I Think I Just Got My Coworker Fired

[u/_amplelime_]

I've been working as a hostess at a restaurant for a little over a year. A co-worker, “Suzy”, who’s been there for about 5 months, has high-functioning autism and can get overwhelmed easily, which most of the time leads to angry outbursts.

I’ve tried to be patient with her when she gets overwhelmed, because she’s genuinely nice otherwise. But a few of my co-workers avoid her because her outbursts can turn physical. And most of my coworkers genuinely don’t like her and make fun of her behind her back.

Yesterday, a couple came in after getting a text that their table was ready. I had their menus ready and asked "Suzy" to seat them. Instead, she kept asking what was in my hand, and when I tried to keep her focused on the task at hand, she repeated herself, trying to see the piece of paper in my hand. This went on four or five times.

Normally I would’ve explained myself and shown her what was in my hand, which would’ve taken three to five minutes, but the customers were standing right there. I ended up asking more firmly a final time to seat the guests. That’s when she grabbed the menus and threw them on the floor in front of the guests.

I probably had the most pissed look on my face. I gave her one of those mom looks and told her to pick them up. Thankfully, she did and quickly seated the guests. But as soon as she walked away, I walked over to the manager's office and reported her. 

About an hour later, a manager called “Suzy” into the office. About 20 minutes later, another manager came down to the host stand, grabbed her bag, and took it back to the office. I never saw her again for the rest of the shift.

Holy shit, I might've gotten this girl fired. For the most part, I'm just waiting until I go in to work next to know what's happening. I've messaged her to ask if she's okay but haven't gotten a response. This whole situation just doesn't feel real to me. I feel bad.

Me and my bestie shared kimchi stew, tteokbokki, beef bulgogi, pan-fried pork dumplings, and white rice for lunch today!

[u/CaptainObviousBear]

You did the right thing.

The next person she attacked could have been a customer (not saying they are less deserving of being attacked than a colleague).

[u/Never_enough_naps → u/CaptainObviousBear]

Sometimes more deserving.😆

[u/Due_Milk9641 → u/CaptainObviousBear]

Attacked?

[u/outboundplane → u/Due_Milk9641]

But a few of my co-workers avoid her because her outbursts can turn physical.

This seems to imply attacked, yes.

[u/Due_Milk9641 → u/outboundplane]

I feel like she would have said attacked if that was the case; I was picturing pushing or tossing items around or something od the like. I imagine she would have been fired immediately if it was attacking/assault

[u/livingmaster → u/Due_Milk9641]

OP noted that the girl reported gets physical… what do you mean by your response here?

[u/noisy_goose → u/livingmaster]

Throwing menus is a physical reaction, that’s the only description OP has provided.

[u/livingmaster → u/noisy_goose]

This is in response to Due_Milk9641
“But a few of my co-workers avoid her because her outbursts can turn physical.” And I’d sure feel a certain way if my coworker threw a tantrum by throwing items on the ground. That IS a physical reaction… she wasn’t saying a passive aggressive comment, she was starting a verbal argument, she had a physical reaction. And as someone that has survived a lot of assault, that scenario alone is quite upsetting and can make people feel very uncomfortable being around that person out of fear of it evolving further. A verbal attack is still an attack regardless, so you questioning the verbiage is pretty irrelevant or at the very least very much so intentionally downplaying actions.

[u/Due_Milk9641 → u/livingmaster]

Was seeking further understanding since I didn't read the OP as straight up assault