An Australian cafe owner has taken aim at a group of diners he says left a teenage waiter in tears.
Ben Arnold, who runs My Little Kitchen in picturesque Healesville, said his staff were shaken after the group of eight diners reacted angrily to being refused a table.
On Facebook, Arnold vented, saying the customers had no right to direct their anger at one of his youngest employees.
“No means no! It’s that bloody simple,” Arnold wrote.
He admitted he hates turning people away but said his cafe has declined “thousands” of large groups over the years because of limited space.
“Understand that you are not entitled to a seat in any venue, and had you made a reservation or even a phone call, things could be different right now,” he wrote.
He said many of his team are teenagers in their first jobs.
“So if you think it’s okay to make a teen cry while at work you can kindly f— off from my venue,” he said.
Arnold said the incident was part of a bigger problem plaguing hospitality, warning the struggling industry will suffer even more if young workers continue to be mistreated.
“The future of hospitality is standing in front of you – the people who will own and operate the venues you will want to go to in 10 or 20 years’ time… If you burn them now our industry is over,” he said.
“Once again, no just means no, we do not need to give you a reason why.”
Community members jumped in to back Arnold’s stand, condemning the treatment of young staff and calling for more common decency.
“Well said. The stories I hear about the way some entitled people treat young staff – kids who are actually out there having a go and contributing to their community – are absolutely disgraceful,” one wrote.
Another said they hoped the young staffer would “regain their confidence,” while a third praised Mr Arnold for “calling out the bullies who think they are so smart when in a group.”
Others reminded patrons that small venues aren’t corporate giants.
“Booking ahead would help you plan for space and staff… if they can’t do that, they may need to take their packed lunch,” one woman said.
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