Personal Reflection on Work Experience: Difficulties and Conclusions

Learning encompasses both the acquisition of information and the application of skills. My job was a part-time position in one of the world's most well-known fast-food restaurants, and it was an incredible value opportunity. It allowed me to explore and comprehend the work's beauty. The abilities I developed at work are valuable tools in my everyday life. Analyzing our work is critical since it allows us to better understand our job and complete our given duties. Despite the fact that I had the opportunity to work for one of the top organizations, the bureaucratic system was always a source of frustration. Our branch lacked a well-organized management structure, and the majority of our employees struggled. The branch faced organizational culture, and we were all dealing with consequences at the same time. Specifically, I should possess the best skills, knowledge, self-confidence, drive, and teamwork abilities.

I was able to pick up suggestions and gain several sorts of abilities through seeing and learning from my co-workers, ranging from how to speak and deal with my clients to reading and comprehending a variety of blueprints.

For the first several weeks, working as part of a team was very pleasurable. I was happy to assist my customers and co-workers. At the same time, several of my co-workers would support and help me. Despite the fact that I had just recently joined the work area, I was given a strong number of chores to do, which I didn't mind and gladly accepted. Working at a well-known restaurant is difficult, so I made certain that all of my chores and responsibilities were accomplished without fail. I was assigned to receive orders from clients, serve them food, ensure that all customers are satisfied with their meals, understand them if there are any issues, and, most importantly, ensure that the entire restaurant was spotless due to the presence of the Covid-19 virus. I can tell that my management was amazed by my skills and knowledge. He was pleased with my abilities and would praise me in front of other co-workers, which enhanced the envy aspect. Although not all of my colleagues refused to help me, I did encounter a few difficulties while working there.

I generally inquire if I have any doubts, and I observe and learn from my co-workers. Our team leaders were supposed to coach me, but to be honest, I trained myself and it took time. I put forth a lot of effort and received additional shifts as a result. I can tell that our firm suffered a significant loss as a result of Covid, and that I was underpaid. I was thrilled and satisfied since I was given extra shifts. Even though each week, I was given an uneven shit, making it tough for me to schedule my next free days, yet I did have a great time working with my co-workers. We had a lot of fun working together, and I learnt a lot from them, as I'm sure they did from me. Working life may be challenging at first, but if you begin to appreciate it, nothing is difficult. It's simply a matter of going with the flow. Because we were all from various cultures, I had a lot to learn. I've always enjoyed serving meals because I enjoy seeing our clients' smiles. It always made my day.

Task Difficulties and How I Overcame Them

'Each and every accomplishment starts with a decision to try'. I've always followed the company's laws and regulations, and I've strived to complete my work on time. Before closing the restaurant, I always double-check that I did my job correctly and without any complaints. Having the appropriate money count is one of the most crucial factors. It might be tough to tally on certain days, which has an impact on our job. It makes us pleased to know that the customer is delighted with the food and with the workers. There have been instances when things did not go as planned, but all you can do is try your hardest and keep moving forward.

I've been treated unfairly by my team leaders on several occasions because I'm an Asian. I was being insulted and undervalued, but I didn't respond since I wanted the work severely. We all take our short breaks and then return to work, but these factors have an impact on you mentally as well as physically in which you don't feel like working. It's shocking that individuals still haven't grasped the concept of respect. We are all human beings with our interests and choices. I chose not to contact them because I felt that if I did, I would be giving them additional opportunities to use me in some manner. I recall multiple instances where my colleague was sexually harassed, but she never replied or reported it to higher authority because she was afraid. Unfortunately, I was harassed by the same individual, and I raised my voice and told my manager about it, resulting in that person's dismissal. Wherever we work, we will encounter various difficulties; all we need to do is face them, acknowledge what has occurred, and respond accordingly. There were moments when female employees were told not to talk or express any opinions. This was incorrect, and I believe it no longer occurs, since the concerns were resolved subsequently by the higher authorities!

There were certain days when supplies were in limited supply, which was unexpected. It was incredibly tough to confront consumers and explain them that we were out of condiments and sauces of any type. Customers would be exceedingly irritated and dissatisfied. I attempted not to aggravate the consumers by explaining the cause for the late arrival of specific food items. We didn't have much of a choice in the matter. But, in the end, all that happened was that we were blamed for the food shortages, lack of supplies, or any other higher-level management concerns. It was a difficult situation. I never anticipated to have to deal with such adversity in my first job. All my colleagues and I could do was calm ourselves first, then speak to the customers gently and professionally, explaining the problem and working to resolve it. It wasn't easy, but I would urge and support myself and my co-workers to keep going.

Theories and Concepts: Causes of the Difficulties

We all confront problems and difficulties when working in a firm, as we all know, and we all overcome them. However, dealing with a large number of concerns at the same time might be tough. One of the most crucial tasks of a manager to their employees, in my opinion, is to interact with and understand them. Lack of necessary communication can lead to a slew of issues. Because we were all from various cultures and my manager didn't speak English well, I believed it was due to linguistic issues. She was continually in touch with her countrymen, while others were left out. I wasn't well-coached at first, and I lacked speed. I may state that a few people did not value or trust me. I knew that with more practise, I could accomplish more. You must practise working quickly, no matter how trivial or difficult the task. Because I didn't have a lot of speed, I was treated like a slave and didn't get much respect. I try to avoid negative individuals and surround myself with those that believe in me and support me.

The company followed numerous procedures and processes therefore they followed a bureaucratic management. The decision-making was slowed by the systems and processes that have been put in place. Management becomes easier for higher authorities, and procedures become less chaotic, but this was not beneficial to employees. Because specific rules and regulations were followed, it resulted in a lack of flexibility and inefficiency, which is commonly referred to as the Red Tape process. Structure, hierarchy, rules, regulations, procedures, and paperwork are all parts of bureaucracy, which together comprise a reasonable set of strategies aimed to regulate and coordinate an organization to keep it in order rather than disordered.

A successful organisation must have a culture that is founded on a set of deeply held and broadly accepted ideas that are backed up by strategy and structure. Organizational cultural factors that support effective relationship management practise and contribute to equity, satisfaction, and performance in relationships. The need of going inwards and examining one's own culture as a vital beginning point for developing relationships is emphasised. Our branch managers lacked trust in and cooperation with their team members and leaders. They had more disagreements with us than making a few of modest decisions jointly. We just couldn't respond and completed our duties as we were just the members. We needed to strengthen our team management since it is important not just for employee engagement but also for productivity, which adds to business development and economic rewards. Any organization's culture consists of various elements, some of which may be recognised and others of which members may be oblivious. Rites, rituals, and ceremonies, as well as informal behaviours and exchanges and other types of symbol, are examples of these. It's also possible that the company has more than one culture.

By the middle of March 2020, it was evident that a new coronavirus (COVID-19) had arrived. Many non-essential enterprises were temporarily halted as a result of state-mandated lockdowns, resulting in various firm operations being smashed. Because of the same issue, the majority of our employees, including myself, were underpaid. I didn't get paid what I was promised. In particular, I got paid pound 6.50 for an hour's work. My coworkers' position was extremely awful. For one hour, one of my colleagues was paid 4.50 pounds. At the same time, I knew a few of them who were given bonuses. This wasn't right because we all did the same job but were paid differently, making it a precarious employment. I kept my job since I was getting more hours and there weren't many problems. I don't always have extra hours because the virus cost the company financially. Our safety was not guaranteed, and there were terrifying occasions when I had to close the entire restaurant by myself. I was courageous, and my aim was to avoid causing any problems, as I didn't want my supervisor to notice any flaws when she opened the restaurant the next morning.

Theories and Concepts: Recommendations for Change

Change in the restaurant sector may be both beneficial and detrimental. Maintaining flexibility and being open to new ideas may help a restaurant succeed, however failing to react to changes or making too many can lead to failure. If I were to make any changes in the restaurant, I would need to be informed of what is going on and make certain that everything is running well. For the company's profit maximisation, I will implement a new management system. Scientific Management, a notion developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor, is one of the most significant and necessary principles required. Due to the limitations of this approach, it cannot be followed in all instances; yet, we can see an equal allocation of labour between managers and workers. The workers do the duty while the management performs and designs strategies with the organisation. Because the job has been broken down into little, manageable tasks, there will be less tension as a result of this procedure. Each work will be divided according to the manager's understanding of the employees' abilities. Small improvements can result in lower production costs, less disagreements between managers and workers, increased employee pay, and more. A strong organisational culture is essential since staff will be educated properly without any difficulties. Employees will feel more comfortable and relaxed while working if everyone on the team supports one another. As a result, teamwork is crucial as we work together. We must comprehend them and ensure that they are doing well. Conflicts are more likely to be resolved when people communicate. Great firms cultivate a business-oriented culture, thus performance is crucial. Empowerment is a management principle that might also improve an organization's production and employee happiness. It focuses mostly on empowering your team members to act and make decisions inside your company. It also implies that there is a level of trust and understanding in place to guarantee that these activities are consistent with the company's objectives. through this we see a cooperation between the manager and the workers.

Bureaucracy is a viable option for achieving specific objectives. It has the potential to institutionalise excellent practises and provide comfort to employees who do repetitive tasks. However, it does not always benefit the workforce. The major drawback of a bureaucracy is the question of time. It takes time to follow rigid laws and regulations. All parties involved incur greater expenditures as a result of the added delay. Many bureaucracies feature pay structures in which employees are given a set salary. They receive a set amount of money each month. It necessitates a large number of personnel to do repetitive activities or manage those who are doing so. Qualifications and qualities may reduce overall competition for vacant positions, but if such positions are filled, the worker may feel that he or she is at a dead end. The corporation will aim to generate more profit via these precise modifications, while the staff will be more comfortable at work and will be able to take care of the consumers as expected.

Conclusion

When I think about my job experience, I realize that it has impacted my life since I now have a better sense of what professional path I want to pursue in the future. When I obtain a real job, I'll be less apprehensive on the first day, have greater confidence going in every day, and have a better sense of who I'll be working with. This will also go on my resume as proof that I worked for a legitimate firm. It has also been advantageous in that I may mention it on my CV when I apply for my next job, which may increase my chances of landing that position depending on the employer. Overall, it was a terrific experience and a fantastic opportunity. Although the notion of working in a foreign environment first made me feel frightened and nervous, I was treated like an employee throughout the whole process. I can say that I've had a few problems, but all you have to do now is focus on your job, and you'll be OK. It was exhausting at times, but the work had to be done, and that's why I was there. It was exhausting, enjoyable, exhilarating, and at times tough labor, but it was an experience I will never forget.

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