On Food Service

Today was my last day at Panera Bread.

I worked for that company for six months, which I feel is about 6 months too long.  Anyway, now I can finally express my opinion.

Now, this company prides themselves on "putting the customer first". This is an understandable concept.  Customers are important.  Without them, there would be no business.  Yet, I felt that this concept often got in the way of the employees' mental health.

For example, I was a closer.  When you work a closing shift, there are two registers, one line person, and one person doing dishes.  If there is a rush, or even a constant flow of customers, the closers get behind, and are forced to stay later than expected to finish the job.  This could be easily fixed if another person was scheduled on register during the evening.  It would our (the closers) jobs less stressful, and it wouldn't cost that much in labor, especially since Panera employees get paid as little as possible.

For another example, my manager once wanted a labor bonus.  So, that meant the employees got worked as hard as possible, for a short time, at low pay.  The employees lost money, so the managers could make more.  Personally, I don't find that fair.

My theory is that happy employees makes happy customers - if the workers enjoy their jobs, and are paid a little better for it, their positive attitudes will satisfy customers much more than a pasted on smile.  A prime working example is Chick-fil-a.  I don't agree with their politics, and don't eat there typically, but I did once.  The workers seemed happy and satisfied with their jobs.  If the CEO stopped being bigoted, then I would definitely eat there more - good food, and a positive atmosphere.  Panera may have good food, but their atmosphere needs a bit of work.  Perhaps if the workers were treated more like humans, instead of corporate robots, it would be a much better establishment overall.

Plus, their name actually means Bread Time Bread.  That's just silly.

Disclaimer: My managers were awesome people, I liked working for them.  I also liked the vast majority of my coworkers. It's corporate that is the real problem here, people.

Update: this is a great article on what costco is doing - treating the employees the way they should be treated.

On Debating

Or, if you ask anyone else around me, arguing.

I don't know what they are talking about, I am just discussing my opinion loudly, usually in public.

I have a lot of opinions.

But why is it that many people don't enjoy these ... discussions?  Now, I am not just complaining that they won't talk with me - it's okay.  I get it.  I have, as previously stated, a lot of opinions. But, someone once told me that it doesn't really matter, and proceeded to ask me why I cared.  I didn't really have an answer for that one.  Why does it matter?  Now, the discussion in question was about the ACA birth control mandate, and in my opinion, that is a significant step forward for American women - it matters quite a bit.

In the grand scheme of things, though, arguing debating matters as well.  My favorite talks are with people who can challenge my beliefs and make me reconsider my position.  When it comes to thoughts and philosophy, I prefer the Emerson approach:

If you would be a man, speak today what you think today in terms as hard as cannon-balls, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradicts everything you said today.

 It's okay to change your mind.  If a better perspective comes along, don't be close minded - consider it!  If you never question your beliefs, how do you know what you believe in the first place?  It's important to question yourself over and over again - if only to reaffirm your beliefs!  

Yet, society doesn't do that as often as I believe it should.  Whenever someone says that evolution should be taught to all children, Christians scream about the war on Christianity, instead of evaluating why evolution is a reasonable way to explain the diverse species on our planet, as well as or origins.

Americans, as a whole, need to learn to look at ourselves and evaluate what we are doing, why we are doing it, how it works, how it doesn't work, and how we can improve society.  I think most can agree that it must be improved.  Most of that improvement will come from debating ourselves and refining our ideals.  The rest can come from looking at others, and hearing what they have to say.

Today, go out and talk to someone whose beliefs you completely disagree with.  You may be pleasantly surprised.

On College

I move into my dorm in six days.

I have my bedding.  My rugs, my bathmat.  I have my alarm clock, my computer.  I even have my chemistry textbook.  In theory, I have everything I need.

In theory I am prepared.

In theory.

This may be the biggest move of my life - and I am only traveling 5 miles down the road.  It isn't the physical distance, though.  Rather, it's the first time I will live fully on my own.  No one to make sure I don't take a nap and sleep through work.  No one to schedule a doctor's appointment for me.  No one to put food in the fridge so I don't have to run to the store everyday.

Someone posted on facebook to "just put your whole life in boxes". That statement might just send me into an existential crisis.  That really is what we are expected to do, isn't it?  What do we do when our life doesn't fit in boxes?  What if our life packs up too easily?  What I have nothing to pack?

Now, I don't know the answers to any of these questions.  I certainly won't figure them out at 2 am.

But, I will remind myself that everyone else is living this crazy life thing for the first time as well.  No one truly knows how to navigate the world perfectly.

My life might just pack up perfectly, I just have to wait and see.

I'll let you know if I ever figure it out.

Hello, World. Err.. Internet. Aren't they pretty much the same these days anyway?

I will begin this blog with a disclaimer:  This is not my first attempt at writing a blog.  I have tried before, and failed.  It turns out cooking is difficult to do on a regular basis when juggling homework and the demands of high school life.  (For details, visit bakeitthrough.blogspot.com.)

I have decided to attribute my previous failure to the limited theme of the prior blog.  So, for another disclaimer: This blog has no theme. You may find a post on philosophy next to a post on the plight of the tree frogs.  And along that line, I really don't care about tree frogs.  So if you were looking for that type of a blog, I apologize again.

Disclaimer number three: I probably won't write regularly.  I decided to tackle honors chemistry for my freshman year in college, so studying will probably be my first priority.  However, if I am motivated - expect an update.  At the very least, this blog will provide me with a way to keep my writing up to par as I spend my year doing math and chemistry.

That's all my disclaimers for now, I hope you enjoy reading.

And, instead of saying good-bye at the end of this blog:

Hello.