Diamond in the Rough!
My boss to a chance this summer and hired a young person as a dishwasher to help out in our very busy kitchen. The reason I mentioned he took a chance is because this particular kid, although very young, already had a long track record of incarceration and juvenile detention throughout most of his life. I honestly have to say that within the last 3 months working here, he’s proven to be the best hiring decision my boss has made in a long time. In the past we’ve taken on more adult and experienced people that never made it through the first 30 days.. some don’t even through the first day. My boss started him out with salad and dessert prep this week and so far he’s overjoyed and doing very well. How can you compensate something like that? It could be that he hit rock bottom during the last runnin with the law or maybe he’s found his calling in the culinary arts but whatever his motivation is, he’s kicking butt!! I’ll tip him a couple of bucks at the end of the week but I’m trying to find a way I can commend this kid on a professional level. Something that shows how well he’s performing at this job that he can carry out throughout his career. I’m not his boss but I still feel he deserves this. Any ideas?
I owned restaurants in South Florida had a total of 15 employees so I was able to take them bowling once a month to show on my gratification if he's made friends in the workplace the twins are playing poorly right now so tickets are very affordable buy 2 tickets put them in an envelope and with a note that just says thanks keep up the good work you'll be amazed on what a smile just yours that will get you you can go on Craigslist offer I'll probably pick up tickets at half-price good seats just an idea
Ask him about his goals and then ask how do you plan on getting them done then you can if you can him some more questions? Or encourage him to do something that he really enjoystell him how good he is how well he's adjusted and how good work ethics are important and that one day he could have his own and that to have better sometimes you have to leave your pass behind you because living in a jail cell along is not the answers you friends will not be there you family will miss you and your girlfriend will be along a long and people need you you have something to offer but if you learn to discipline yourself and do new things and change your life situations will stop and new ones can begin sometimes people need to know there wanted valued and how much of a difference that there making bless you!
Ryan Dickinson - check with your local jobs and family services (JFS). There they may have re-employment programs funded by grants that instruct and mentor participants on gaining employment. In Ohio, Upon completion of these programs, they offer to issue reference letters for anyone needing them. Perhaps your JFS has similar assistance.
If he is what he seems, you are giving him what he most desires right now!!
Thanks for sharing this. This young man needs continued responsibility. Challenges that he can problem-solve. Goals to reach, milestones to pass. He's taking ownership in his job with a promise to himself to be the best. If culinary arts is his passion, perhaps the business can finance culinary art courses. Invest in this young man to keep him walking away from the brink. Keep him encouraged and let him know he's relied upon and appreciated. He knows he's been given a chance nearly no one else would have given him. Be his mentor...be an ear. His track record of making wrong decisions means he needs a different perspective when things get rough. Help him reverse that thinking and to think productively.
you can can praise him on this site if he has a profile. In fact, help his set-up an account and I’ll also send him a shout out praise on Jobcase. I got some messages sent to me about the new praising option on the site recently. You can see it if you log in to the website on your phone. Good of you to want to help that kid. Keep it up!
Keep helping him out in any way you can to help him grow in the restaurant business if that’s what he likes to do. Mentoring helps guide willing minds in the right direction and also helps them stay on the right path.
That’s such a good story. I’m always happy to hear about young people turning their lives around for the better. I think you should ask him if he needs a character reference letter or some kind of support info to help him with any pending legal matters. I know that those type of recommendation letters can help make all the difference in how he’s perceived in a courtroom environment.
For one, he's finally doing something he enjoys that fills his need. The fact that you show him appreciation for his dedication and hard work only makes him work harder to please you. Apparently he did not get it from his folks. Everyone deserves a second chance and buying him lunch or a few dollars is something I'm sure he'll never forget. Be sure to tell your boss that he could also give him recognition on the monthly wall of fame.