Go va-fanculo yourselves...

From the moment I met my bosses, my staff, and stepped into the snow I knew that I had made the correct decision. However, after my employers response to my feedback regarding a food demo that was led by 2 20 year old douche bags, I was 2 courses away from telling them all to va-fanculo themselves.

It all started during a food demo that I voluntarily attended on Wednesday. The two douche bag chefs made numerous negative comments towards gays that did not work for me. Consequentially, I walked out of the demo and ended up sitting down with my boss and my area manager so that I could voice my concerns. Turns out these two douche bags tried to cover their asses by complaining that I had walked out.

After some pints of beer, parfait, and 2 days, I still want to kick both of them in the nads. Repeatedly. In response to their ignorance, I submitted the following letter to the head of catering for the company that I am currently employed by. If this happens again, I will be turning in my plastic name tag, XL fleece, XL jacket, and clipboard. I might be living under a bridge by the end of the week. Dont care.

Dear David Craig,

Today, Wednesday, December 2nd, I, Olivia Ulrike Halfen, the Front House Supervisor for Cascades 1650 voluntarily attended the food demo session that was run by Oly and Matt.

The previous session that I attended was professional, informative, and enjoyable. Thus, I was looking forward to the session today. Before the session commenced, Oly and Matt requested that everyone stand up, introduce themselves, state the job that they held before they joined ESPRIT. I estimated that 75%, if not more, of the participants were between the ages of 18 and 20 and had either just finished school or had not had a proper job before being employed at ESPRIT. As these new hires are young, they are also extremely impressionable.

Half an hour into the session Oly and Matt began making negative references about gay people. During the session they even made jokes concerning anal sex and refereed to the improper use of bananas.After their first round of comments, I asked whether there was a problem with being gay. Neither one responded and continued with their comments as well as the demo.

While the negative jokes progressed, I turned to my colleague Emma and mentioned to her that I was appalled and found their jokes offensive. I asked her whether or not she deemed that this sort of behavior was accepted by ESPRIT. I also told her that if their jokes and ignorant remarks were to continue, that I was going to walk out of the session. While we were discussing this, Oly requested that we refrain from talking during the course. I obliged and they did not have to ask us again.

Halfway into the session, Russel and Maura joined the class. While they sat in on the class, the negative sexual banter and the gay jokes stopped. However, once they left around 4 PM, the negative jokes and the banter commenced again.

During their session I was forced to worry about what the new hires must be thinking about their new employer. What were they going to take away from this class? Were they being led to believe that ESPRIT condones such a behavior? Is there a member in the audience who is a homosexual? Is there a member in the audience who has been contemplating whether or not they can or should inform their new colleagues that they are homosexual? It was extremely obvious that neither one of them took this into consideration, nor did it seem to matter to them.

As I found the remarks extremely offensive and as I was not willing to sit through the demo and listen to both chefs berate their own co-workers, I walked out of the demo at 4:30. I hold myself to a higher standard than what was being presented during their demo and nor was I willing to waste any additional time listening to their ignorant comments.

Although I left, Emma stayed behind to complete the demo. Apparently after I left, they coerced some of the younger attendees to walk across the hall to Pedros, bring him sugar, and inform him that although he is gay, he was still liked. They also had the entire group chant and shout about the proposed sexuality of Pedros. This is shocking and upsetting.

As a former business manager and now as a current ESPRIT employee, I am ashamed and horrified by the comments that were said by both Oly and Matt. After having worked in a business environment for numerous years and after having been a manager myself for the past 3 year, I was appalled by what was being said. If they had been employed by me, they would have been terminated immediately. I do not tolerate such behavior and nor do I feel as though anyone should.

After having worked in various restaurants as a server and as well as a manager, I understand that there is an exclusive type of humor that is utilized and appreciated by chefs. I do not have a problem with this type of humorous long as it is kept to the confines of the kitchen. Whenever any types of negative views are expressed to a group of others in a teaching setting, this is when it becomes an issue. Oly and Matt had been instructed to teach the participants how to cook. They were not asked to be there to berate their colleagues sexuality, nor the sexuality of homosexuals.

Sexuality should not have been brought into this demo, nor should it ever be brought into any sort of professional environment.I do not think that the ignorant remarks were made by them present a positive company image. I do not want to contribute to a company that deems it appropriate to berate others based upon sex, religion, or race.

In the event that ESPRIT deems this type of behavior appropriate, please feel free to accept my resignation.

I appreciate your time and attention to this matter. I would also be more than happy to discuss this with you in person.

Sincerely,

Olivia Ulrike Halfen