Job Situation - WWYD?

[gnargle2988]

Hi everyone. I am in a situation at work and I need some advice. I am an assistant teacher at a daycare. Because I am part time I am a "floater" and do not have a permanent room that I am assigned too. However, I tend to be the one who is put in the baby rooms when there is a need for that. Next week, the woman who works in the kitchen is on vacation (comes back wednesday). I am scheduled to be in the kitchen on Tuesday, all day. I will be completely by myself and expected to prepare 2 meals and a snack for 12 classrooms. I was talking to the girl who did it today and she said it was really difficult. You are by yourself and there is no real preparation for it (other than a menu for the day). I am 100% uncomfortable with this. I was not trained for or hired for this job. I understand that my job description technically includes additional responsibilities as necessary but I just can't believe that this could fall under those additional responsibilities.

So what would you do? I want to email the director and ask if there is anyway for me to not be in the kitchen, I have worked in food service before and I am extremely bad at it. Or should I just suck it up and deal with it?

 

[disneyfans95]

Pretty simple. Either you do it or you don't. If you don't you more then likely will be let go.

They have a right to ask and unless there is a reason (lets say allergic to nuts and that is on the menu, or say physical handicap) you would be expected to fullfull job duties that are assigned.

If you want to, or not, of course is up to you.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I would do it because I think it looks bad to try to get out of something like that. If you were hired as a floater, then you should be willing to float. However, I don't think it would a bad thing to ask for a little training in the job before you try to take on the whole kitchen by yourself. Just approach the director and say something like, "I see that you have me scheduled to work in the kitchen next week and I haven't worked in that position since I've been here. Would it be possible for me to be scheduled for a couple of hours before then so I can work alongside someone who knows the job so I can learn it?" If I was the director, I would see that as you taking the initiative to learn the job so you can perform it well. If the director says no, there's no time to do that, I would just do my best and try to learn as I go. Good luck!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would just suck it and deal with it then again I have worked in school kitchens and this would be nothing for me to do.

I would probably give it a shot and see how it goes before I put up a fuss. I guess you are making breakfast and a lunch, right?

If you are a floater and want to continue working there, learning the job duties will just benefit you in the long run.

Once you get the hang of it, it becomes pretty easy.

 

[bookgirl]

Hi everyone. I am in a situation at work and I need some advice. I am an assistant teacher at a daycare. Because I am part time I am a "floater" and do not have a permanent room that I am assigned too. However, I tend to be the one who is put in the baby rooms when there is a need for that. Next week, the woman who works in the kitchen is on vacation (comes back wednesday). I am scheduled to be in the kitchen on Tuesday, all day. I will be completely by myself and expected to prepare 2 meals and a snack for 12 classrooms. I was talking to the girl who did it today and she said it was really difficult. You are by yourself and there is no real preparation for it (other than a menu for the day). I am 100% uncomfortable with this. I was not trained for or hired for this job. I understand that my job description technically includes additional responsibilities as necessary but I just can't believe that this could fall under those additional responsibilities.

So what would you do? I want to email the director and ask if there is anyway for me to not be in the kitchen, I have worked in food service before and I am extremely bad at it. Or should I just suck it up and deal with it?

Unless you passed a certification for food handling it may not be legal for you to work the kitchen. I'd find that out first. If you get caught working with out certification is the daycare going to cover your fines and costs?

 

[gnargle2988]

I would like to ask for help learning the kitchen but there is no time. I am in class all day Monday. Plus no one else there knows the kitchen. My other concern is there are tons of kids with allergies and dietary restrictions that I have to keep track of. Yes, it is up to the teachers also, but if they eat something they should not then some of the responsibility will fall on me. Same with if the food is not cooked properly.

 

[gnargle2988]

Wow, two new posts before I finished my reply! Yes, I was hired as a floater but it was described to me as going into the classrooms as needed, not going into the kitchen as needed. And no, this is a part time job, not something I want to stay at. I am actually leaving in January (just found I got into my second Disney College Program!!). I will look into the food handling issue. It would not be the first time they let people do jobs without the correct license. The company (there about 10 centers in the area) got into a lot of trouble when the state found out their bus drivers did not have their CDLs, just regular licenses and 30 minutes of training.

 

[disneyfans95]

Then just leave. I mean if you are planning on leaving, and won't do a job they ask you to, you are not being a very good employee.

Again you have the choice of staying and doing what they ask or leaving. I don't think there really is the option of picking and choosing what you LIKE to do at your job.

 

[ontariomonkey]

Then just leave. I mean if you are planning on leaving, and won't do a job they ask you to, you are not being a very good employee.

Again you have the choice of staying and doing what they ask or leaving. I don't think there really is the option of picking and choosing what you LIKE to do at your job.

Wow! Really? She was hired to provide childcare, you think that's the same as preparing food for a large group of people? I don't think that is anywhere near the same skill set.

Plus why is planning on leaving her part time job in 4 months being a bad employee? It sounds like she is quite happy to continue doing a good job providing child care, but she stinks at working in the kitchen. So she dosn't really want to do a job she sucks at and was not hired to do.

I would speak to your supervisor but only if you're willing to lose your job. That's the sad truth. Unless you're union, but it doesn't sound like that kind of job.

Maybe if you do a really bad job on the first day, burn everything etc they will replace you after that. Just saying.

 

[gnargle2988]

Disneyfans95 - I do not think I am a bad employee. In fact, all the teachers I work with enjoy when I am in their room because I pull my weight and do what they ask. I am not refusing to do this, I wanted to talk to the director about other options because I know that once I get in the kitchen there will be no support from the front desk. She did not even give me a heads up that I was going to be on the schedule for this. If she did I would have been able to talk to the girl who was doing it today more in depth and see if there was anything I needed to know. And I don't think that the fact that I am leaving in 4 months really makes me a bad employee.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think the law requires that you must hold a certified food handler certificate. You might mention that since you do noi have such a certificate if there were to be a Department of Health or similar inspection while you are in the kitchen the school could be in real trouble.

 

[disneyfans95]

Sorry if it did not come across well, but I meant that if you did not do the job duties assigned, you are being a bad employee not.

You are a floater and they are giving you a job assignement to complete. Like I said if there is not medical reason or such, then you should do. Others had good suggestions about getting part of shift in there if you can, etc.

But if you refuse for no other grounds then you "just don't feel like it" and also in turn are planning to leave in the upcoming months, that is not a great employee it. You don't really get to pick and choose what works for you in the job place.

Again, not saying you are doing that now.

 

[Mimi1965]

I would be VERY uncomfortable cooking meals for that many people-and I like to cook

How odd that they require a part time floater to do such a specialty type task=if my kid went to that daycare and i found this out I'd be upset

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would be VERY uncomfortable cooking meals for that many people-and I like to cook

How odd that they require a part time floater to do such a specialty type task=if my kid went to that daycare and i found this out I'd be upset

I do agree that it is nuts to require a floater to prepare meals without any type of training. Stupid. You need to know your basic food temps for safety when cooking and cross contamination issues for food prep.

Here in MO, some places require the HEP A shot in order to do food service.

As far as a "law" for certification, not sure about that. I did get my certificate in TX however I am not sure that is was a "law" so much as what the school district required to work in their kitchens. Worth checking out for sure.

ETA...I know it could not have been a "law" because I subbed the previous yr and I did not get my certification until I was assigned to a school for the next yr.

 

[ajk912]

I would be VERY uncomfortable cooking meals for that many people-and I like to cook

How odd that they require a part time floater to do such a specialty type task=if my kid went to that daycare and i found this out I'd be upset

Ditto. OP, I think you are WELL within your rights to say that you don't mind working in the kitchen, but you need backup. You either need someone to prepare the meal plans and recipe EXACTLY like you are 12 year old so you know EXACTLY what to do (down to 4 cups of this, 5 cups of that..bake for 35 minutes at 400..scoop 1/2 cup per plate) etc- OR..they need to find someone else. I wouldn't mind the assistant teacher part, but you can't throw me in the kitchen BLIND!! Give me SPECIFIC instructions and I can muddle my way. See if they will do that for you, so you look like a team player. I can't imagine it's hard stuff the meals you will be preparing working in a daycare, probably no harder than the stuff you will find in an average cookbook..but to say it a third time..yeah, you need more info!

 

[cocodog]

Just suck it up. Painting or scraping-- it all pays the same! Do I like (or feel comfortable) with everything I have to do at work? Absolutely not. Grow up and deal with it.

Hi everyone. I am in a situation at work and I need some advice. I am an assistant teacher at a daycare. Because I am part time I am a "floater" and do not have a permanent room that I am assigned too. However, I tend to be the one who is put in the baby rooms when there is a need for that. Next week, the woman who works in the kitchen is on vacation (comes back wednesday). I am scheduled to be in the kitchen on Tuesday, all day. I will be completely by myself and expected to prepare 2 meals and a snack for 12 classrooms. I was talking to the girl who did it today and she said it was really difficult. You are by yourself and there is no real preparation for it (other than a menu for the day). I am 100% uncomfortable with this. I was not trained for or hired for this job. I understand that my job description technically includes additional responsibilities as necessary but I just can't believe that this could fall under those additional responsibilities.

So what would you do? I want to email the director and ask if there is anyway for me to not be in the kitchen, I have worked in food service before and I am extremely bad at it. Or should I just suck it up and deal with it?

 

[Mimi1965]

Do the menues involve raw meat?

Or are you making mac and cheese?

12 classrooms x 20= 240 kids-that is a LOT of food

 

[dakcp2001]

I think it is not fair to the kids who have to eat the meals. If something is not prepared correctly a lot of people could get sick, and you will be blamed for this. Unless you can serve packaged meals (cereal & milk) and soemthing similar for lunch, I would not do it.

Do any of the children have food allergies? Do you know how to prepare food without cross contamination? In 12 classrooms, you are bound to have allergies.

I think you are being reasonable saying that you do not want to do this alone with no training. Speak up NOW the sooner the better so they can get someone else.

 

[gnargle2988]

Thank you for all the replies. I just wanted to stress that I am in no way refusing to do this job. I started my shift on Friday at noon and the schedule for this upcoming week was not up. When I left at 5:45 I saw the schedule but the director was gone so I could not ask her about it then. Also, the girl who was in the kitchen was gone for the day so I could not ask her any questions either. If I had more warning or time to figure out what was going on then I would be much more comfortable.
They knew for months that the person who usually cooks, I'll call her Sara would be on vacation so they had plenty of time to make better arrangements than this (even if those arrangements were that all part time floaters need to be oriented with the kitchen). I looked it up and it does not seem like I would need a license to do this. However there are a lot of rules about safe food preparation and even the maximum amount of food that the kids can get. There are also several allergies and a lot of new teachers who do not know the allergies as well as Sara does.

 

[disneyfans95]

Are you making items from scratch (which I would doubt) or just heating up items and/or making some sandwiches.

Pretty sure you are just firing off items they bought that are prepackaged and made..

That is much different then making meatballs for kids from scratch.