to have demands made.

If they tell you no, say thank you, that someone else has offered what will meet your goals and walk out with grace and your head held high.

If your restaurant is the only game in town, ask for a meeting and explain to your owner exactly what you have in your question. Explain the the choices offered put you in a position of taking a cut in pay for doing a great job (just as you said). Add that your management has produced results thus far and as a manager you will train other servers to do the same. Ask for what will meet you goals politely so as not to burn your bridges.

If you don;t get what you want, remain calm, continue to do a great job, and begin to look for alternatives. When one comes up, go for it.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Take the manager job, it will help you out in the end.

Answer 3

Take a while to think about it and decide what you're going to do.