Degenerate Diaries: The Chronicles Pt. 2

[boldie]

So what would you do to make the dealers more happy?

Isn't anyone in a minimum wage job with difficult hours always on the look for a better job?

[zerofive]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

Agree, of course. What I mean is that when they introduce a PR system which they will issue to everyone once every six months, and someone who has just completed their probation is awarded the same payrise as someone who has been meeting the criteria required for a full pay increase for example 5x six months, this in my opinion immediately demeans the longer serving staff members.

[zerofive]

So what would you do to make the dealers more happy?

Isn't anyone in a minimum wage job with difficult hours always on the look for a better job?

Of course.

One of the main problems I found when working at Dusk versus working on the tour or from what I can see at Alea, is the length of time per "push". Those not familiar with the push system, this is the idea: you work a set amount of time on one table, then a new dealer comes and "pushes" you onto the next table in a sequence. After a set amount of tables, the last dealer will be pushed out and will go for a break before starting another push. Ideally you will do 4x30 minute pushes and take a 15 minute break if an even number of simultaneous pushes are occurring, or a 30 minute break if an odd number is occurring. I can't tell you the amount of times I've done two or more hours on the same table at Dusk, and as much as this sounds like I'm having a good old whinge, after an hour or so it becomes incredibly difficult to focus and mistakes start happening.

In my opinion what needs to happen is pushes need to be smaller and more frequent, and the management and dealing staff need to develop a closer bond. For a while it seemed the managers were too good to talk to you unless it was to give you a bollocking, and for good reason you start to resent working for people like that.

I remember one time when I finished a push, and the tournament director at the time came over and said "nice job Sean, really quick, really friendly, we need more of this." I was on top of the world and ready to deal for another eight hours. There's no reason this attitude could not be a full time thing.

So there's a couple of things. I'm sure people that are employed to keep staff morale high shouldn't find it too hard to think of a couple more.

[boldie]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

Agree, of course. What I mean is that when they introduce a PR system which they will issue to everyone once every six months, and someone who has just completed their probation is awarded the same payrise as someone who has been meeting the criteria required for a full pay increase for example 5x six months, this in my opinion immediately demeans the longer serving staff members.

Someone who has met the criteria during 5 earlier performance reviews already will be on a higher salary as they will have had more pay-rises. So long serving staff members are liely to be on more money. (Though unlikely to be a huge amount more as you're doing the same job after-all)

[zerofive]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

Agree, of course. What I mean is that when they introduce a PR system which they will issue to everyone once every six months, and someone who has just completed their probation is awarded the same payrise as someone who has been meeting the criteria required for a full pay increase for example 5x six months, this in my opinion immediately demeans the longer serving staff members.

Someone who has met the criteria during 5 earlier performance reviews already will be on a higher salary as they will have had more pay-rises. So long serving staff members are liely to be on more money. (Though unlikely to be a huge amount more as you're doing the same job after-all)

If the PR system has been introduced right away, yes. The PR system at Dusk was introduced about a year ago.

[boldie]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

Agree, of course. What I mean is that when they introduce a PR system which they will issue to everyone once every six months, and someone who has just completed their probation is awarded the same payrise as someone who has been meeting the criteria required for a full pay increase for example 5x six months, this in my opinion immediately demeans the longer serving staff members.

Someone who has met the criteria during 5 earlier performance reviews already will be on a higher salary as they will have had more pay-rises. So long serving staff members are liely to be on more money. (Though unlikely to be a huge amount more as you're doing the same job after-all)

If the PR system has been introduced right away, yes. The PR system at Dusk was introduced about a year ago.

Ah OK, fair enough.

Whenever you introduce PRs after the company has been up for a while you're likely to have some issues like you described though.
Obviously DTD had other issues to focus on after the start-up of the club and a PR system was probably not high on their list of priorities. (understandably so).
The PR system is good for everyone in the long-run so, although not in the short term, longer serving staff do actually get a reward with everyone that will start in the future.

I understand that some people will be "unlucky" enough to have started before the PR and therefore feel like they're missing out but, on the other hand, I know loads of companies (including the one I work for now) that don't have a PR system. If I want a pay-rise I have to ask for one. (Which I do approx once a year..some times even successfully )

[zerofive]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

Agree, of course. What I mean is that when they introduce a PR system which they will issue to everyone once every six months, and someone who has just completed their probation is awarded the same payrise as someone who has been meeting the criteria required for a full pay increase for example 5x six months, this in my opinion immediately demeans the longer serving staff members.

Someone who has met the criteria during 5 earlier performance reviews already will be on a higher salary as they will have had more pay-rises. So long serving staff members are liely to be on more money. (Though unlikely to be a huge amount more as you're doing the same job after-all)

If the PR system has been introduced right away, yes. The PR system at Dusk was introduced about a year ago.

Ah OK, fair enough.

Whenever you introduce PRs after the company has been up for a while you're likely to have some issues like you described though.
Obviously DTD had other issues to focus on after the start-up of the club and a PR system was probably not high on their list of priorities. (understandably so).
The PR system is good for everyone in the long-run so, although not in the short term, longer serving staff do actually get a reward with everyone that will start in the future.

I understand that some people will be "unlucky" enough to have started before the PR and therefore feel like they're missing out but, on the other hand, I know loads of companies (including the one I work for now) that don't have a PR system. If I want a pay-rise I have to ask for one. (Which I do approx once a year..some times even successfully )

Yeah I suppose it's possible to look at a PR as a privilege and not a right, but in minimum wage jobs it seems like the only way to prevent a ridiculously high turnover.

Just on a tangent, if you don't mind me asking, where do you work?

[cambridgealex]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

That's what I keep telling Hannah but apparently it's not the case

[boldie]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

Agree, of course. What I mean is that when they introduce a PR system which they will issue to everyone once every six months, and someone who has just completed their probation is awarded the same payrise as someone who has been meeting the criteria required for a full pay increase for example 5x six months, this in my opinion immediately demeans the longer serving staff members.

Someone who has met the criteria during 5 earlier performance reviews already will be on a higher salary as they will have had more pay-rises. So long serving staff members are liely to be on more money. (Though unlikely to be a huge amount more as you're doing the same job after-all)

If the PR system has been introduced right away, yes. The PR system at Dusk was introduced about a year ago.

Ah OK, fair enough.

Whenever you introduce PRs after the company has been up for a while you're likely to have some issues like you described though.
Obviously DTD had other issues to focus on after the start-up of the club and a PR system was probably not high on their list of priorities. (understandably so).
The PR system is good for everyone in the long-run so, although not in the short term, longer serving staff do actually get a reward with everyone that will start in the future.

I understand that some people will be "unlucky" enough to have started before the PR and therefore feel like they're missing out but, on the other hand, I know loads of companies (including the one I work for now) that don't have a PR system. If I want a pay-rise I have to ask for one. (Which I do approx once a year..some times even successfully )

Yeah I suppose it's possible to look at a PR as a privilege and not a right, but in minimum wage jobs it seems like the only way to prevent a ridiculously high turnover.

Just on a tangent, if you don't mind me asking, where do you work?

I'm a PM in a Telecomms company mate. some guys in here have been on the same salary for the past 5 years (and those are guys in Admin roles on £7.50-£8 an hour)

[dik9]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

That's what I keep telling Hannah but apparently it's not the case

Needs more love

[Bongo]

If you want good Sushi in Nottingham, Higoi is one of the best Japanese I've ever been to. And it's not even that far from DTD.

When I went there I thought it was pretty terrible as far as sushi places go.

I've had nice meals there but had an awful time when a group (10ish) of us went, they couldn't really cope.

[DMorgan]

Performance reviews should be based on performance not length of service

That's what I keep telling Hannah but apparently it's not the case

Needs more love

<3

[Bongo]

It works on so many levels...

[AndrewT]

One thing I noticed the last time I was up in DTD a few weeks ago whilst watching one of the cash tables was that no one appeared to be tipping after winning a pot. Admittedly this was just one table but is tipping still happening regularly in cash games at DTD or was this just an odd table?

When I go out to Vegas and play cash at the MGM it's the same dealers working there every year. Same floor staff, same waitresses. I commented upon this to one of the floor guys there and he said 'they treat us very well here - no one ever leaves'.

Now, in Vegas, no one never tips after winning a pot, unless it's just winning the blinds. 30 hands an hour is going to provide a good wage for a poker dealer. Over here, £6p/h plus no tips is poverty.

[millidonk]

One thing I noticed the last time I was up in DTD a few weeks ago whilst watching one of the cash tables was that no one appeared to be tipping after winning a pot. Admittedly this was just one table but is tipping still happening regularly in cash games at DTD or was this just an odd table?

When I go out to Vegas and play cash at the MGM it's the same dealers working there every year. Same floor staff, same waitresses. I commented upon this to one of the floor guys there and he said 'they treat us very well here - no one ever leaves'.

Now, in Vegas, no one never tips after winning a pot, unless it's just winning the blinds. 30 hands an hour is going to provide a good wage for a poker dealer. Over here, £6p/h plus no tips is poverty.

You know the dealer at MGM called Chip? legend, he's been there for years and the old white hair guy who sings a live straddle song everytime someone goes fot it. I really enjoyed staying there.