The Grinch who stole Christmas no longer has to be alone his cave with nothing to do but curse Whoville and wait for summer, because the Internet has found his soul mate. Her name is Alice and she works at Bowman’s Butcher Shop in Aberdeen, Maryland. Bitchy Waiter reader Lance Bankerd worked for Alice for four months while he was in between acting jobs and his next restaurant gig. All was well and good with the pair until one day last week when Alice’s true Grinchiness spotted a hole in her panties, squeezed its way out of her ass and left a shart stain on the spirit known as Christmas.
Lance explains it like this:
This past Thursday, I mentioned to my boss that I was playing Santa Claus for the children of Active Duty military parents in Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County, Maryland. My sister-in-law planned the event and tickets have been sold for some time. The kids all got to eat pancakes, hear me read stories, and get their pictures taken with me. All proceeds benefit the base’s childcare center, my sister-in-law and I are both volunteers. My boss reacted by telling me that she wanted me to work on Saturday.
Again, this was Thursday, two days before the Saturday she wanted me to work. I explained my situation. These plans were made months in advance and it was impossible to cancel last minute with out causing tears and making a good cause lose money. I have never worked on a Saturday in all of the time I worked there. In fact, I was hired to only work Monday-Thursdays and somewhere along the line they started making me come in on Fridays. (Frankly, I needed the money so I just rolled with it.) After I explained she responded with an ultimatum:Show up on Saturday OR lose my job.
I explained that this was impossible. I made a commitment, on my day off, to children, at Christmas. I couldn’t cancel on them two days before they would be taking their Christmas pictures on my lap. So, she fired me. On the spot. Less than two weeks before Christmas. Because, I was playing Santa for kids on my day off.
The worst part is; I really loved my job and I thought that my boss and I were friends.
Now, I have had some mean bosses in my time, but this Alice takes the cake. (It’s probably a cake made of baker’s chocolate, stale trail mix and turds.) She is going to fire someone two weeks before Christmas for doing something on his scheduled day off? I spoke with Lance and know that his wife is in school and the paycheck he was getting from the butcher shop was what was sustaining them. He is now unemployed while Alice is currently making plans to move in with the Grinch and make him get rid of his black leather couch because it looks too “bachelor pad in here.”
Lance’s sister-in-law has started a donation page to help him and his wife stay on their feet as he searches for another job. We all know how difficult it is to get a job at this time of year, but it’s especially hard to find a restaurant job now. No manager is going to hire a server two weeks before the slowest time of year. If you want to do a good deed, click here to donate. Or if you are in the Maryland area and know of a job for Lance, leave a comment below so that Lance can reach out to you.
As for Bowman’s Butcher Shop and Alice the Grinch, I hope they are happy with their decision to fire a person who was trying to do something nice for the world. Lance may be without a job, but we all know that he has something they don’t: a soul. Someone who sacrifices their time to do things for others will always win out in the end.
Here is what you can do:
-Leave a comment below for Lance to let him know he has supporters around the world.
–Donate $5 to Lance and his wife.
-Share this, so everyone will know that it’s not right to be punished just because you want to do something nice for someone.
Sereniti
I’m wondering if there is a follow-up to this? What is Lance up to these days?
April
Facebook page is back up. I was just enjoying reading all the one star reviews.
Anonymos
“spotted a whole in her panties”
hole*
This is why you’re a waiter.
Jill
Says the person who can’t spell “anonymous.”
Anonymous
Especially since I spelled it correctly directly above his comment
Glad I am not you
And that is why you are an anonymous twat.
Anonymous
Alice, go shove a stick of mistletoe up your wrinkly ass.
Karma Girl
So, I tried to check on their Facebook page today. Apparently, it’s down. Interesting…
Audra Whitton
Lance, you rock! As the child of an Air Force vet, I thank you. Whoever hires you next is getting the best employee ever!
Antonia
Like I said– contact the Dept. of Labor! There must be something that can be done about that bi-atch.
julia
Keep your chin up, Lance. Karma works in wonderful ways. You will find an even better job… and Alice at Bowman’s will get what is coming to her…
Sherry
Lance, you have the true meaning of Christmas in your heart. I hope you and your wife have a wonderful holiday season. As for Alice I quote a Christmas carol “To Mr(s) Scrooge. I’m sure it will be a very merry one”
Tristan
Lance, you are a really great person for putting the feelings of children above your own paycheck. You deserve better than to work for a turd like Alice anyway. Best of luck to you and Merry Christmas!
BobbyAnn
I went to their facebook page and left a very polite message, saying I wished them no ill will in their business – actually going as far as to wish them well, but I did say that I thought it was unfair that Santa was fired. [See BW – I heeded your advice and was polite.]
There were 5 -8 other comments regarding this story [as of last night] Most not offensive, but a few weren’t even close to polite. Which is sad.
Anyway – they have deleted their Facebook page.
I wish Lance well and hope he is either rehired or finds a new job. And although Alice may be Grinch-y in the firing it might be nice to remember that she is human too, and we all make mistakes. We don’t know all the details.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.
Paula
Lance,
You have a heart of gold. I’ve been in the biz almost 27 years and still am amazed at the bullshit everyday. Hold your head high, karma is a bitch. This only means you were destined for better things. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. Money is on your way as well as a BETTER DESTINY!!
Lisa
Not sure if you can commute into DC..but if you can let me know. My place will be hiring after xmas. And I hope Alice has a very merry one. I wish I could say I didn’t believe this..but I do. What is it about managers that they have to become horrible people?
polly
there are always exceptions to the rule, i am a head waitress in a dining room. give me a reason and the season is yours, thanks for making many people happy,
Max
Eat a big, fat, coal-covered chode, ALICE!!!!
Lance, keep it going! you rock! you did NOTHING WRONG!!!!!!!
Shannon
This sounds like a lawsuit. Even here in FL, with some of the most backward labor laws in the nation, this wouldn’t fly. I hope karma serves her all she deserves. Good luck! Hope everything works out for you! Merry Christmas, Santa!
Lauren
Check out Parts and Labor, its a butcher shop and restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland. It’s a new place and they seem to always be hiring-looking for good help.
Brenda Drake
I feel so badly for them we will donate todaty
Kay
Is there not a higher up he can talk to. Maybe one that does have a heart?! I truly hate that this is happening to you and all you are doing is giving joy to a group of children. If I had it,I would help you, but I don’t. I do have Faith in God and I do believe in the power of prayer!!! I will post this on my timeline
and ask for everyone to remember you in their prayers!!!
God bless and watch over you and yours!!!!
Sara Post
I am a manager for Outback Steakhouse and have many friends who work and are managers at the Bel Air MD. location. We are always hiring!! Please go online and fill out an application!
Jordan
heres the thing. I hire for my business. I’d actually give one of my guys a day off to do something like this. This sounds like a power grab and it’s BS. Lance, good luck, buddy. I’m in Dallas, but let me know if you need a reference. 😉
kat szulga
Good luck Lance! You make an awesome looking Santa, and I’ll bet you make those kids really happy! I hope you find a better job soon!
Anonymous
What an unbelievable cunt….
Lance, you rock and I really really really hope everything works out ok for you.
Blood and Guts
I’d just like to know if it was on the schedule was up before Lance told her, or if it was a snap decision.
From the description given, it sounds like the latter. If so, then that’s pretty messed up.
If the schedule had been posted, even though it’s normally a day off, then she’s being rigid and inflexable with a surprise work day. Slightly less messed up, but still wrong to do.
Either way, good luck Lance!
April
What an awful person! It’s like she was jealous or something. why else would she wait until AFTER he told her all of his plans and then tell him she requires him to work? He needs to file for unemployment ASAP